Sanctions Enforcement Specialist

6‑month W2 contract (possible extensions) with Primary Talent Partners for a financial services client in Jersey City, NJ. Hybrid schedule (50% onsite). Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.

About the role

CIB Functions – USD Clearing & Payments – Sanctions Enforcement and Exceptions. The Payments and Clearing Solutions (PCS) group provides international and domestic cash management services (customer payments, financial institution transfers, ACH and check collection) and handles monitoring, regulatory screening, reporting, and end‑of‑day reconciliation. PCS operates on a regional platform with processing split between Montreal and New York for resiliency. The Sanctions Enforcement and Exceptions team addresses escalations of messages flagged as “hits” against sanctions lists and manages those transactions through completion or escalation to Level 3.

Responsibilities

• Perform Level 2 review of transactions referred to the OFAC Exception queue for potential sanctions violations and manage queues to meet deadlines.
• Conduct investigations on payments held for regulatory reasons pending additional information; monitor case investigations to ensure proper follow‑ups and timely responses.
• Analyze information from case investigations to determine the proper course of action on the payment.
• Work closely with U.S. and Group Financial Services, Legal, and Treasury on wire transfer searches and regular case investigations as needed.
• Ensure all transactions escalated for Level 2 review comply with external and internal regulations and policies.
• Validate vendor‑added file uploads to filtering systems to ensure list changes, additions, or deletions are updated accurately; add/modify/delete entities on the local list as requested by the USFS team.
• Ensure all payments comply with company group payment transparency policy.
• Contribute directly to the operational permanent control framework.
• Prepare and analyze various reports as needed.
• Recommend procedural changes where deemed necessary.

Requirements

• Associate or BA degree from an accredited college/university.
• 2–3 years’ experience in OFAC and sanctions investigation.
• Strong understanding of regulatory awareness and the regulations that govern it.
• Proficient knowledge of OFAC processes and procedures.
• Knowledge of funds transfer operations and governing rules (CHIPS, Fedwire, SWIFT, LYNX, ACH).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, attention to detail, and accuracy.
• Self‑motivated with ability to multi‑task in a high‑volume, fast‑paced environment.
• Basic proficiency with MS Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Preferred qualifications

• ACAMS or ACSS certification.

Pay

$46.00 – $51.00 per hour (W2). No PTO, no traditional benefits; ACA‑compliant supplemental package available for enrollment.

Schedule

Hybrid – 50% onsite.