Manager, Advanced Financial Crimes Investigations, BSA/AML & Sanctions Operations

About the Role:

The Manager, Advanced Financial Crimes Investigations (AFCI) leads the review, investigation, and resolution of complex, high‑risk financial crime matters that exceed standard alert and case workflows. This role is responsible for managing escalations involving sophisticated typologies, multi‑account and multi‑product activity, repeat SAR subjects, examiner‑referred matters, and issues requiring heightened investigative judgment. This role directly manages a team of investigators, providing day‑to‑day leadership, performance management, workload assignment, quality oversight, and professional development to ensure consistent, regulator‑ready investigative outcomes.

The AFCI Manager serves as a subject‑matter expert and escalation point, providing second‑level investigative support, ensuring high‑quality, regulator‑ready outcomes, and strengthening investigative consistency across product‑aligned teams.

What You Will Do:

Investigation & Escalation Management

• Own and manage complex investigative escalations, including:
• Multi‑account and multi‑entity investigations
• Layering and structuring typologies
• Repeat SAR subjects and continuing activity matters
• Examiner‑, audit‑, or enforcement‑referred cases
• Serve as the central escalation point for urgent or high‑severity matters requiring senior leadership awareness or immediate action.
• Ensure appropriate identification of subjects, activity scope, and risk exposure across cases.

People Leadership & Team Management

• Own hiring and staffing for the AFCI team (requisitions, interviews, selection) in partnership with People & Culture.
• Set performance expectations, assign work, and manage capacity/coverage for escalations.
• Conduct 1:1s, performance reviews, coaching, and development plans; address performance issues with timely documentation and escalation as needed.
• Build team capability through onboarding, ongoing coaching, and targeted training on typologies, investigative methods, and narrative quality.
• Establish and monitor quality standards; ensure staff follow procedures and documentation requirements.
• Promote a strong control culture and accountability consistent with regulatory expectations.

Investigative Oversight & Quality

• Review and challenge investigative analyses, conclusions, and SAR determinations to ensure they are sound, defensible, and well‑documented.
• Ensure SAR narratives and decisioning meet regulatory expectations and withstand examiner, audit, and law enforcement scrutiny.
• Partner with QA and Governance teams to identify systemic issues, trends, or control gaps emerging from complex investigations.

Coaching & Expertise

• Provide investigative support and coaching to product‑aligned SAM, Fraud, and Sanctions teams.
• Serve as a subject‑matter expert on advanced typologies, investigative techniques, and analyst judgment.
• Support skill development through case feedback, targeted coaching, and participation in training initiatives.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with:
• Sanctions Operations on cross‑domain matters (AML, sanctions, fraud intersections)
• Fraud Operations on escalated fraud‑driven SAR matters
• Compliance Advisory and Legal on sensitive, high‑risk issues
• Support responses to regulatory inquiries, exams, and enforcement‑related follow‑ups as needed.

What You Will Need:

• Bachelor’s degree required (Finance, Criminal Justice, Accounting, Business, or related field)
• CAMS or equivalent AML certification strongly preferred
• Advanced certifications (e.g., CFE) a plus
• 7+ years of experience in BSA/AML investigations and SAR decisioning
• 2+ years of direct people management experience, including coaching, performance management, and talent development
• Proven experience handling complex, high‑risk financial crime typologies
• Demonstrated success defending investigative decisions in audit, exam, or regulatory settings
• Experience working across AML, fraud, and sanctions domains preferred
• Prior experience providing oversight, escalation support, or informal leadership strongly preferred
• Excellent communication and writing skills, including the ability to develop and deliver presentations to Board and C-suite audiences.
• Sound judgment and decision-making skills , particularly in ambiguous or time-sensitive situations.
• Collaborative approach with proven ability to build partnerships across functions and influence outcomes without direct authority.

Competencies

• Technical & Analytical
  • Deep knowledge of AML/SAR regulatory requirements and expectations
  • Advanced investigative analysis and risk assessment skills
  • Ability to connect patterns across products, customers, and timeframes
  • Strong narrative writing and documentation discipline
• Judgment & Decision‑Making
  • Ability to apply sound judgment in ambiguous or high‑risk situations
  • Comfortable making and defending difficult determinations
  • Understands regulatory risk, reputational risk, and operational impact
• Leadership & Influence
  • Credible escalation authority and presence
  • Ability to coach investigators and elevate standards without formal reporting lines
  • Clear, concise communication with leadership, partners, and regulators
• Organizational & Execution
  • Strong prioritization and time management in high‑pressure environments
  • Ability to balance urgency with thoroughness and quality
  • Detail‑oriented with a strong audit and examiner readiness mindset
• People Leadership
  • Talent selection and team building
  • Coaching and feedback; performance management
  • Delegation and workload planning
  • Culture building and accountability
• Operational Leadership
  • Ability to set priorities across competing escalations
  • Decision quality under pressure
  • Stakeholder management and escalation communication

The responsibilities listed above are not all inclusive and may be changed at any time.

Salary range:  $72,000 – $120,000

 
The salary range reflects the minimum and maximum target for a new hire in this role. Individual pay within the range will be determined by multiple factors which can include but are not limited to a candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills, and location. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary for your location during the hiring process. Ranges may be modified in the future.
This role is also eligible for an annual performance-based incentive opportunity.  Pathward offers a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees, including health insurance, 401(k) retirement benefits, life insurance, disability benefits, paid time off, and more.

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