Senior Financial Investigator

About the role

Senior Financial Investigator (SFI) and Financial Investigator (FI) organize and conduct detailed examinations of information generated during complex financial criminal or civil investigations and alternative sources to perform financial analyses of personal and business assets of targeted organizations or individuals. They prepare documentation for law‑enforcement personnel pursuing civil and criminal forfeiture matters.

Responsibilities

• Develop forfeiture processes and procedures associated with ongoing financial investigations, introducing tools and techniques to analyze financial information.
• Provide advice and guidance to investigating agencies, including education of agents on specific tools and techniques, and deliver informal and formal training sessions and reference guides.
• Analyze financial records obtained through internal and external databases, reviewing bank statements, deposits, debit transactions, checks, letters of credit, Currency Transaction Reports (CTR), loan applications, and related records obtained via Federal and State subpoenas and search warrants.
• Identify hidden assets and false statements used to conceal illicit assets and make them appear legitimate.
• Assist in determining forfeiture amounts, tracing assets during investigations, and helping the Government perfect its interest in property.
• Locate and repatriate assets subject to forfeiture; identify individuals and entities making deposits and related bank accounts, properties, investments, and other assets.
• Maintain detailed case documentation and database files of financial investigative research to trace proceeds of criminal activities and interests in targeted property.
• Research and analyze information from investigative and business‑related automated systems, including Choice Point, Autotrack, TECS, FINCEN, CLEAR, THREADS, Accurint, ISYS, Lexis‑Nexis, PACER, CourtLink, Westlaw, NADA, UsedPrice.com, and other internet resources.
• Analyze and document ownership interests of targeted properties; trace proceeds of criminal violations; create databases from financial records; prepare seizure warrants, civil complaints, forfeiture counts, exhibits, and catalog evidence.
• Identify, analyze, and document potential substitute assets.
• Utilize social‑media and cyber research tools to identify assets; parse dialed‑number strings to uncover amounts and property subject to forfeiture.
• Assist in developing probable cause for seizure warrants, temporary restraining orders, civil complaints, and forfeiture counts.
• Provide investigative support for coordinated planning to mitigate excessive risks in seizing property, including assessment of community impact.
• Prepare documents and catalog case exhibits on source and ownership of targeted properties; perform analytical research to record potential substitute assets.
• Identify witnesses and subjects; assist case agents/attorneys during interviews and courtroom proceedings; provide testimony and depositions regarding investigative analysis and asset identification.
• Conduct detailed link analyses specific to forfeiture, using financial analysis results and investigative techniques such as Title III surveillance to determine relationships between subjects and events leading to alleged forfeitability.
• Research and identify assets using data‑amplification programs and various forms of cryptocurrency (e.g., Bitcoin).

Requirements

• Minimum ten years of law‑enforcement experience planning, conducting, and participating in complex financial investigations for SFI (five years for FI).
• At least five years of experience in a specialized area such as forfeiture, organized crime, white‑collar crime, fraud, drug, money laundering, or a similar criminal activity.
• Undergraduate degree.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Working knowledge of current financial investigative techniques, including use of commercial databases and other information sources.
• Foreign language skills are preferred.

Skills

• Proficiency with commercial and law‑enforcement databases (Choice Point, Autotrack, TECS, FINCEN, CLEAR, THREADS, Accurint, ISYS, Lexis‑Nexis, PACER, CourtLink, Westlaw, NADA, UsedPrice.com, etc.).
• Ability to conduct financial record analysis, link analysis, and asset tracing.
• Experience preparing legal documents such as seizure warrants, civil complaints, forfeiture counts, and evidentiary exhibits.
• Capability to deliver training and develop reference guides for investigative agencies.
• Strong written and oral communication skills for report writing, courtroom testimony, and deposition preparation.
• Knowledge of cryptocurrency investigation techniques.
• Competence in using social‑media and cyber research tools for asset identification.
• Analytical research skills to identify substitute assets and assess community impact of property seizures.