Forensic Accountant – Cryptocurrency Investigations, Senior Associate

As a Senior Associate Forensic Accountant at Forensic Risk Alliance, you join one of the world's most respected forensic accounting, investigations, and compliance consultancies. You bring genuine expertise in cryptocurrency and blockchain forensics to support investigations into fraud, money laundering, sanctions evasion, and financial crime across the cryptocurrency ecosystem. You help grow and shape FRA's Cryptocurrency Investigations and Compliance practice.

What you'll do

• Conduct cryptocurrency and blockchain investigations using blockchain analytics tools to trace the flow of funds, uncover fraud schemes, asset misappropriation, market manipulation, and sanctions evasion.
• Reconcile off-chain data such as email conversations and exchange records with on-chain transaction data to build comprehensive "follow-the-money" narratives.
• Advise cryptocurrency and fintech businesses on AML requirements including Know Your Customer (KYC), Transaction Monitoring, Suspicious Activity Reporting, Sanctions, and anti-bribery and corruption programs.
• Prepare documents, workpapers, and supporting materials that articulate the investigative steps performed.
• Communicate results with clients and colleagues through written and oral reporting, including drafting expert reports, memos, visualizations, and presentations that translate technical findings into clear insights.
• Balance multiple projects and responsibilities, track progress against work plans, and highlight potential issues to management.
• Collaborate with FRA teams on cryptocurrency topics for client alerts and thought leadership.
• Build and maintain relationships with industry and service provider contacts for networking, develop client relationships to drive firm growth, and collaborate on pitches and proposals for business development.
• Support senior team members in driving developments and innovation to enhance the Cryptocurrency Investigations and Compliance practice, with a keen interest in emerging crypto and Web3 trends, particularly those affecting non-banks and fintechs.
• Assess AML, sanctions, and fraud risks associated with crypto and Web3 business models in alignment with best practice and regulatory requirements.
• Stay current with the latest technology and regulatory requirements through independent research of BSA/AML regulations, FinCEN/Federal Reserve Code of Federal Regulations, and FFIEC BSA/AML Exam Manual.
• Assist in developing cryptocurrency investigation and compliance training for the FRA team.

What you bring

• 3+ years of relevant experience in the cryptocurrency industry, with 2+ years of hands-on experience conducting cryptocurrency and traditional money laundering investigations, including flow of funds analysis.
• Practical experience using both commercial blockchain analytics tools such as Chainalysis Reactor, TRM Labs, and Elliptic, as well as open-source blockchain explorers such as Blockchain.com, Etherscan.io, and Solscan.io.
• Knowledge of the cryptocurrency ecosystem, including blockchain and smart contract technologies, underlying blockchain architecture, and uses of cryptocurrency and DeFi.
• Experience in financial crime compliance and risk management within fintech, financial services, or Web3/crypto spaces, with a strong understanding of Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Transaction Monitoring (TM), Know Your Customer (KYC), and Sanctions compliance relevant to the Web3/Crypto space.
• Knowledge of compliance and regulatory frameworks applicable to financial institutions, with emphasis on FinCEN regulations and FFIEC guidelines, and a commitment to staying abreast of global regulatory changes and evolving cryptocurrency crime trends.
• A Bachelor's degree or equivalent academic qualification.
• Advanced organizational skills with a proven track record of prioritizing tasks to manage concurrent and conflicting deadlines.
• Proficiency in the full suite of Microsoft Office programs, with strong ability to analyze large datasets in Excel.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, solid work ethic, and an inquiring mind.
• Willingness to support thought leadership in the Cryptocurrency Investigations and Compliance practice.
• Ability and willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required.

Nice to have

• Certification in Chainalysis Reactor, TRM Labs, or equivalent blockchain analytics tool.

What we offer

• Base annual salary of $95k-$120k (Washington DC location), with final compensation based on relevant experience, skills, qualifications, and overall fit.

About Forensic Risk Alliance

FRA is a market leader in regulatory compliance, financial investigations, and data analytics, regularly hired for expertise on the world's largest multi-jurisdictional investigations and compliance matters and recognized as a global market leader.