Fraud Prevention Analysts: How to Become One
If you were to ask a group of fraud prevention analysts about how they arrived at their current job, there's a good chance you would get several different answers about the paths and steps that each person took.
That said, there are still ways that you can develop a baseline understanding of the preparation that is necessary to become one.
The Best Adult Colleges and Careers Guide has gathered data to provide you with insight into the type of education that's commonly required for fraud prevention analysts to land a job. This page contains information, sourced from real job postings, that describes the experience levels and specific skills that employers of fraud prevention analysts expect candidates to have. In the end, this information will help you create an education or professional development plan that aligns with your career aspirations.
Keep reading to learn more about career steps for fraud prevention analysts.
What Education & Experience is Needed for Fraud Prevention Analysts?
Do fraud prevention analysts need a degree? What kind of experience do fraud prevention analysts typically need? Thanks to data sourced from Lightcast™ from real job postings, we can get some clarity on those questions, as well as the level of education that is commonly required for fraud prevention analysts to secure jobs.
Education Level Required in Job Postings for Fraud Prevention Analysts
Jobs Postings for Fraud Prevention Analysts By Education
- Bachelor's degree: 6,928 (46%)
- No Education Listed: 2,679 (18%)
- Master's degree: 2,668 (18%)
- High School or GED: 1,647 (11%)
- Ph.D. or professional degree: 1,100 (7%)
A bachelor's degree is the level of education sought the most by employers of fraud prevention analysts. According to job data, a bachelor's degree was required for 46% of positions. In 18% of job listings no education level was listed and in 18% of postings a master's degree was required.
Experience Level Required in Job Postings for Fraud Prevention Analysts
Jobs Postings for Fraud Prevention Analysts By Experience
- 0-1 Years: 1,247 (16%)
- 2-3 Years: 3,429 (43%)
- 4-6 Years: 2,354 (29%)
- 7-9 Years: 690 (9%)
- 10+ Years: 324 (4%)
While the amount of required experience will vary based on the responsibility and seniority of the position, an aggregate view of job posting data can help paint a picture of the experience level sought for most job openings for fraud prevention analysts. In 43% of job postings for Fraud Prevention Analysts, employers were looking for candidates with 2-3 years of experience. In 29% of listings employers were looking for candidates with 4-6 years of experience, while 0-1 years of experience was sought in 16% of job postings for fraud prevention analysts.
What Kind of Degree Do Fraud Prevention Analysts Need?
So far this page has provided detail into the level of education and the amount of experience required in job openings for fraud prevention analysts, but what type of education or degree will help prepare you for a career in the field?
According to occupational data obtained through Lightcast,™ there are 19 key academic programs that can help prepare prospective fraud prevention analysts, and in 2023 a total of 223,162 of those programs were completed at institutions in the United States.
Check out the information below to learn more about the specific programs that should be considered by prospective fraud prevention analysts.
Top Degree Programs for Fraud Prevention Analysts
Top 5 Degree Programs for Fraud Prevention Analysts (2023)
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Accounting. | 61,109 |
| Finance, General. | 50,779 |
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies. | 43,663 |
| Mathematics, General. | 26,754 |
| Organizational Leadership. | 15,298 |
| Program | Completions |
|---|---|
| Accounting. | 61,109 |
| Finance, General. | 50,779 |
| Criminal Justice/Safety Studies. | 43,663 |
| Mathematics, General. | 26,754 |
| Organizational Leadership. | 15,298 |
| Financial Mathematics. | 5,552 |
| Financial Planning and Services. | 5,054 |
| Applied Mathematics, General. | 4,571 |
| Accounting and Finance. | 3,492 |
| Health Services Administration. | 3,016 |
| Accounting and Business/Management. | 1,214 |
| Banking and Financial Support Services. | 1,034 |
| Accounting and Related Services, Other. | 795 |
| Investments and Securities. | 374 |
| Risk Management. | 177 |
| International Finance. | 138 |
| Pharmaceutical Marketing and Management. | 61 |
| Religious Institution Administration and Management. | 56 |
| Public Finance. | 25 |
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Degree Options for Fraud Prevention Analysts
Help organizations analyze financial statements and accounts to help prevent fraud, maintain data integrity, assess operational risk, and mitigate or remediate deficiencies as an accounting technician, assistant or bookkeeper.
- Class Type: 100% online
- Cost Per Credit: $398
What Skills Do Fraud Prevention Analysts Need?
Education and experience have been covered, so what are the specific skills and traits needed by fraud prevention analysts to secure a job?
A good way to understand this is to examine actual job postings for skills commonly sought by employers. Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for fraud prevention analysts, as well as common skills that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Fraud Prevention Analysts
Based on 11,859 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Fraud Prevention Analysts
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Anti Money Laundering | 3,193 | 27% |
| Auditing | 2,391 | 20% |
| Bank Secrecy Act | 2,347 | 20% |
| Financial Services | 2,299 | 19% |
| Fraud Investigation | 2,260 | 19% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Fraud Prevention Analysts
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 5,378 | 45% |
| Management | 4,582 | 39% |
| Research | 4,458 | 38% |
| Investigation | 4,170 | 35% |
| Operations | 3,228 | 27% |
Based on 11,859 job postings related to fraud prevention analysts, anti money laundering was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 27% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for auditing, bank secrecy act, financial services, fraud investigation and finance were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for fraud prevention analysts, followed by management, research, investigation, operations and microsoft excel.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Anti Money Laundering | 3,193 | 27% |
| Auditing | 2,391 | 20% |
| Bank Secrecy Act | 2,347 | 20% |
| Financial Services | 2,299 | 19% |
| Fraud Investigation | 2,260 | 19% |
| Finance | 2,129 | 18% |
| Data Analysis | 2,018 | 17% |
| Risk Management | 1,969 | 17% |
| Law Enforcement | 1,753 | 15% |
| Accounting | 1,727 | 15% |
| Fraud Prevention | 1,725 | 15% |
| Python (Programming Language) | 1,688 | 14% |
| Statistics | 1,613 | 14% |
| SQL (Programming Language) | 1,573 | 13% |
| Economics | 1,349 | 11% |
| Fraud Detection | 1,262 | 11% |
| Office Of Foreign Assets Controls | 1,205 | 10% |
| Suspicious Activity Report | 1,196 | 10% |
| Due Diligence | 1,149 | 10% |
| Project Management | 1,079 | 9% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 5,378 | 45% |
| Management | 4,582 | 39% |
| Research | 4,458 | 38% |
| Investigation | 4,170 | 35% |
| Operations | 3,228 | 27% |
| Microsoft Excel | 2,888 | 24% |
| Detail Oriented | 2,716 | 23% |
| Problem Solving | 2,685 | 23% |
| Writing | 2,651 | 22% |
| Leadership | 2,219 | 19% |
| Customer Service | 2,114 | 18% |
| Microsoft Office | 1,920 | 16% |
| Analytical Skills | 1,767 | 15% |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | 1,565 | 13% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 1,563 | 13% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 1,501 | 13% |
| Presentations | 1,470 | 12% |
| Mathematics | 1,453 | 12% |
| Multitasking | 1,331 | 11% |
| Self-Motivation | 1,274 | 11% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information about fraud prevention analysts? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for fraud prevention analysts.
What do fraud prevention analysts do?
How much do fraud prevention analysts make?
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