Internal Investigator

OVERVIEW

The Internal Investigator is responsible for conducting timely, objective, and thorough investigations into employee theft, fraud, dishonesty, policy violations, and other internal-risk matters across ALO stores and operational locations. Reporting to the Internal Investigations Manager, this role will analyze exception-based reporting and operational intelligence into defensible investigations; conduct employee interviews; preserve evidence; document findings; and partner with Asset Protection, Human Resources, Legal, Retail Operations, and law enforcement as appropriate. 

The successful candidate combines strong analytical judgment with disciplined investigative interviewing, clear writing, discretion, and the ability to manage sensitive matters in a fast-moving retail environment.

RESPONSIBILITIES  

• Identify, develop, and manage internal investigations involving employee theft, fraudulent returns, gift card and refund fraud, cash-loss activity, policy violations, confidential-information incidents, and other misconduct. 
• Use exception-based reporting and related investigative tools to identify patterns, prioritize risk, build case leads, and determine appropriate investigative scope. 
• Leverage AI-enabled tools to develop internal case dashboards and trend analyses that identify potential cases, prioritize investigative leads, and support efficient case resolution while maintaining data accuracy, confidentiality, and appropriate human review. 
• Analyze transaction, refund, gift card, employee credential, schedule, video-surveillance, RFID, ecommerce, and other operational data to corroborate allegations and quantify loss. 
• Conduct internal investigative interviews using a non-accusatory, fact-based approach; obtain complete written statements, admissions when applicable, and repayment documentation. 
• Maintain Wicklander-Zulawski interview standards and ensure interviews are conducted professionally, ethically, and in alignment with ALO policy and applicable law. 
• Prepare concise, persuasive case reports and executive summaries that clearly distinguish substantiated, unsubstantiated, potential, and admitted case values. 
• Safeguard and organize evidence, including video, transactional records, RFID data, witness information, written statements, and other case documentation. 
• Coordinate investigation planning, interview logistics, and post-interview actions with HR, Asset Protection, Retail leadership, and Legal. 
• Support restitution and recovery efforts, including accurate case submission to ALO-approved restitution vendors within established timelines. 
• Prepare law-enforcement referral packages and support prosecution decisions when approved by Legal and Asset Protection leadership. 
• Provide clear investigative updates to business partners while maintaining confidentiality and need-to-know controls. 
• Identify control gaps and recommend practical corrective actions, including credential security, POS and mobile-POS controls, gift card controls, inventory handling, and process compliance. 
• Support training and awareness initiatives that improve reporting quality, evidence preservation, and internal-risk prevention across the field. 
• Manage multiple investigations simultaneously while meeting ALO case-quality, confidentiality, and turnaround expectations. 

QUALIFICATIONS

• 5+ years of internal investigations, Asset Protection, Loss Prevention, corporate security, or comparable investigative experience; multi-unit retail experience strongly preferred. 
• Demonstrated experience using exception-based reporting to identify, investigate, and resolve employee theft, fraud, return abuse, cash loss, or similar internal-risk matters. 
• Current Wicklander-Zulawski (WZ) interview certification. 
• Demonstrated experience conducting employee investigative interviews and preparing clear written statements and investigative reports. 
• Experience reviewing and synthesizing video surveillance, POS and mobile-POS activity, transaction records, inventory/RFID data, schedules, and ecommerce or customer-order data. 
• Working knowledge of evidence handling, investigative documentation, restitution practices, and law-enforcement referral processes. 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex findings clearly to executive and field audiences. 
• High degree of integrity, sound judgment, discretion, and ability to handle highly sensitive and confidential information. 
• Ability to travel as business needs require, including periodic overnight travel; ability to conduct interviews in person and remotely. 
• Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, Business, Security Management, or a related field, or equivalent relevant experience. 
• Experience with retail exception-based reporting platforms. (Appriss, Aspect, Agellance etc.) 
• Experience with Shopify or comparable ecommerce platforms and retail inventory/RFID systems. 
• Experience supporting civil recovery, restitution, or criminal prosecution workflows. 
• Professional certifications such as CFI, LPC, CFE, or related investigative credentials.