Fraud Investigator - Independent Contractor

Description

Are you a highly skilled professional in fraud investigation? We're building a team for a potential upcoming project and are seeking investigators to join our talent pool on an independent contractor basis. This pivotal role is contingent upon the successful award of the contract.

We are specifically seeking expertise in investigative strategy and interviewing. This work involves meticulously examining records, operational processes, and digital footprints; conducting sensitive interviews to gather information; determining the nature and extent of potential fraud; and assessing its impact on the organization. Depending on your experience, this work will involve collaborating with team members to set the investigative strategy for the project or parts of the project.

The Vander Weele Group is a leading provider of grant monitoring and oversight solutions. We empower government agencies and grant-funded organizations to maximize their impact and ensure responsible stewardship of public funds. We leverage deep domain expertise to streamline grant monitoring processes, mitigate risks, and enhance transparency.

Key Responsibilities

• Review and analyze suspicious transactions, accounts, and activities flagged by internal systems or reported by external sources.
• Conduct thorough and impartial investigations into alleged fraudulent activities, gathering evidence and documenting findings across financial, operational, and administrative areas.
• Conduct in-depth research and analysis to identify fraud patterns, vulnerabilities, and emerging threats to support risk mitigation efforts.
• Assist in identifying and obtaining forensic, policy, or other specialized expertise required for complex investigations.
• Conduct effective and ethical interviews with subjects, witnesses, and complainants, employing techniques to elicit pertinent information.
• Connect with internal stakeholders (e.g., staff, department heads) and external parties (e.g., financial institutions, law enforcement, grant agencies) to gather information and facilitate investigations.
• Analyze data related to fraud incidents to quantify financial losses and inform future prevention strategies.
• Conduct special research projects relevant to fraud prevention and detection.
• Manage evidence collection and chain of custody.
• Assist with the development and delivery of fraud awareness training and presentations for personnel.
• Compile and analyze statistical data using modern and traditional methods to collect it.
• Capture investigation details and findings during reviews and research to upload into our case management system for tracking and reporting purposes.
• Other risk management and security support activities, as needed.
  
  

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in criminal justice, finance, accounting, public administration, or a related business, legal, or social science field, or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of experience in conducting fraud investigations, with a preference for experience within public sector entities.
• 2-3 years of experience in setting investigative strategies, gathering and analyzing evidence, conducting interviews, and preparing detailed investigative reports.
• Have a proven track record of successful fraud detection, investigation, and resolution.
• 2-3 years of experience working with financial transaction monitoring systems, forensic tools, or other investigative software.
• Familiarity with anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) regulations is a plus.
• Familiarity with grant regulations and public funds accountability is a significant plus.
• Experience with data analytics tools (e.g., Excel, SQL, Tableau) or Google Workspace is a plus.
• Strong research skills.
• Must have demonstrated proficiency in analytical research, critical thinking, and problem-solving, with a keen eye for detail.
• Must be a self-motivated, organized individual with excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritize meeting critical deadlines.
• Excellent critical thinking skills to analyze complex data and form sound judgments based on investigative findings and applicable regulations.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and ability to interface with internal teams, administration, clients, and external authorities.
• Outstanding teamwork skills: the ability to work cooperatively with others, to be part of a team, listen and respond to others with respect, and act on behalf of the larger organization.