Forensic Accounting Senior Associate (Construction)

Grant Thornton is seeking a Real Estate & Construction Advisory Senior Associate to join our team in New York, NY. Additional approved locations include Philadelphia, PA, Chicago, IL, Phoenix, AZ, and San Francisco, CA.

As a Construction Advisory Senior Associate, you will have the opportunity to grow and contribute to our global clients’ business needs through all phases of project and engagement management across a wide variety of industries, with a focus on real estate and construction. The work you will be doing revolves around large and complex construction projects in the data center, energy, infrastructure, commercial real estate, and hospitality sectors, among others. You will plan, direct, and complete projects related to process improvements, vendor audits, risk and control assessments, investigations, litigation support, and project monitoring initiatives within the Forensics Advisory Services Practice – all with the resources, environment, and support to help you excel.

From day one, you’ll be empowered by the greater Risk team to help clients make the moves that will help them achieve their vision and help you achieve more, confidently.

Your day-to-day may include:

Reviewing construction contracts, financial statements, job cost reports, internal policies, and process maps to identify cost savings, process inefficiencies, and strategic initiatives

Performing complex financial analysis to identify trends, patterns, and anomalies across multiple sources of data and supporting documentation

Analyzing compliance with various labor requirements, including those required on prevailing wage jobs that are reliant on federal funding and/or pertinent to tax credit incentives

Assisting in matters involving fraud, waste, and abuse, including allegations of bribery, collusion, conflicts of interest, organized crime, and other scenarios posing legal or regulatory exposure to our clients

Conducting targeted research on regulatory requirements including, but not limited to, IRS authoritative guidance, accounting standards codification, and AICPA practice aids to support defensible conclusions on complex engagement needs

Communicate findings clearly and concisely to a variety of internal and external stakeholders

Coordinate with multiple stakeholders and third parties to understand the construction project control environment and propose recommended controls to address identified gaps

Run client engagements from start to finish, including planning, organizing, conducting, directing, and completing projects and services while managing projects to budget

Maintaining active communication with clients to manage expectations, ensure satisfaction, and become a trusted business partner

Working closely with engagement teams and managing and conducting forensic accounting procedures on multiple engagements concurrently

Collaborating across Grant Thornton service lines and with international colleagues to integrate diverse expertise and deliver comprehensive, high-impact client solutions

Managing, developing, training, and mentoring staff on projects and assessing performance for engagement and year-end reviews

Attend professional development, networking events, and training seminars regularly

Adhere to the highest degree of professional standards and strict client confidentiality

Other job duties as assigned

You have the following technical skills and qualifications:

Bachelor's degree in Accounting, Finance, Information Technology, MIS, or related field required

Minimum 2 years of related work experience in a similar consulting practice or function servicing real estate and/or construction clients at a national level required

CPA, CFE, CMA, CFA, CCA, CIA, PMP, PMBOK or other industry related certifications preferred

Preferred experience in management consulting, internal audit, regulatory compliance, and/or forensic engagements

Proven capabilities in performing advisory services in the real estate and/or construction industries

Strong computer skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite with a focus on robust excel capabilities

Knowledge of various federal and state construction labor regulations and requirements, including the Federal Davis-Bacon Act

Excellent analytical, research, and organizational skills with strong attention to detail

Ability to work on multiple engagements and competing priorities in a rapidly growing, fast-paced, interactive, results-based team environment

Exceptional client service and communication skills with a demonstrated ability to develop and maintain outstanding client relationships

Ability to work additional hours as needed and travel to various client sites, both domestic and international

Can travel as needed. Expected travel is 10% - 25%

The base salary range for this position is between $101,200 and $129,030. Placement within the pay range is at Grant Thornton’s discretion, and it is based on multiple factors, including but not limited to, job -related knowledge/skills, experience, business needs, progression within the role, geographic location, and internal equity. At Grant Thornton, compensation decisions are dependent upon the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.

*Candidates may be asked to complete a skills assessment as part of the recruiting process.

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At Grant Thornton, we believe in making business more personal and building trust into every result – for our clients and you. Here, we go beyond your expectations of a career in professional services by offering a career path with more: more opportunity, more flexibility, and more support. It’s what makes us different, and we think being different makes us better.

In the U.S., Grant Thornton delivers professional services through two specialized entities: Grant Thornton LLP, a licensed, certified public accounting (CPA) firm that provides audit and assurance services ― and Grant Thornton Advisors LLC (not a licensed CPA firm), which exclusively provides non-attest offerings, including tax and advisory services.

In 2025, Grant Thornton formed a multinational, multidisciplinary platform with Grant Thornton Ireland. The platform offers a premier Trans-Atlantic advisory and tax practice, as well as independent American and Irish audit practices. With $2.7 billion in revenues and more than 50 offices spanning the U.S., Ireland and other territories, the platform delivers a singular client experience that includes enhanced solutions and capabilities, backed by powerful technologies and a roster of 12,000 quality-driven professionals enjoying exceptional career-growth opportunities and a distinctive cross-border culture.

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