AML/CFT Senior Investigator

About the Role

The AML/CFT Senior Investigator coordinates day-to-day implementation of Northwest's enterprise-wide financial crime prevention efforts. This position assists in developing appropriate policies and procedures, including those designed to help business units know their customers and perform necessary due diligence to prevent, detect, and report potentially suspicious activity. The role develops and maintains best practices to guard against and reduce financial fraud and related financial crimes against the Bank, its customers, and its employees.

The AML/CFT Senior Investigator performs triage investigations of transaction monitoring system-generated alerts and referrals, identifies root causes of alerts, sources and uses of funds, and potentially suspicious activity. They conduct investigations to identify potentially suspicious financial and/or fraudulent activity, including money laundering, terrorist financing, fraud, and other financial risks or crimes. The specialist may also contribute to customer due diligence reviews, enhanced due diligence, and support OFAC screening reviews. In instances indicative of money laundering or other financial crimes, the specialist prepares suspicious activity reports for filing.

Responsibilities

• Conduct suspicious activity investigations to identify patterns and trends consistent with money laundering and terrorist financing.
• Complete documentation with the highest level of quality, accuracy, and attention to detail in accordance with Northwest’s procedures and regulatory guidelines.
• Perform detailed analysis of suspicious activity monitoring alerts.
• Provide consultative BSA/AML guidance to various lines of business.
• Prepare suspicious activity report forms in accordance with Northwest’s procedures and regulatory guidelines.
• Provide a concurring decision to recommendations or feedback for additional information on suspicious activity monitoring alerts.
• Demonstrate knowledge of money laundering and terrorist financing typologies to recognize unusual/suspicious activity.
• Determine whether a suspicious activity report should be filed.
• Collect, analyze, and safeguard sensitive information concerning Northwest’s customers.
• Effectively maintain customer and case files, records, and related documentation.
• Determine whether alerts should be escalated based on Northwest policies and procedures and a review of the facts.
• Promptly notify supervisors and Financial Crimes management of any instances of non-compliance with AML/CFT and related regulations.
• Adhere to performance metrics provided by Northwest management and pursue continuing education to remain current with industry trends.
• Conduct research on applicable regulations to ensure sound decision-making.
• Provide consultative AML/CFT guidance to various lines of business as necessary.
• Influence outcomes across stakeholders in all lines of defense regarding the development of risk management principles.
• Assist leaders within Financial Crimes in developing and enhancing existing policies and procedures.
• Serve as a subject matter expert and resource to other members of the Financial Crimes Department and other lines of defense management.
• Assist in developing trainings and ongoing formal and informal communication to entrench a risk management culture in the bank.
• Drive adherence to Northwest’s BSA/AML and OFAC Policy and play a significant role in driving Northwest’s risk culture.
• Assist leaders within Financial Crimes with evaluating gaps and areas of improvement within business processes.
• Maintain a current awareness of the regulatory environment and emerging financial crimes that may impact Northwest’s products/services.
• Drive compliance with applicable regulatory and policy requirements.
• Apply sound ethical judgment regarding personal behavior, conduct, and business practices, and escalate, manage, and report control issues transparently.
• Assist in complex or sensitive topics to achieve appropriate actions and outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with Northwest’s policies and procedures, and Federal/State regulations.
• Navigate Microsoft Office Software, computer applications, and department-specific software to maximize efficiency.
• Work as part of a team and with on-site equipment.
• Handle additional projects as requested.
• Ensure total documentation and data integrity.
• Assist with training new employees, as needed.
• Prepare information during regulatory examinations, audits, compliance, or other BSA/AML reviews.
• Abide by the rules of the safety and loss prevention program.
• Perform work tasks in a safe manner and report any injuries to a supervisor.
• Know what to do in case of an emergency.

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice, Business, Accounting, Finance, or a related field.
• 5-6 years of experience with AML/CFT related laws, regulations, knowledge, and applicability.
• 2-6 years of experience in banking or regulatory environments, or 2-3 years of experience in branch banking or operations.

Skills

• Ability to establish effective working relationships among team members and participate in problem-solving and decision-making.
• Ability to present and express ideas clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing, in a manner appropriate to the audience.
• Active listening skills to achieve understanding, share information, and facilitate the open exchange of ideas.
• Ability to establish courses of action for self to accomplish specific goals, develop tracking systems, and effectively use resources such as time and information.
• Ability to make sound decisions based on perceptive and analytical processes, exercising good judgment in gray areas.
• Ability to identify existing and potential problems, obtain and evaluate relevant information, and suggest alternative courses of action, including innovative or creative approaches.
• Ability to allocate and effectively use information, personnel, time, and other resources necessary for implementation of Northwest’s strategic plans.
• Ability to make timely decisions, render judgments, and take action within the scope of given authority.
• Ability to develop, evaluate, and implement alternative courses of action based on correct assumptions concerning resources and guidelines, and support decisions with data or reasoning.
• Strong organizational and communication/persuasive skills.
• Ability to analyze financial data and statistics.
• Extensive knowledge of appropriate regulatory requirements, including local and U.S. laws, international and industry standards.
• Extensive knowledge of AML/CFT regulations, risks, and appropriate controls.
• Team player with the ability to motivate and provide direction to others.

Qualifications

• CAMS (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist) certification.