Following the Clues: Students Step Into the World of Forensic Accounting at PwC Investigate

An inbox full of suspicious emails. A timeline that doesn’t quite add up. A critical document deleted, but not entirely gone. In a fraud investigation, the smallest clue can unravel an entire case.

That was the challenge facing 42 students on April 13, 2026, at PwC Investigate, an interactive simulation hosted by the McIntire School of Commerce’s PwC Center for Innovation in Professional Services (CIPS).

Developed by PwC, the simulation places participants in the middle of a fast-moving regulatory crisis. Working in teams, students comb through emails, analyze datasets, interview suspects, and make real-time decisions to identify the source of misconduct. The puzzle presents conflicting evidence and demands judgment calls. Teammates don’t always agree, and time pressure forces a commitment before the full picture is clear.

Guiding the experience were three professionals from PwC’s Investigations and Forensics team: Gbemi Adebesin, Manager; Molly Futrell (McIntire ’18), Senior Manager; and Charlotte Rouleau (McIntire ’18), Senior Manager. Drawing from their own client work, they pushed teams to reconsider early conclusions and introduced new evidence at key moments, testing not just students’ analytical skills but how quickly teams could adapt under pressure.

As teams worked through the simulation, the room reflected a wide range of perspectives, from first-year students exploring an interest in business to those enrolled in McIntire’s M.S. in Accounting program. Accounting faculty members Craig Lefanowicz and Roger Martin attended as observers.

According to Accounting Professor Jill Mitchell, who coordinated the event, that mix is part of what makes the experience so valuable. “Students from across the University, from first-years through our MSA program, attended PwC Investigate. They were engaged and curious,” she said. “Watching them work alongside PwC professionals, including successful McIntire alumnae, was a reminder of the importance of these partnerships. Events like this open students’ eyes to the many career paths in accounting, including ones they may never have considered. We are very grateful for PwC’s support.”

For students, the biggest takeaway was just how layered the investigative process can be. Second-year Kate Keane noted how quickly the exercise shifted her approach to analyzing information, pointing to the value of data visualization tools and the importance of treating seemingly minor details, like deleted emails, as potentially case-defining.

Second-year Sophia Abrahams, completing McIntire’s General Business Minor, said the sheer volume of evidence was a key hurdle, while also revealing just how complex and investigative the accounting field can be. UVA undergraduate Jasom Rodrigues echoed that, emphasizing how clear communication matters when a team is working through information together with tight timelines and high stakes.

For first-year student Blake James, the experience reframed the work entirely. He discovered that gathering information is only the beginning. The real challenge, Blake found, is knowing what actually matters.

As the simulation wrapped up, one team rose to the top: M.S. in Accounting Class of ’26 students Noah Cook, Sarah Rice, Kate Sanders, and Zoey Wong, along with incoming M.S. in Accounting ’27 student Abby Cicero. Their success embodied strong collaboration, thoughtful analysis, and the ability to stay focused under pressure.

Beyond spreadsheets and financial statements, accounting can involve storytelling, strategy, and a keen investigative mindset. Events like PwC Investigate make that clear in a way no lecture can. For one evening at McIntire, students stepped into that role, following clues, testing assumptions, and discovering how engaging the work can be when every detail matters.