Sr. Risk Operations Associate

About Betterment

Betterment is a leading, technology-driven financial services company that offers investing and retirement solutions for retail investors and investment advisors as well as financial wellness solutions, including a 401(k) for small and medium-sized businesses. Our team is passionate about our mission: making people’s lives better. We’re headquartered in NYC and offer hybrid NY-based positions (three days/ week in-office).

 

About the role

Betterment’s Risk Operations team plays a critical role in protecting our platform and customers from fraud and financial crime. We are responsible for day-to-day transaction monitoring, investigating suspicious activity, and ensuring compliance with AML (Anti-money Laundering) and Fraud regulations.

As a Risk Operations Associate, you will be on the front lines of identifying and mitigating risk, analyzing financial transactions, and interacting with customers to assess and resolve concerns. You will need to balance analytical rigor with excellent communication skills, as well as be comfortable working in a dynamic, fast-paced environment. 

You are a process-driven individual who loves checking items off your to-do list. You are always thinking of ways to make complicated tasks more efficient, while keeping a keen eye on the big picture. You have a knack for anticipating when a situation could be risky and quickly resolving it appropriately.

We are looking for individuals who are risk-aware, customer-focused, analytically minded, and collaborative—core values that define the Risk Operations team. You are metrics-oriented in nature and use data to inform your decisions whenever possible. You are a strong communicator who enjoys interacting with other people to address any issue that comes your way. While experience in fraud, AML, or financial services is a plus, the most important qualities are intellectual curiosity, strong problem-solving abilities, and enthusiasm.

This role is based out of our NYC office. Below we've reflected the base salary range we would offer for this position. Actual salaries may vary depending on factors including but not limited to location, experience, and performance. The range listed is just one component of Betterment’s total compensation package for employees. 

• New York City: $65,000 - $90,000

We offer a competitive equity package, health, dental and vision benefits, life and AD&D, short-term and long-term disability insurance, EAP, commuter and parking benefits FSA/HSA, and 401(k) with employer match as well as a flexible PTO policy. This job may also be eligible for variable compensation in the form of a company incentive bonus.  For jobs based out of our NYC HQ, we require in office attendance Tuesday through Thursday, weekly.

 

A day in the life

• Monitor and investigate customer activity for signs of fraud, money laundering, or other suspicious behaviors, taking action when necessary.
• Engage directly with customers to resolve cases, clarify account activity, and ensure a positive experience.
• Utilize transaction monitoring tools to assess risk and detect unusual patterns, escalating cases as appropriate.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders (Compliance, Engineering, Customer Experience) to refine risk strategies and improve operational efficiencies.
• Support ongoing compliance efforts related to KYC (Know Your Customer), KYB (Know Your Business), and other regulatory requirements.
• Identify process improvements that enhance fraud detection, reduce false positives, and streamline case handling.
• Contribute to team success metrics, including fraud loss rates, customer satisfaction, and regulatory compliance.

 

What we’re looking for

• 1-3 years of experience in fraud prevention, AML, finance, payments, or brokerage operations (preferred but not required).
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to assess risk and make data-driven decisions.
• Customer-focused mindset with excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• High level of attention to detail and ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Comfortable with investigating financial transactions and understanding how money moves through various financial systems.
• Proficiency in Excel/Google Sheets for data analysis; experience with SQL or fraud detection tools is a plus.
• A proactive approach to problem-solving, with the ability to work independently while also being highly collaborative.
• Excitement for the fraud and financial crime space and a willingness to conti