BSA/AML Suspicious Activity Manager

Job Description

The Anti-Money Laundering/Countering the Financing of Terrorism Director of BSA/AML Suspicious Activity plays a pivotal role in safeguarding the Bank from financial crime risks and ensuring compliance with applicable AML/CFT regulations. The individual will oversee all aspects of sanction screening, suspicious activity monitoring, and regulatory reporting, including the accurate and timely filing of SARs. They are responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive compliance framework that aligns with regulatory expectations, industry standards, and the Bank's strategic goals. This position will manage the end-to-end sanction screening process to ensure compliance with OFAC regulations.  The Director of BSA/AML Suspicious Activity works closely with the Head of Financial Crimes and other department personnel to ensure policies, procedures, and processes are appropriate for the size and complexity of Northwest Bank. 
 
Essential Functions
•    Manage the team with responsibilities including, but not limited to managing the workflow and workload of the team, counseling on quality standards, and expectations necessary to for alerts, cases, SARs, and the required documentation to support decisions
•    Provide direct access and supervision to department managers, including guidance on administrative and supervision requirements, and escalated questions. Ensure the team has the necessary training and resources required for oversight of the team
•    Provide oversight to the suspicious activity monitoring and reporting program by way of assessing the impact of key regulatory developments, sanctions, and industry best practices throughout Northwest
•    Identify and implement operational efficiencies to ensure a streamlined and regulatory compliant suspicious activity monitoring and reporting methodology, including sanction screening
•    Serve as liaison for regulatory examinations, audit, compliance or other financial crime matters.
•    Work with the IT personnel and third-party vendors to ensure the automated transaction monitoring software is designed to detect money laundering, terrorist financing, and other financial crimes
•    Responsible for effectiveness of financial crimes rules and coverage
•    Provide consultative guidance to appropriate Bank personnel regarding AML/CFT matters
•    Must be able to read and interpret government regulations and maintain proficient knowledge of the BSA its related regulations, including the USA PATRIOT Act
•    Review and update necessary procedures to ensure compliance and adherence to regulatory expectations and industry best practices.
•    Evaluate and recommend industry related technology solutions to ensure that the Bank remains at the forefront of financial crimes compliance.
•    Independently recognize, develop, and implement cost effective financial crimes compliance solutions for the department
•    Maintains regulator metrics for key performance indicators (KPIs) and key risk indicators (KRIs) and assists in the preparation of Committee and Board reporting
 
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
•    Experience in managing regulatory exams and relationships with examiners and auditors
•    Extensive knowledge of appropriate regulatory requirements including local and US laws, international and industry standards
•    Extensive knowledge of AML/CFT regulations, fraud, risks, and appropriate internal controls
•    Demonstrated leadership and motivational skills
•    Ability to work with regional partners, and influence and lead people
•    Ability to work effectively within a team
•    Strong organizational and communication and persuasion skills
•    Awareness of business legal environment, compliance, and strategic risks
 
Safety and Health for Supervisors with Direct Reports
•    Provide leadership and positive direction for maintaining the safety and loss prevention program
•    Actively participate in and support employee participation in the safety and loss prevention program by ensuring that employees know how to properly report a safety issue, making sure that all accidents are promptly reported to Human Resources and documented, and ensuring that prompt action is taken whenever workplace hazards are identified
•    Help implement emergency procedures
 
QUALIFICATIONS
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfacto