Forensic Accountant

Summary

Forensic Accounting is one of the most sought-after FBI careers. You will investigate financial crimes including corporate, healthcare, mortgage securities, and commodities fraud. Your expertise will also apply to counterintelligence, counterterrorism, cybercrime, virtual currency, organized crime, and public corruption investigations.

Duties

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• Provides knowledge with respect to accounting and financial practices, securities, banking laws and systems, conventional and non-conventional financial institutions, and profit/non-profit businesses. Develops or assists with developing new forensic accounting techniques applicable to various financial investigations.
• Independently conducts forensic analysis of financial data. Conducts and coordinates the examination of financial aspects of the investigation in cooperation with case agents, prosecuting attorneys and others.
• Assesses the value of financial evidence; unravels sophisticated techniques for moving funds and shielding illegal activity. Provides financial profiles of individuals and groups. Compiles detailed financial findings and conclusions to prepare in-depth forensic accounting reports.
• Utilizes various computer applications to review and interpret implications on a vast number and variety of financial transactions, and other corporate, business, and financial processes, associations, and recordkeeping systems

• Produces detailed financial investigative reports and exhibits. May participate in subject and key witness interviews and testifies as needed as a fact and/or expert witness in judicial proceedings. Develops and provides forensic accounting presentations/briefings.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. citizen
• Must be able to obtain a Top Secret-SCI clearance
• Some travel may be required
• Selectee will be required to complete form FD-887, Request for Access to Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI)
• If the selectee is not an on-board FBI Financial Analyst or Forensic Accountant, the selectee approved for hire will be required to attend a mandatory five-week Forensic Accountant Core Training Session (FACTS) held at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. Once training dates are established, employees will be notified in advance.
• To be given promotional consideration, current Forensic Accountants that have completed FACTS18-02 or later must have completed their New Forensic Accountant Development Program (logbook)prior to the closing of the job posting
• ALL applicants must verify completion of the basic education requirement by submitting a copy of college transcripts by the closing date of the vacancy announcement

Qualifications

Specialized Experience (SE)

GS-11: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-9 grade level.SE is defined as follows:

• Performed examination and analysis over several financial INVESTIGATIVE or AUDIT areas. Analysis utilized accounting, auditing, analytical, technical, and investigative skills.
• Provided knowledge to colleagues or clients regarding various accounting and financial practices, securities, banking systems, financial institutions, or businesses.

GS-12: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level. SE is defined as follows:

• Independently performed complex examinations and analysis over several financial INVESTIGATIVE or AUDIT areas. Analysis utilized advanced accounting, auditing, analytical, technical, or investigative skills.
• Provided guidance regarding investigative accounting and financial practices, world-wide securities, banking laws, regulations, and systems, financial institutions, or national and international businesses to various audiences.
• Reviewed work and provided guidance to less experienced staff.

GS-13: Applicant must possess at least one (1) year of specialized experience equivalent to the GS-12 grade level. SE is defined as follows:

• Identified, examined, and analyzed financial data as an investigative authority or managing auditor of public accountants.
• Conducted complex analysis of compiled findings/conclusions to produce in-depth financial investigative reports or exhibits which are suitable for court of law or presentation to federal regulators.
• Reviewed casework and provided guidance to other forensic accountants or auditors.
• Developed new forensic accounting or auditing techniques that are applicable to various financial crimes.

Education

Positive Education Requirement

This position has a specific education requirement; all applicants must verify completion of this basic educational requirement by submitting a copy of their college transcripts by the closing date of the vacancy announcement.

Applicants possessing certifications (e.g. Certified Public Accountant, Certified Fraud Examiner, or Certified Internal Auditor) MUST provide proof of such certifications along with their college transcripts. Candidate MUST submit a transcript attesting to possession of the required education as described under the Basic Requirements Section of the vacancy announcement.

ALL APPLICANTS MUST MEET THE BASIC REQUIREMENT BELOW:

A) Degree in accounting, or a degree in a related field such as business administration, finance, or public administration that included or was supplemented by 24 semester hours in accounting. The 24 hours may include up to 6 hours of credit in business law.

OR

B) Combination of education and experience: At least 4 years of experience in accounting, or an equivalent combination of accounting experience, college-level education, and training that provided professional accounting knowledge. The applicant's background must also include one of the following:1) 24 semester hours in accounting or auditing courses of appropriate type and quality. This can include up to 6 hours of business law.2) A certificate as a Certified Public Accountant or a Certified Internal Auditor, obtained through written examination.

OR

C) Completion of the requirements for a degree that included substantial course work in accounting or auditing, e.g., 15 semester hours, but that does not fully satisfy the 24 semester hour requirement of paragraph A, provided that (a) the applicant has successfully worked at the full-performance level in accounting, auditing, or a related field, e.g., valuation engineering or financial institution examining; (b) a panel of at least two higher level professional accountants or auditors has determined that the applicant has demonstrated a good knowledge of accounting and of related and underlying fields that equals in breadth, depth, currency, and level of advancement that is normally associated with successful completion of the 4 year course of study described in paragraph A; and (c) except for literal nonconformance to the requirement of 24 semester hours in accounting, the applicant's education, training, and experience fully meet the specified requirements.

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements provided you can show foreign education is comparable to that received in an accredited educational institution in the United States.

All degrees must be from an accredited college or university. Education may be substituted for specialized experience as follows:

GS-11: Applicant must have a Ph.D. OR equivalent doctoral degree OR 3 full years of progressively higher level graduate education leading to such a degree OR LL.M., if related.

GS-12/13: Education cannot be substituted for Specialized Experience at the GS-12 level.

All applicants MUST verify completion of this requirement by submitting a copy of ALL college transcripts by the closing date of this job opening.

Additional information

• To attract and retain highly qualified candidates, selectees may be eligible for a recruitment incentive of up to 20% or, for eligible current federal employees, a relocation incentive of up to 20%. Eligibility for a relocation incentive requires proof of a change in residence and an assignment at a worksite in a different geographic area greater than or equal to 50 miles from the prior worksite. Employees must sign a written service agreement completing a specified period of employment with the FBI at the new duty station. Recruitment and relocation incentives cannot be combined.

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Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Benefits

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The Bureau matches your dedication with a commitment to professional growth, a supportive work environment, and a robust benefits package that prioritizes you. As a member of our team, you'll enjoy comprehensive health and life insurance benefits, paid vacation, sick leave, and federal holidays. For more details about benefits available to all federal employees, visit the Office of Personnel Management's website.

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