Pathward, N.A. - Manager, Advanced Financial Crimes Investigations, BSA/AML & Sanctions Operations

• 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. • 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.