BSA Coordinator - High Risk Analyst

ABOUT US

Ascend is the largest credit union in Middle Tennessee and one of the largest credit unions in the United States, with over $4 billion in assets. With an occupation-based field of membership, Ascend is focused on the expansion and diversification of the select employee groups it serves, which creates greater security for the credit union and its member-owners. Approximately 650 employees serve more than 260,000 members from 27 Middle Tennessee branch locations, Regional Operations Center, Teller Center and Corporate Headquarters. Ascend recognizes that its employees are critical to the credit union’s sustained success and future growth. Our employees are the face of the credit union and their personal successes fuel the success of the team. Through collaboration between employees, management, our membership and our Board, we fuel an engine that propels the credit union forward.

WHAT WE OFFER

Thank you for your interest in a career with Ascend Federal Credit Union! Being employed by Ascend is vastly different than just holding a job. The credit union prides itself on providing employees rewarding career opportunities, competitive benefits and a unique work culture. The credit union’s commitment to its employees is fostered by its commitment to the member-owners, ensuring dedicated and engaged employees to serve the membership. Ascend’s vision to be the most loved credit union in our market by employees and members alike has earned the credit union distinctions including Federal Credit Union of the Year (NAFCU, 2015), Best Credit Union to Work For (2016-2022) and Training APEX Awards (2015-2023).

WHAT YOU WILL DO EVERYDAY

As BSA High Risk Analyst, you will be responsible for overseeing the identification, monitoring, and management of high-risk members and entities to ensure full compliance with Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations, and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) requirements. Your primary focus will be on executing Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), maintaining rigorous high-risk monitoring protocols, and managing sanctions compliance. You will play a critical role in ensuring that member risk ratings accurately align with their activity and overall risk exposure. Additionally, the role will strengthen the credit union's compliance framework by evaluating the effectiveness of risk models, scoring methodologies relating to high-risk members, and monitoring systems.

HOW YOU WILL MAKE AN IMPACT

• Identify and manage high risk members throughout the member lifecycle, including onboarding, periodic reviews, and ongoing monitoring.
• Perform and document member due diligence and enhanced due diligence reviews to understand the nature, purpose, and expected activity of high risk relationships.
• Maintain ownership of assigned high risk portfolios, ensuring reviews are completed timely and documentation is complete and audit ready.
• Validate member risk ratings based on transactional behavior, stated sources of funds, member profile information, and identified risk factors.
• Review and investigate Anti-Money Laundering alerts and cases associated with high risk members.
• Determine when activity warrants escalation and the filing of Suspicious Activity Reports.
• Prepare and file Suspicious Activity Reports and supporting documentation within regulatory timeframes, including clear investigative narratives and conclusions.
• Maintain complete documentation supporting decisions to file or not file Suspicious Activity Reports.
• Conduct enhanced sanctions reviews for high risk members and escalated alerts.
• Investigate potential matches, document findings, and determine appropriate disposition using independent judgment.
• Coordinate escalation and required reporting of confirmed or potential matches.
• Ensure ongoing sanctions compliance, including reviews tied to material changes in member relationships.
• Use the credit union’s BSA/AML monitoring system to assess and manage member risk, including: Member Due Diligence/Enhanced Due Diligence workflows and case management, member risk categories and member segmentation, and member risk categories and member segmentation.
• Review reports related to high risk members, including: missing or incomplete due diligence documentation, unmatched or inconsistent member data, overdue or missing Enhanced Due Diligence review dates, beneficial ownership status, and quality assurance or secondary review outcomes.
• Collaborate with BSA leadership to recommend enhancements to: risk categories and segmentation, risk factors and scoring thresholds, monitoring logic related to high-risk members, and participate in testing, validation, and documentation of changes to high risk risk models and scoring methodologies.
• Work closely with the Business Banking department to