AML Governance Senior Manager - Anti-Money Laundering Governance & Advisory - Digital Assets

     In this role at Citizens, you’re made ready for a fulfilling career with exciting new challenges and opportunities to stretch yourself. You will be positioned for a fulfilling career with meaningful opportunities to grow and take on new challenges. This position offers a unique opportunity to support the continued evolution of the AML & Sanctions Program, including shaping governance and advisory capabilities as the bank expands digital asset–related activities.

      As part of the AML Governance & Advisory team, you will help mitigate money laundering and illicit finance risks to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies. You will support and lead key program initiatives, provide guidance on new and emerging products, services, and technologies, and deliver enterprise‑level and business line advisory support.

     Working closely with AML colleagues, you will contribute as a key individual contributor to program execution, risk identification, and the development of standards that support innovation and evolving risk profiles. You will also participate in initiatives that leverage innovation to enhance program effectiveness and strengthen financial crime risk management. Most importantly, you will feel valued, supported, and empowered to achieve both personal and professional goals at Citizens.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and business partners by assessing business strategies, identifying AML & Sanctions risks, and recommending practical, risk‑based solutions that align with regulatory expectations.
• Define, enhance, and maintain AML & Sanctions methodologies, risk frameworks, governance standards, and compliance requirements supporting digital assets and emerging payment activities.
• Research, analyze, and monitor AML, Sanctions, and illicit finance risk trends related to digital assets, including industry benchmarking and upstream risk identification.
• Interpret and apply evolving regulatory requirements and guidance, including BSA, USA PATRIOT Act, and OFAC expectations, and translate them into policies, control standards, and governance practices.
• Provide independent AML & Sanctions risk advisory support for digital asset activities, including custody, trading, payments, on‑ and off‑ramps, staking, settlement, and cross‑border blockchain‑based transactions.
• Partner with business lines throughout the product lifecycle to ensure AML & Sanctions risks are appropriately identified, assessed, documented, mitigated, and monitored prior to launch and through ongoing operations.
• Coordinate and perform enterprise, business line, and product risk assessments and compliance reviews to evaluate the effectiveness of AML & Sanctions controls and risk mitigation strategies.
• Collaborate with technology partners to identify, evaluate, and implement blockchain analytics, transaction monitoring, and digital asset risk management tools aligned with regulatory expectations and enterprise strategy.
• Participate in customer risk assessments, investigations, and complex escalations involving digital asset activity.
• Manage AML & Sanctions examinations, audits, and internal assurance activities, including issue remediation and regulatory engagement.
• Support AML & Sanctions governance committees through preparation of materials, executive reporting, and business intelligence development.

Qualifications, Certifications and/or Other Professional Credentials

• Relevant experience in AML, sanctions, financial crime risk, compliance, or audit within the financial services industry.
• Demonstrated experience supporting AML and sanctions risk management for digital assets, cryptocurrencies, tokenized products, or other emerging financial technologies.
• Deep understanding of banking products, financial crime regulatory requirements, and key risk drivers across products, operations, and technologies.
• Proven experience operating in environments subject to significant regulatory oversight and scrutiny.
• Expert knowledge of at least one AML program pillar with a strong understanding of end‑to‑end enterprise program design and execution.
• Experience conducting AML and sanctions risk assessments for new, innovative, or complex products and services, including digital asset and embedded finance offerings.
• Working knowledge of blockchain analytics, crypto transaction monitoring concepts, and third‑party digital asset risk man