Associate Forensic Accountant

Financial Intelligence Centre; Pretoria; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) is seeking a senior professional to lead forensic case workstreams, applying advanced accounting knowledge to gather, verify and interpret financial evidence for law enforcement investigations and prosecutions. The role involves independent design of investigative approaches, data quality assurance, and providing expert technical input.

The successful candidate will mentor junior staff and contribute to asset forfeiture outcomes while ensuring compliance

Qualifications

• Honours degree in accounting or related field and professional registrations preferred.
• ACFE/ACAMS/ACFCS/ICFP certifications are advantageous for the role.
• Minimum 3 years of forensic investigations experience with multi-agency collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Lead forensic investigations or defined workstreams within complex matters.
• Draft, quality-check, and defend forensic reports and affidavits in legal proceedings.
• Provide technical guidance to junior forensic accountants.
• Collaborate with law enforcement agencies and prosecutors.
• Ensure data integrity and support asset forfeiture processes.

Skills

Forensic accounting

Data analysis

Investigative interviewing

Legal testimony

Education

Honours degree in accounting/forensic accounting/internal audit/criminal law

SAICA CA SA-Registration preferred

ACFE - CFE full membership preferred

ICFP - FP(SA) associate membership

ACAMS - CAMS associate membership preferred

ACFCS - CFCS government level membership preferred

3 years forensic investigations experience

Job description

Financial Intelligence Centre -> State Forensic Capability

Job Type

Permanent

Education

skilled and academically qualified

Location

Cape Town - Cape Town, WC 8001 ZA
Pretoria - Centurion, GP 0157 ZA (Primary)

Travel

0 - 10%

Desired Race

African, Coloured

Desired Gender

Male

Closing Date

16/11/2026

The FIC is an equal opportunity employer. Preference will be given to suitably qualified applicants in line with our employment targets and our commitment to diversifying our workforce. As part of our recruitment and selection process, persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. All appointments are subject to satisfactory reference checks and security clearance.

Job Description

JOB PURPOSE

Apply well-developed technical forensic accounting knowledge to independently lead assigned forensic case workstreams, including the gathering, analysis, verification, and interpretation of financial evidence, to support law enforcement agencies in the investigation and/or prosecution of complex financial crimes, in order to support the overall strategic direction and targets of the forensic capability division.

Forensic Evidence Data Collection and Analysis

• Independently lead assigned forensic investigations or defined workstreams within complex matters, including planning and execution of analytical approaches.
• Independently determine investigative methodologies, analytical techniques, and evidence‑gathering strategies within approved forensic frameworks.
• Resolve evidentiary gaps and data integrity issues without routine escalation.
• 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 within acceptable forensic quality norms required.
• Identify and investigate discrepancies, patterns, and connections between financial intelligence information and evidence sources to support evidence integrity.
• Analyse indicators and typologies associated with relevant financial crime.
• Provide technical guidance to Junior Forensic Accountants during evidence collection and analysis.

Forensic Evidence Reporting

• Assume primary responsibility for the drafting, technical quality, and legal defensibility of forensic reports and affidavits for assigned cases.
• Contextualise financial information and/or evidence in support of law enforcement efforts by capturing findings and conclusions in the required reporting format andsystems and submit investigation outcomes, trends and recommendations as prescribed by relevant policies and procedure.
• Summarise and present 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.
• Collaborate with Senior Forensic Accountants and Forensic Accountants for the review and approval of forensic reports
• Facilitate the handing over of evidence to designated authorities.
• Assist in legal proceedings, including testifying in court regarding forensic report findings and prepare visual aids to substantiate findings.
• Block proceeds of criminal activity as required in terms of Section 34 of the FIC Act.
• Perform first‑level technical review and quality assurance of forensic reports prepared by Junior Forensic Accountants prior to escalation.

Forensic Evidence Advocacy and Awareness

• 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.
• Support the transfer of skills to team members to enhance overall effectiveness and capacity.
• Advise management of financial intelligence and evidence challenges as appropriate.

Stakeholder Management

• Act as the primary operational liaison with law enforcement agencies and prosecutors for allocated cases.
• Provide authoritative technical input to stakeholders on evidentiary matters within assigned investigations.
• 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

• Assist in the development and enhancement of standards, processes, policies, and roles within the Forensic Capability division
• 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
• South African Institute of Chartered Accountants - SAICA (CA) SA-Registration Preferred
• Association of Certified Fraud Examiners - ACFE – CFE-Full Membership CFE
• Institute of Commercial Forensic Practitioners - ICFP – FP (SA)-Associate Membership
• Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists - ACAMS - CAMS Associate Membership Certification Preferred
• Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialist - ACFCS - CFCS-Government Level Membership Certification Preferred
• 3 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.