Richard Causey graduated from the University of Texas with a Master's degree in business and a bachelor's degree in accounting. He then became a certified public accountant in the state of Texas. He obtained a job at Arthur Andersen, where he rose within the ranks and eventually became the head of the Enron audit team.

Closely working alongside employees from Enron, he got to know the staff as well as the accounting procedures. He left Arthur Andersen and joined the Enron Capital and Trade Division. He eventually was promoted to Chief Accounting Officer, where he signed off on the Special Purpose Entities that were Enron's downfall. He was fired from Enron on February 14, 2002, as part of an investigation by the S.E.C.

On January 22, 2004, Causey was indicted for wire fraud and conspiracy charges in connection for his activites at Enron between 1998 and 2002. While prosecutors do not believe he skimmed millions of dollars from the numerous suspicious deals, he is believed to know details of many of them. Causey has pled not guilty.