09/03/2025
Sad news for the ACFE!!
We are saddened to share news of the recent passing of ACFE President Emeritus James “Jim” D. Ratley, CFE.
Jim passed away peacefully on Sunday, August 24, 2025, surrounded by his family and loved ones. He was 75 years old.
For 30 years, Jim proudly served the ACFE from its beginning. Following a 16-year career at the Dallas Police Department, Jim relocated to Austin, Texas, in 1986, when he joined Wells & Associates, a forensic accounting practice. In 1988, he was named Program Director for the ACFE, overseeing all aspects of the newly founded organization’s training and education programs.
“Without Jim’s encouragement and total belief in the concept, the founding of the ACFE might not have ever happened,” Dr. Joseph T. Wells, CFE, CPA, ACFE Founder and Chairman, says. “He was vital to the organization you see today.”
Jim received the Donald R. Cressey Award in 2005 for lifetime achievement in the detection and deterrence of fraud. In 2006, he was named President of the ACFE, and in 2011, also took the role of CEO until his retirement in 2018. He was named one of the “Top 100 Most Influential People in Accounting” by Accounting Today in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
The ACFE extends our deepest condolences to Jim’s family and loved ones. We will continue to respect their privacy during this time.
We invite ACFE members and those who knew Jim to join us in remembering and honoring his life: https://connect.acfe.com/discussion/celebrating-the-life-of-jim-ratley-cfe
