BSA/AML Senior Investigator

The BSA/AML Senior Investigator coordinates day-to-day implementation of Northwest's enterprise-wide financial crime prevention efforts. This position will assist in the development of appropriate policies and procedures, including those designed to assist business units with knowing our customers and the necessary due diligence and to prevent, detect, and report potentially suspicious activity. Develops and maintains best practices to guard against and reduce financial fraud and related financial crimes against the Bank, its customers, and its employees. This position acts with sound judgement and strong adherence to procedures associated with suspicious activity monitoring reviews. This position provides subject matter expertise to team members within the Financial Crimes department as well as supporting business units.

The BSA/AML Senior Investigator will be responsible for performing triage investigations of transaction monitoring system generated alerts and referrals, including identifying root causes of the alert, sources and uses of funds, and potentially suspicious activity. They are also responsible for conducting investigations to identify potentially suspicious financial and/or fraudulent activity, to include money laundering, terrorist financing, fraud, and/or any other financial risks or crimes. The specialist may also contribute to customer due diligence reviews and enhanced due diligence and support OFAC screening reviews and the triage of potential sanctions hits. In instances indicative of money laundering and/or other financial crimes, the specialist will prepare suspicious activity reports for filing.

Essential Functions

• 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 businesses
• Prepare suspicious activity report forms in accordance with Northwest’s procedures and regulatory guidelines
• Provide a concurring decision to the recommendation or provide feedback for additional information with 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 the customers of Northwest
• 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 its related regulations
• Adhere to the performance metrics provided by Northwest management and 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 with respect to the development of risk management principles, reaching consensus on integration and alignment, and continually identifying enhancements
• 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 LOD management
• Assist in developing trainings and ongoing formal and informal communication to entrench a risk management culture in the bank
• Drive the 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 to ensure their alignment with Northwest’s risk management framework
• 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 to leaders within Financial Crimes with transparency
• Assist in complex or sensitive topics to achieve appropriate actions and outcomes
  
  

Additional Essential Functions

• Ensure compliance with Northwest’s policies and procedures, and Federal/State regulations
• Navigate Microsoft Office Software, computer applications, and software specific to the department in order to maximize technology tools and gain efficiency
• Work as part of a team
• Work with on-site equipment
  
  

Additional Responsibilities

• Handle other projects on request
• Ensure total documentation and data integrity
• Assist with training new employees, as needed
• Prepare information during regulatory examinations, audit, compliance or other BSA/AML reviews
  
  

Safety and Health for those without supervisory duties

• Abide by the rules of the safety and loss prevention program
• Perform work tasks in a safe manner
• Report any and all injuries to supervisor
• Know what to do in case of an emergency
  
  

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education

Bachelor's Degree Criminal Justice, Business, Account, Finance, or related degree

Work Experience

5 - 6 years AML/CFT related laws and regulations, knowledge, and applicability And

2 - 6 years Banking or regulatory Or

2 - 3 years Branch banking or operations

General Employee Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Ability to establish effective working relationships among team members and participate in solving problems and making decisions
• Ability to present and express ideas and information clearly and concisely in a manner appropriate to the audience, whether oral or written
• Ability to actively listen to what others are saying to achieve understanding, sharing information with others and facilitating the open exchange of ideas and information
• Ability to establish courses of action for self to accomplish specific goals, develop and use tracking systems for monitoring own work progress, and effectively use resources such as time and information
• Ability to make right decisions based on perceptive and analytical processes, practicing good judgment in gray areas
  
  

Additional Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

Ability to identify existing and potential problems, obtain and evaluate relevant information, identify possible causes of the problems, and suggest an alternative course 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 decisions, render judgments, and take action on tasks within the scope of given authority in a timely fashion

Ability to develop, evaluate, and implement alternative courses of action, based on correct assumptions concerning resources and guidelines, and support decisions or recommendations with data or reasoning

Ability to present and express ideas and information effectively and concisely in an oral and/or written mode in a manner appropriate for the audience

Ability to listen and comprehend what others are saying and facilitate the open exchange of ideas and information

Ability to motivate and provide direction in the activities of others, appropriately assigning work and authority, in the accomplishment of goals; providing advice and assistance as required

Ability to understand and appropriately apply procedures, requirements, regulations, and policies; maintain credibility with others on specialty matters

Extensive knowledge of appropriate regulatory requirements including local and US laws, international and industry standards

Extensive knowledge of AML/CFT regulations, risks, and appropriate controls

Ability to identify existing and potential problems, obtain and evaluate relevant information, identify possible causes of the problems, and suggest an alternative course 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

Team player

Strong organizational and communication / persuasive skills

Ability to analyze financial data and statistics

Licenses and Certifications

CAMS Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist