About the position
JOB PURPOSE
Apply expert-level forensic accounting and investigative knowledge to lead and take full accountability for complex, high-risk, and precedent-setting forensic investigations, including the gathering, analysis, verification, and interpretation of complex financial evidence, to support law enforcement agencies in the investigation and/or prosecution of serious and complex financial crimes, and to safeguard the institutional credibility and mandate of the Financial Intelligence Centre.
KEY PERFOrMANCE AREAS
Forensic Evidence Data Collection and Analysis
- Design and approve investigative strategies and analytical methodologies for complex or novel cases where no standard precedent exists.
- Explore and gather key financial intelligence and evidence from relevant information platforms and guide the law enforcement partner with person-of-interest interviews to support evidence production for legal proceedings.
- Determine the relevance and completeness of evidence information and/or evidence and ensure that all gaps in information are addressed.
- Support data integrity by ensuring that all data is verified within reasonable parameters and line of sight.
- Perform relevant calculations in order to produce quality evidence-based information.
- Conduct analysis of financial intelligence and evidence within acceptable forensic quality norms required.
- Identify and investigate discrepancies, patterns and connections between financial intelligence and evidence information sources to support evidence integrity.
- Analyse indicators and typologies associated with relevant financial crimes.
- Lead multi agency forensic engagements involving heightened legal, financial, or reputational risk.
- Provide authoritative technical resolution on disputed evidentiary, analytical, or methodological matters.
Forensic Evidence Reporting
- Assume full technical and professional accountability for the final content, conclusions, and legal defensibility of forensic reports and affidavits for complex matters.
- Coordinate the production of forensic reports or affidavits for mandated stakeholders by the agreed due dates and in compliance with relevant legislation, policies, procedures and annual targets.
- Contextualise financial information and/or evidence in support of law enforcement efforts by capturing findings and conclusions in the required reporting format and systems and submit investigation outcomes, trends and recommendations as prescribed by relevant policies and procedure.
- Summarise and present complex financial information and relevant data in a manner that supports evidence-based products.
- Utilise computerised applications such as spreadsheets, databases, or computer models to produce charts and graphics to explain findings.
- Provide guidance to Junior Forensic Accountants and Associate Forensic Accountants in producing forensic reports or affidavits.
- Review forensic reports by Junior Forensic Accountants and Associate Forensic Accountants and ensure that they comply with agreed standards and support annual targets.
- Collaborate with Senior Forensic Accountants for review and approval of forensic reports.
- Facilitate the handing over of evidence to designated authorities.
- Ensure forensic outputs withstand judicial scrutiny including testifying in court regarding forensic report findings and prepare visual aids to substantiate findings. and support successful prosecution or asset forfeiture outcomes.
- Block proceeds of criminal activity as required in terms of Section 34 of the FIC Act.
- Act as final technical reviewer for Associate Forensic Accountant outputs prior to submission to Senior Forensic Accountant or Manager level.
Forensic Evidence Advocacy and Awareness
- Act and contribute as a recognised subject matter expert within one or more specialised forensic domains (e.g. proceeds of crime, procurement fraud, crypto asset investigations).
- Provide technical advocacy, training and/or awareness to relevant stakeholders on financial crime components.
- Assist in compiling reports and case studies for training purposes and benchmarking.
- Participate in the transfer of skills to team members to enhance overall effectiveness and capacity.
- Advise management of financial intelligence and evidence challenges as appropriate.
- Represent the FIC as a technical authority in external forums, task teams, or expert engagements.
Stakeholder Management
- Coordinate and lead meetings with stakeholders to gain insights and determine requirements for forensic evidence support.
- Ensure continuous stakeholder interface for seeking clarities, closing gaps, and enriching the data integrity of the forensic reports and affidavits.
- Represent the organisation at working groups, meetings, conferences and seminars when required.
- Utilise investigative experience and technical knowledge to work with the law enforcement agencies to investigate or prosecute serious or complex financial crimes
Risk and Compliance Management
- Lead the development, review, and continuous improvement of forensic methodologies, standards, and operating procedures within the Forensic Accountancy stream.
- Manage material forensic, legal, and reputational risk arising from complex investigations.
- Provide input into tactical plans and targets when required.
- Implement fraud controls, risk prevention principles, sound governance and compliance processes, and tools to identify and manage risks with the business unit.
- Assist in monitoring changes in the regulatory environment and the implementation of appropriate operational controls to address new requirements.
- Support and provide evidence to internal and external audit requirements when required.
- Maintain quality risk management standards in line with the organisation's risk management framework.
- Maintain and enforce all forensic related Service Level Agreements to minimise business risk and ensure business continuity.
- Adhere to all relevant laws, policies, and Standard Operating Procedures throughout the organisation.
EDUCATIONAL AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
- Honours Degree in Accounting, Forensic Accounting, Internal Audit or Criminal Law
- Association of Certified Fraud Examiners - ACFE - CFE-Full Membership CFE
- Institute of Commercial Forensic Practitioners - ICFP - FP (SA)-Full Membership
- Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists - ACAMS - CAMS Specialist Membership Certification Preferred
- Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialist - ACFCS - CFCS-Individual Membership Certification Preferred
- Security Clearance-Compliant
- 6 Years forensic investigations experience (criminal, financial crime, and proceeds of crime focused) with proven practical experience in collating, analysing, and preparing forensic financial evidence to support criminal investigations, prosecutions, and asset forfeiture processes, including work within multi agency or law enforcement environments and preparation of court ready investigative outputs.
