Consulting Associate/Recovery Services (Forensic Services practice)

About the Role

CRA’s Forensic Services practice supports companies’ commitment to integrity by assisting them and their counsel in independently responding to allegations of fraud, waste, abuse, misconduct, and non-compliance. The Consulting Associate is a hands-on technical responder and forensic analyst who executes the core workstreams of incident response and recovery engagements. You will lead forensic collection and analysis, drive containment and eradication actions in hybrid Microsoft environments, and rebuild enterprise identity and infrastructure under time pressure.

Responsibilities

• Execute digital forensic collection and analysis across Windows, Linux, virtualized (VMware, Hyper-V), and cloud (Azure, M365, Google Workspace) environments
• Perform endpoint and identity containment using EDR platforms (CrowdStrike Falcon or equivalent), including real-time response, custom detection logic, and telemetry analysis
• Lead technical recovery workstreams in ransomware matters: domain controller rebuild and validation, tiered credential resets, hypervisor and backup restoration, and host checkout against defined gate criteria
• Investigate business email compromise and wire fraud matters, including mail flow reconstruction, tenant log analysis, OAuth and enterprise application audits, and attacker infrastructure attribution
• Analyze and remediate hybrid identity environments: Active Directory, Entra ID, Entra Connect, Conditional Access, and privileged access configurations
• Develop and maintain PowerShell, Graph SDK, and Python tooling for collection, containment, and recovery automation
• Produce clear, defensible written work product: forensic reports, investigation timelines, containment playbooks, and client status communications
• Support engagement scoping by contributing technical level-of-effort estimates grounded in environment evidence
• Interface directly with client IT teams, counsel, and carrier representatives during active matters

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of hands-on experience in incident response, digital forensics, or a closely related security engineering role
• Demonstrated experience responding to ransomware, BEC, or intrusion matters in enterprise environments
• Deep working knowledge of Active Directory and Entra ID, including attack paths (Kerberos abuse, shadow credentials, ADCS misconfigurations) and hardening controls
• Proficiency with at least one enterprise EDR platform and its response tooling
• Strong scripting ability in PowerShell; Python a plus
• Excellent written communication; able to produce report-quality prose without heavy editing
• Ability to operate independently under incident conditions and manage competing priorities across concurrent matters

Preferred Qualifications

• Industry certifications such as GCFA, GCIH, GNFA, GCFE, EnCE, CISSP, or equivalent
• Experience with virtualization forensics (VMware vSAN, iSCSI, datastore-level acquisition) and backup platform recovery
• Familiarity with Google Workspace forensics and administrative tooling
• Experience working under legal privilege with outside counsel and cyber insurance carriers
• Exposure to OT/ICS environments or regulated industries (healthcare, financial services)

Work Environment

Incident response work involves surge periods, including nights and weekends during active engagements.

Career Growth and Benefits

CRA’s robust skills development programs, including a commitment to offering 100 hours of training annually through formal and informal programs, encourage you to thrive as an individual and team member. Training includes research and analysis skill building, technical training, presentation skills, internal seminars, and career mentoring and performance coaching from an assigned senior colleague.

We offer a comprehensive total rewards program including:

• A superior benefits package (medical, dental, and vision insurance; 401(k) retirement plan with employer match; life and disability insurance; paid time off including vacation, sick leave, and holidays; paid parental leave)
• Wellness programming to support physical, mental, emotional, and financial well-being
• In-house immigration support for foreign nationals and international business travelers
• Commuter benefits

Work Location Flexibility

CRA expects individuals to spend at least 3 to 4 days a week working in the office (which may include traveling to another CRA office or to client meetings), with specific days determined in coordination with your practice or team.

Pay

The annual base salary range for this position is $100,000 - $126,500. Pay within this range may vary based on factors such as education level, experience, skills, geographic location, market conditions, and other qualifications. This position may also be eligible for additional bonus incentive compensation.