Star Chen
Summary
I am a Certified Public Accountant and an accomplished forensic investigator who has provided advisory services to multinational organizations. I have leveraged my expertise to help clients address a wide range of complex issues related to fraud, anti-money laundering (AML) regulatory compliance, and commercial disputes. I have had international experience spanning the United States, Hong Kong, and mainland China, and have worked on several global investigations.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
DIRECTOR
MAZARS FORENSIC INVESTIGATION SERVICES
01.2022 - 07.2024
- Carried out a thorough investigation for a multinational food and beverage corporate on suspicions of management misappropriation of assets. Responsibilities included conducting interviews with senior management, the finance team, and other relevant parties to gather evidence and understand the scope of the issue. Demonstrated strong investigative skills and the ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional stakeholders.
- Conducted in-depth reviews of internal controls for multinational food and beverage corporations, covering areas such as T&E policies and processes, onboarding of third-party suppliers, treasury funds management, and fund transfers between subsidiaries. Identified control weaknesses and provided well-reasoned recommendations for improvement to Internal Audit, management, and the board of directors.
- Collaborated with external legal counsel, auditors, and management to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the illegal application of government tax subsidies by the Chinese subsidiary of an U.S. entity.
- Conducted a thorough investigation into the Chinese subsidiary of a Swiss high-tech manufacturing company following whistleblower allegations of management misappropriation of assets and collusion with related parties.
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR TO DIRECTOR
GRANT THORNTON ADVISORY SERVICES LIMITED
02.2017 - 12.2021
- Led proposals and delivered forensics engagements for a diverse range of listed and private companies across Hong Kong and Mainland China markets. Covered a variety of industries including manufacturing, agriculture, food and beverage, FMCG, LPG, and medical devices. Demonstrated the ability to effectively lead the engagement process, from proposal development to successful execution.
- Led an investigation into allegations of misconduct by the transaction advisory team engaged for a financial due diligence. Developed a detailed plan and oversaw the gathering and analysis of evidence. Synthesized the findings into thorough, well-structured reports that clearly articulated the key issues. Collaborated closely with legal counsel throughout the process to ensure adherence to laws and regulations.
- Advised independent board committees for companies domiciled in Hong Kong and China in their investigations into alleged fraudulent activities, management misconduct, misappropriation of assets and undisclosed connected party transactions for amounts greater than 4 billion RMB.
- Led investigations into private companies and corporations related to shareholder and transactional disputes, resolved through mediation, arbitration and litigation in Hong Kong, China and offshore jurisdictions.
VICE PRESIDENT OF COMPLIANCE
OK INC.
01.2016 - 11.2016
- Transformed compliance operations for a Fintech firm specializing in crypto-currency exchanges, enhancing corporate governance and risk management frameworks.
- Established an AML compliance program and crafted policies aligned with HKMA and PBoC regulations, ensuring stringent compliance standards in financial crime advisory.
- Conducted global AML risk assessments and reviewed crypto-currency regulations across multiple jurisdictions and supported international law enforcement investigations related to Bitcoin Exchange operations.
- Investigated customer complaints and mitigated fraud risks, enhancing operational integrity and customer trust.
ASSOCIATE TO MANAGER
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS
09.2007 - 09.2015
- Lead teams of consultants to conduct investigations related to Foreign Corrupt Practices Act violations in mainland China for multinational pharmaceutical companies. This involved leading teams of consultants to investigate allegations of management fraud, travel & entertainment (T&E) fraud, and bribery of doctors and other government officials. The investigations included conducting interviews with management, key employees, and third-party suppliers to uncover evidence and inconsistencies between the information presented.
- Led an AML (anti-money laundering) remediation for the Asia-Pacific private banking operations of a large international financial institution. This involved leading a team of 12 consultants to perform an anti-money laundering KYC (know your customer) remediation for over 500 client accounts across the Asia-Pacific region, based on the standards set by the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). The work included reviewing the KYC, Source of Wealth, Income, and Funds documentation to ensure the relevant documents (identification, address proof, customer screening) were complete and valid, while also providing coaching and feedback to the team.
- Conducted an investigation for a regional financial institution stemming from a whistleblower allegation and managed the eDiscovery review of forensically acquired emails, documents, and accounting system
- Executed a wide range of financial assurance engagements for leading banks, insurers, and asset management firms in both the United States and Mainland China markets. Ensured strict adherence to US GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles) and other relevant auditing standards throughout the engagement lifecycle. Leveraged in-depth knowledge of US and Chinese accounting frameworks to evaluate the accuracy and integrity of financial reporting,
Education
Master of Science - Accounting
University of Connecticut
08.2008
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
University of Connecticut
05.2007
Associate of Arts - Economics
University of Connecticut
05.2007
Skills
- Relativity
- Cellebrite
- Intella
- Tableau
Languages
English
Native language
Chinese (Mandarin)
Proficient
C2
Chinese (Cantonese)
Elementary
A2
Certification
Certified Public Accountant of Massachusetts
Timeline
DIRECTOR
MAZARS FORENSIC INVESTIGATION SERVICES
01.2022 - 07.2024
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR TO DIRECTOR
GRANT THORNTON ADVISORY SERVICES LIMITED
02.2017 - 12.2021
VICE PRESIDENT OF COMPLIANCE
OK INC.
01.2016 - 11.2016
ASSOCIATE TO MANAGER
PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS
09.2007 - 09.2015
Master of Science - Accounting
University of Connecticut
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
University of Connecticut
Associate of Arts - Economics
University of Connecticut
Certified Public Accountant of Massachusetts
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