Experienced Senior Associate, Blockchain Investigator

Job Summary:

The Experienced Senior will be accountable for using investigative and analytical techniques to formulate an understanding of blockchain transactions and using the results to support clients as they navigate retrospective and proactive digital asset investigations. The Experienced Senior will query large datasets using analytical tools, to surface critical insights during client engagements, and to support the drafting reports including expert witness reports. A strong understanding of the digital asset legal and regulatory landscape, along with strong communication and presentation skills will be critical in this role as it supports BDO's strategic goals. Additionally, a solid familiarity of investigative techniques, combined with the flexibility and strategic thinking needed to tackle a variety of tasks. It will be critical to be a self-starter that works well under minimal supervision, is organized and has the ability to solve complex problems.

Job Duties:

• Manages assignments involving the identification, collection, processing, review, and production of electronic data relevant to security and regulatory investigations
• Identifies relevant illicit financial activities including exploitation of cryptocurrency systems, manipulative trading, etc.
• Utilizes proprietary and open source blockchain analytics tools to perform complex transaction tracing, valuation, and risk analysis involving cryptocurrencies, smart contracts, and other digital assets
• Conducts Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) research including collection and analysis of unstructured data (e.g., social media to identify people and assets)
• Utilizes knowledge of databases and programming languages (e.g., Python, SQL, R, Java, C or equivalent) to analyze and interpret data, including historical financial, operational, and transactional data
• Identifies and analyzes patterns, outliers, correlations, clusters, and anomalies across data sets
• Drafts and prepares detailed reports, presentations, and data analyses
• Role will not only be investigatory in nature but encompasses many of the financial crime related challenges the cryptocurrency industry is addressing, including anti-money laundering (AML) and sanctions compliance (e.g., Know Your Customer (KYC), Know Your Transaction (KYT), Customer Due Diligence (CDD), Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), transaction monitoring, sanctions, screening)
• Supports and allocates resources efficiently to ensure projects are completed on time and within budget
• Supports Managers and Senior Managers as a point of contact for clients, ensuring their needs and expectations are met, and providing regular updates on project progress
• Other duties as required

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Reviews work prepared by Associates to ensure high-quality work product
• Supervises and supports the day-today workload of Associates on assigned engagements, reviews work product and provides feedback
• Ensures Associates are trained on all relevant resources
• Acts as Career Advisor and guides team members in developing their technical and analytical skills, ensuring they stay up-to-date with industry trends and best practices

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Education:

• Bachelor's degree, required; with a focus in Accounting, Finance, Data Analytics, Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Business Analytics, or Law, preferred

Experience:

• Practical experience investigating complex cryptocurrency cases involving blockchain exploits, obfuscation of funds, and other illicit activity using blockchain technologies, required
• Experience with cryptocurrency protocols, NFTs, DeFi, smart contracts, liquidity pools, bridges, market makers, digital asset trends, and transaction obfuscation methods to multiple client engagements, required
• Experience performing investigations and analysis for a variety of matter types in the blockchain space including but not limited to investigations, receiverships, expert testimony, compliance assessments, etc., required
• Experience performing analysis using one or more of the following tracing tools: Chainalysis Reactor/KYT, TRM Labs, Elliptic, Arkham, and Blockchain Explorers, required
• Experience using SQL server concepts to create efficient queries involving large sets of data, preferred
• Experience using DeFi Pulse, Dune Analytics or other resources for comprehensive DeFi insights, preferred
• Performing statistical analysis to assess volatility, correlations, and other quantitative metrics, preferred
• Experience creating visual data representations using Tableau, Power BI or D3.js. or comparable tools, preferred
• Experience working with traditional and cloud-based database servers, preferred

License/Certifications:

• CPA, CFE, or CAMS, preferred
• Certified Bitcoin Professional or Advanced Cryptocurrency Investigator, preferred
• Certification in analytics tools, preferred

Software:

• Proficient in the use of Microsoft Office Suite, specifically Access, Excel, PowerPoint, and Word, required
• Familiarity with Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASP) internal systems and tools (e.g., Chainalysis KYT, ComplyAdvantage, Acuant (IdentityMind), Notabene, Jumio and others), preferred

Language:

• Multi-language (speak, read, write), preferred

Other Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Excellent communication skills needed to share research and analysis findings with team members and clients
• Strong analytical and research skills related to the retrieval and organization of high volumes of information
• Well developed, detailed understanding of blockchain protocols and cryptocurrencies
• Proven ability to work in a deadline-driven environment and handle multiple projects simultaneously
• Ability to interact effectively with people at all organizational levels of the firm
• Willingness to partner with team members to represent BDO at industry events and engage in brand building activities
• Ability to support the development of staff and help grow the group's blockchain expertise

Individual salaries that are offered to a candidate are determined after consideration of numerous factors including but not limited to the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and geography.

National Range: $100,000 - $125,000
Maryland Range: $100,000 - $125,000
NYC/Long Island/Westchester Range: $100,000 - $125,000