Senior Manager, Market Intelligence & Strategic Research

Who We Are:

ACAMS is the global leader in certification, training, and intelligence for anti-financial crime (AFC) professionals. ACAMS sets the standard for how organizations prevent, detect, and respond to money laundering, fraud and sanctions evasion. Trusted by 70% of the world's leading banks, as well as governmental and law enforcement agencies, and FinTechs, the organization has 120,000+ members across 200+ countries and territories. Its 65+ chapters and annual conferences connect AFC professionals across every major financial center. Learn more at acams.org.


Opportunity at a Glance
ACAMS is seeking a highly analytical and commercially minded Senior Manager, Market Intelligence & Strategic Research to support strategic decision-making across growth initiatives, partnerships & alliances, competitive positioning, market expansion, and corporate development.
Reporting directly to the Chief Strategy & Partnerships Officer, the successful candidate will lead research efforts that provide actionable intelligence on markets, competitors, strategic partners, emerging trends, and acquisition opportunities. The role will play a critical part in shaping ACAMS' growth strategy and identifying opportunities to strengthen its leadership position in the global anti-financial crime and fraud markets.
This position is ideal for an intellectually curious individual who enjoys transforming complex market information into strategic recommendations for executive leadership.

Responsibilities
Market Intelligence & Industry Research
• Monitor industry developments, investor sentiment, regulatory changes, technology trends, and emerging market opportunities across anti-financial crime compliance, fraud, risk, governance, and related sectors including digital media, AI, technology and cybercrime
• Conduct primary and secondary research to provide actionable insights into market trends, customer needs, competitive dynamics, industry developments, opportunity and risk analysis
• Develop executive briefings, market reports, and strategic intelligence updates for senior leadership
Competitive Intelligence & Positioning
• Lead comprehensive competitive intelligence activities across ACAMS' key markets
• Analyze and assess competitors' products, services, partnerships, acquisitions, pricing, go-to-market strategies, and relative offerings and positioning
• Develop competitor profiles, benchmarking studies, and market maps.
• Identify threats, opportunities, and strategic implications arising from competitive developments
Opportunity Identification & Market Sizing
• Identify emerging growth opportunities, adjacent markets, customer segments, and expansion opportunities
• Conduct market attractiveness assessments and market sizing analyses
• Evaluate new business opportunities and support strategic investment decisions
• Develop quantitative and qualitative business cases to support strategic initiative
Strategic Partnership Research
• Research, evaluate, and prioritize potential strategic partners, industry associations, technology providers, content partners, and distribution channels
• Assess partnership opportunities based on strategic fit, market reach, commercial value, and competitive advantage
• Support partnership development activities through market and ecosystem analysis
Corporate Development & M&A Research
• Conduct research and analysis on acquisition targets, investors, market consolidation trends, and adjacent sectors
• Support strategic assessments of potential acquisitions, investments, and corporate development opportunities
• Analyze company financials, ownership structures, growth profiles, and strategic positioning
• Assist with preliminary due diligence and executive briefing materials
Executive Insights & Strategic Support
• Translate complex findings into clear and actionable recommendations
• Present research and insights to senior leadership and cross-functional stakeholders
• Support annual strategic planning, growth initiatives, and board-level discussions
• Maintain research methodologies, intelligence repositories, and market databases


Qualifications
Required:
• Bachelor’s degree in business, Economics, Finance, Marketing, Strategy, Data Analytics, or a related field
Preferred:
• Master’s degree in business, Economics, Strategy, Finance, Data Analytics, or similar discipline
Location:
• DC location (hybrid) / will consider London, UK (hybrid)
• Base ranges: DC $130K - $180K USD / London GBP $100K - 150K

Experience
• 3-5 years of experience in market intelligence, strategic research, competitive intelligence, corporate strategy, corporate development, investment banking, management