ACFE Japan

What ACFE Japan does

ACFE Japan (一般社団法人 日本公認不正検査士協会) is a Tokyo-based general incorporated association founded in April 2005 as the exclusive Japanese licensee of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) headquarters in Austin, Texas. It administers the Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credential in Japanese, including a Computer-Based Testing exam launched in June 2020 and scheduled for a structural transition to a new system in June 2027, and operates a network of 3,500 individual members, 2,462 CFEs, and 85 corporate members (April 2025). The organization delivers fraud-related education through the e-fraud four-course e-learning curriculum (Accounting, Legal, Investigation, Prevention; 24h30m, 28 CPE units), monthly web seminars, FRAUD Magazine (Japanese edition since January 2008), CPE quizzes, eight regional study groups, and the annual ACFE Japan Conference (17th edition in October 2026).

The underlying technology stack is conventional and partnership-based: the member portal is powered by SPIRAL® by Spiral Inc., exam delivery runs through Prometric testing centers, the public CFE directory (CFE Navi, 578 entries as of June 2026) is web-based, and content distribution uses YouTube, a Zendesk support center, and the shop.acfe.jp e-commerce platform. ACFE Japan does not develop proprietary AI or ML systems; its value is in Japanese-language localization of ACFE HQ's global curriculum and content library, developed with named Japanese expert advisors and a board drawn from Big Four accounting partners, university professors, and former CFOs.

Revenue mechanics are diversified across individual membership dues (¥22,000/year), corporate membership (Premium and Entry tiers with 85 paying companies), e-fraud course sales (¥10,241–¥82,536 member pricing; ¥14,630–¥117,909 general), exam fees, web seminar fees (¥9,900 member / ¥16,500 general per 3 CPE units), FRAUD Magazine CPE quizzes (¥11,000–¥22,000), and conference registrations. Pricing is consumption-tax-inclusive in Japan and corporate members receive a 30% course discount and waived joining fees. No revenue figures are publicly disclosed and the organization is a nonprofit with no funding events.

Name

ACFE Japan

Legal name

一般人社法人 日本公認不正検査士協会

Website

https://acfe.jp

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ACFE Japan is the Tokyo-based nonprofit licensee of the global Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), delivering the Certified Fraud Examiner credential, Japanese-language fraud e-learning curriculum, webinars, and corporate membership services to internal auditors, compliance officers, and fraud examiners across Japan.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Certification & Anti-Fraud Education

NAICS

Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Financial Crime & Fraud Prevention (Forensics, Investigations) (EDABAJAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Accounting & Finance Certification Prep (CPA, CMA, CFA, FRM) (EDANAIAD), Legal, Governance, Privacy & Audit Certifications (EDAAANAN), Fraud Risk Management & Anti-Bribery/Anti-Corruption (ABAC) (BPAHAFAL)

Keywords

• Fraud examination certification
• Anti-fraud training
• Certified fraud examiner
• Corporate fraud prevention
• Forensic accounting education

Headquarters

HQ city

Tokyo (千代田区)

HQ country

Japan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. 年会費・入会金 (Membership dues): Individual associate members and corporate members pay annual dues. Exam candidates also pay exam registration fees. Corporate members get fee waivers on joining and preferential exam pricing.
2. 教材販売 (e-fraud courses, study kits): Sale of e-fraud e-learning courses (Accounting, Legal, Investigation, Prevention) at member and general prices. Corporate exam preparation kits sold at ¥34,100 (tax-inclusive). Individual entry kits also available.
3. CFE資格認定手続き費: After passing the CFE exam, candidates must apply for certification and pay a registration fee. Associates pay ¥22,000 annual fee; corporate member employees get joining fee waived.
4. ウェブセミナープラットフォーム販売: Online seminar fees charged per course (e.g., ¥9,900 member / ¥16,500 general for 3 CPE unit courses). FRAUD Magazine Online CPE quizzes sold separately.
5. カンファレンス・研究会参加料: Annual ACFE Japan Conference registration fees. Study group participation is free for members but generates engagement and retention.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

ACFE Japan provides anti-fraud education, certification, and professional development services for Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) credentials in Japan. It operates as the sole Japanese licensee of the global Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE), delivering the e-fraud 4-course e-learning curriculum, administering the CFE qualification exam in computer-based format, publishing FRAUD Magazine Japan, and organizing annual conferences, study groups, and web seminars. The organization serves both individual fraud examination professionals and corporate member companies.

Product overview

ACFE Japan operates as a single integrated fraud prevention education ecosystem centered on the CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner) credential — the internationally recognized professional certification administered in Japanese. The primary educational product is the '不正対策eラーニング e-fraud' structured e-learning platform with four domain courses (Accounting, Legal, Investigation, Prevention), supplemented by web seminars, the FRAUD Magazine publication, CPE quizzes, and a catalog of anti-fraud books. Supporting services include the CFE certification exam (with CBT format since 2020), the CFE Navigator directory, corporate membership (Premium/Entry tiers with 85 companies as of April 2025), and nine named research societies. The ACFE Japan Conference and the inaugural ACFE Japan Award program serve as flagship events for the professional community.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• e-fraud: An anti-fraud e-learning platform covering four specialized areas: Accounting, Legal, Fraud Investigation, and Fraud Prevention. Launched in April 2021.

Products and services

• e-fraud Anti-Fraud E-Learning Platform (e-fraud 不正対策eラーニング)
• CFE (Certified Fraud Examiner) Qualification Examination
• ACFE Japan Web Seminars (Online Seminar Platform)
• FRAUD Magazine (Japan Edition)
• FRAUD Magazine Online CPE Quiz

Quantifiable outcome

• CFE qualification recognized internationally across 91,000+ members in 190+ chapters globally
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core, minor and moderate.

• ACFE (Association of Certified Fraud Examiners) — Global HQflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1988ACFE Japan operates under a license agreement with ACFE HQ (Austin, Texas, USA, founded 1988). ACFE HQ provides the global CFE certification framework, exam standards, Fraud Examiners Manual, FRAUD Magazine licensing, and access to 91,000+ members across 190+ chapters. ACFE HQ Board of Regents (5 members, 2-year staggered terms) governs globally. ACFE HQ charges annual member dues and sets certification requirements.
• スパイラル株式会社 (SPIRAL®)coreTechnology or IntegrationACFE Japan uses Spiral's online database service (SPIRAL®) for member registration, exam applications, online store checkout, member portal, and email communications. The smp.ne.jp domain is used for some ACFE Japan hosted pages served through Spiral's platform. Spiral holds privacy/security certifications (Privacy Mark, ISO 27001, ISO 20000-1, ISO 9001).
• 日本取引所グループ (Japan Exchange Group / JPX)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJPX and ACFE Japan co-hosted a seminar on 'Internal Control Strengthening and Misconduct Prevention Handbook' in April 2026. JPX published a handbook for listed companies on misconduct prevention, with ACFE Japan contributing a column. This partnership enhances ACFE Japan's reach into Japan's listed company governance community.
• 株式会社宝印刷 D&IR研究所minorOthersOrganization associated with ACFE Japan's Managing Director 福岡広信, who serves as advisor at this research institute. Connection through board member involvement.
• 日本内部監査協会 (Japan Institute of Internal Audit)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organized a seminar celebrating the publication of the COSO Fraud Risk Management Guide (2nd Edition) in June 2026. Both organizations serve the internal control and governance community in Japan.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• ACAMS (Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists): The leading global certification body for anti-money-laundering (AML) professionals, with a CAMS credential similar in structure to CFE. Highly comparable as a non-profit membership association offering a specialized fraud/financial-crime certification, exam prep materials, and recurring CPE-driven revenue.
• ISACA: Global non-profit association for IT audit, governance, risk, and cybersecurity professionals offering CISA, CISM, CGEIT, and CRISC certifications. Highly comparable business model — non-profit, certification-centric, CPE-driven, with Japan chapters providing localized content. Adjacent rather than direct overlap, but structurally identical.
• ACFCS (Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists): A specialized non-profit certification body for financial crime professionals (CFCS credential). Directly comparable in niche, business model (membership + certification + CPE), and target audience overlap with ACFE Japan, though with a more global rather than Japan-specific footprint.
• The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) — Japan Chapter: Japan Institute of Internal Auditors (公益社団法人 日本内部監査協会) is ACFE Japan's primary Japanese partner in co-organizing the COSO Fraud Risk Management Guide seminar. Directly comparable as a Japanese non-profit professional association offering certifications (CIA), CPE programs, and conferences for internal auditors — overlapping strongly with ACFE Japan's target audience.

Regional players

• Japan Risk Management Association: Established Japanese risk-management certification and training body serving enterprise risk managers. Comparable in that it offers specialized risk-management certification, training, and conferences in Japan for a similar professional audience, though broader than fraud-specific.
• Japan Association of Corporate Directors: Japanese professional association for corporate directors offering governance training and certification in Japan. Comparable as a Japan-focused non-profit professional association serving governance, risk, and compliance professionals — a closely adjacent peer audience to ACFE Japan's corporate compliance segment.

Broad incumbents

• Japanese Institute of Certified Public Accountants (JICPA): Japan's national CPA licensing body — comparable in that it issues the Japanese CPA credential, maintains a member registry, publishes journals, and offers CPE. JICPA board member Minami Masato also sits on ACFE Japan's council, evidencing ecosystem overlap. A broader, incumbent professional credentialing body in the same accounting/audit space.
• Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE HQ): The Austin, TX-based global parent organization that licenses ACFE Japan. ACFE HQ operates the worldwide CFE credentialing program with 91,000+ members across 190+ chapters and provides the curriculum, FRAUD Magazine, and Fraud Examiners Manual that ACFE Japan localizes. Directly comparable as the parent professional-membership and certification body.

Others

• Japan Association for Financial Economists & Analysts: Securities Analysts Association of Japan issues the CMA (Chartered Member of the Securities Analysts Association of Japan) credential — adjacent as a Japanese professional certification body serving finance professionals. Useful peer for benchmarking certification exam economics and CPE-product models in the Japanese market.
• KPMG AZSA Learning Center: Big Four internal training arm — KPMG AZSA is both an ACFE Japan premium corporate member AND an in-house provider of fraud/forensic training. Comparable as a competing training and certification entity for the same Japanese fraud-examination professional audience, illustrating the dual competitor/customer dynamic.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/acfe_japan
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@user-sx6bc5cn1g/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/acfejapan2005

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about ACFE Japan