Senior BSA Compliance Analyst (AVP Level Depending on Experience)
Santa Rosa, CA • BSA
Job Type
Full-time
Description


Summary


AVP Senior BSA Compliance Analyst: 

 

Under minimal direction of the VP, Fraud & BSA Compliance Lead, the AVP, Senior BSA Compliance Analyst is responsible for supporting the Bank's Fraud, BSA, and AML Compliance Programs through the investigation, detection, and mitigation of financial crime risks. This position leads complex fraud, suspicious activity, sanctions, and Elder Financial Exploitation investigations; performs quality assurance reviews; supports regulatory reporting and high-risk customer due diligence; and assists with fraud detection system optimization and data quality initiatives. The role serves as a key compliance resource by ensuring adherence to regulatory requirements, identifying emerging risks, supporting audits and examinations, recommending process improvements, and mentoring team members to promote a strong culture of compliance, operational excellence, and risk-based decision making. This position requires that the individual work in office, independently, and with minimal supervision.


The AVP Senior BSA Compliance Analyst ensures compliance within all Bank policies and procedures, as well as all applicable state and federal banking regulations.


Senior BSA Compliance Analyst: 

  

Under minimal direction of the VP, Fraud & BSA Officer, the Senior BSA Compliance Analyst is responsible for account identification, analyzing and reporting any transactions believed to be associated with unusual and suspicious account activity such as potential fraud, structuring, money laundering, or/and terrorist financing to ensure the Bank is in compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and USA Patriot Act. This includes identification of unusual transactions and escalating incidents to the BSA Officer as appropriate, in a timely and accurate manner. The Senior BSA Compliance Analyst performs various quality controls reviews and monitoring pertaining to the Bank Secrecy Act, USA Patriot Act, Anti-Money Laundering Program, OFAC, and Customer Identification Program compliance using industry standard and regulatory guidance to ensure the Bank’s compliance efforts are maintained on a daily basis. This position requires that the individual work in office, independently, and with minimal supervision.


Ensures compliance within all Bank policies and procedures, as well as all applicable state and federal banking regulations.


Essential Duties and Responsibilities


AVP Senior BSA Compliance Analyst:

  • Support and enhance the Bank’s Fraud Program response, including day-to-day responsibilities, alert/case investigations and Financial Elder Abuse reporting.
  • Lead comprehensive Fraud investigations of escalated transactions-monitoring alerts and internal referrals, maintaining appropriate case documentation, making defensible risk-based decisions, and meeting regulatory reporting requirements.  
  • Investigate and oversee cases of Elder Financial Exploitation (EFE), identify potential financial abuse, coordinate with internal and external partners as appropriate, and ensure timely escalation, documentation, and regulatory reporting.
  • Investigate escalated alerts of potential suspicious activity produced or referred by other areas of the bank and determine appropriate course of action. Exercise solid judgment on examining information, and document suspicious activity, behaviors and/or patterns.
  • Maintain and update Watch List information, review and respond to concerns about OFAC, SDN or other Watch List alerts and take mandated action as necessary.
  • Conduct secondary and peer reviews of Fraud investigations and filings, strengthening quality, consistency and investigator judgment.
  • Perform quality control reviews and certifications of BSA and Fraud functions, including but not limited to case investigations, Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs), BSA/Fraud alerts, 314(a) and 314(b) Information Sharing Requests, to accuracy, completeness, timely resolution, and compliance with established policies, procedures, quality standards, and regulatory requirements.
  • Assist with transaction testing, data validation, and the ongoing optimization of Verafin, including agent tuning, alert calibration, workflow enhancement and system customization to improve fraud detection effectiveness and operational efficiency, 
  • Gather documents and analyze documentations for high-risk and complex customer relationships, including accounts with intricate ownership structure and out of state entities. Assess risks related to source of funds, expected account activity, geographic exposure, purpose of business relationship and overall customer profile to support sound risk based onboarding and ongoing due diligence decisions
  • Perform root cause analysis of identified data quality issues, tracing data upstream and providing solutions. Proactively monitor, measure, analyze, execute, track and report on data quality issues.
  • Contributes to the development and implementation of Fraud Risk processes, tools, policies, standards, and procedures in alignment with the Fraud, BSA, and AML Program.
  • Keep abreast of Fraud, BSA and AML related regulations for changing compliance and recommend business process improvements.
  • Mentor and work with other less experienced staff in developing additional assets within the team.
  • Assist with regulatory examinations and audits, including gathering requested information, developing, and coordinating responses to such reviews as necessary.
  • Assists in ad-hoc special projects as necessary.
  • Attend various seminars, webinars, and other outside compliance training.
  • Report to the BSA Officer any money laundering, fraud, and other suspicious activity.
  • Minimum of 10 hours CRA volunteer hours per year. Volunteer hours are typically scheduled within business hours. This is compensable time and mileage is reimbursed.
  • Other duties as assigned.

 Senior BSA Compliance Analyst:

  • Conduct in-depth due diligence reviews and prepare comprehensive reports on High and Moderate risk customers to assess and mitigate BSA/AML risk.
  • Gather documents and analyze the risks associated with complex ownership structure, evaluating variables such as source of funds, anticipated activity volumes, and purpose of business relationship.
  • Validate and document customer’s Risk designation or mitigating factors in order to establish periodic EDD review schedule.
  • Independently performs reviews of various reports and transaction data and analyses complex activity to determine if transactions are suspicious in nature.
  • Perform quality control reviews of various AML/BSA/Fraud functions, including but not limited to case investigations, Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs), BSA/Fraud alerts, customer risk reviews, Currency Transactions Reporting (CTR), to determine if the review and research were conducted in accordance with quality standards and time frames set forth within established procedures, policies, and regulatory requirements.
  • Evaluates and adjusts scoring of AML software to provide the most value to the BSA/Fraud program in accordance with established risk tolerance.
  • Assist in transaction testing, data validation, and ongoing customization of the AML software.
  • Proactively monitor, measure, analyze, execute, track and report on data quality issues.
  • Perform root cause analysis of identified data quality issues, tracing data upstream and providing solutions.
  • Suspicious Activity Response – Investigate escalated alerts of potential suspicious activity produced or referred by other areas of the bank and determine appropriate course of action. Exercise solid judgment on examining information, and document suspicious activity, behaviors and/or patterns.
  • Watch List Response – Ensure Watch List information is properly maintained and updated, review and respond to concerns about OFAC, SDN or other Watch List alerts and take mandated action as necessary.
  • Disseminate information, answer questions, and be a subject matter expert on BSA/AML/OFAC/Fraud related issues.
  • Fraud Program Response – This role may directly support the Bank’s Fraud Program, including day to day responsibilities, alert/case investigations and Financial Elder Abuse reporting.
  • Contributes to the development and implementation of Fraud Risk processes, tools, policies, standards, and procedures in alignment with the BSA/AML Program.
  • Keep abreast of Fraud, BSA and AML related regulations for changing compliance and recommend business process improvements.
  • Mentor and work with other less experienced staff in developing additional assets within the team.
  • Review and analyze new and pending laws and regulations. Develop or revise appropriate policies, procedures, and disclosure agreements to ensure compliance.
  • Assist with regulatory examinations and audits, including gathering requested information, developing, and coordinating responses to such reviews as necessary.
  • Report to the BSA Officer any money laundering, fraud, and other suspicious activity.
  • Assists in ad-hoc special projects as necessary.
  • Attend various seminars, webinars, and other outside compliance training.
  • Minimum of 10 hours CRA volunteer hours per year. Volunteer hours are typically scheduled within business hours. This is compensable time and mileage is reimbursed.
  • Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications


AVP Senior BSA Compliance Analyst: 

  • Advanced knowledge of banking regulations, financial crimes compliance, and fraud risk management, including the prevention, detection, investigation, and reporting of suspicious activity and financial crime. 
  • Comprehensive understanding of applicable state and federal banking laws and regulations, including the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements, OFAC sanctions programs, the USA PATRIOT Act, and related regulatory guidance. 
  • Minimum of 6 years of progressive experience in BSA/AML, Fraud Investigations, Financial Crimes Compliance, or a closely related field within a financial institution; community banking experience preferred. 
  • Demonstrated experience conducting complex investigations involving suspicious activity, fraud, sanctions screening, elder financial exploitation, transaction monitoring, high-risk customers, and regulatory reporting. 
  • Strong understanding of fraud typologies, money laundering methodologies, and emerging financial crime threats impacting financial institutions. 
  • Strategic and proactive mindset with the ability to identify emerging risks, regulatory developments, and industry trends and recommend effective controls and process improvements. 
  • Excellent analytical, investigative, and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to assess complex situations, identify risk indicators, and make sound risk-based decisions. 
  • Ability to perform detailed financial analysis, identify patterns and anomalies, draw logical conclusions, and provide well-supported recommendations. 
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to clearly communicate complex regulatory and compliance concepts to various audiences. 
  • Proficiency with BSA/AML and fraud detection systems, case management platforms, transaction monitoring software, Microsoft Office applications, and other compliance-related technologies; experience with Verafin preferred. 
  • Experience conducting quality assurance reviews, root cause analysis, data validation, and control testing to ensure compliance with internal policies and regulatory requirements. 
  • Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, organize workflow effectively, and perform independently in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment. 
  • Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships across business lines and all levels of the organization. 
  • Ability to exercise sound judgment and maintain the highest level of confidentiality when handling sensitive customer, employee, and Bank information. 
  • Professional certification such as CAMS, CFE, CFCS, or CAFP is preferred or expected to be obtained within a specified timeframe. 
  • Ability to work scheduled full-time hours, maintain regular attendance, and support departmental objectives and special projects as assigned.

Senior BSA Compliance Analyst: 

  • Advanced understanding of banking and fraud threats posed by money laundering activities.
  • Combination of training and experience that would provide the knowledge and abilities listed above including specific knowledge of State and Federal laws and regulations pertaining to financial institutions (i.e., BSA, AML, OFAC, USA Patriot Act)
  • Minimum of 5 years BSA and Fraud experience. Experience in depository financial institution processes and procedures or similar experience is preferred.
  • Solid understanding of banking and fraud threats posed by Money Laundering activities.
  • Have a strategic and entrepreneurial mindset with an ability to identify emerging compliance trends and risks, ensuring we stay ahead of the curve.
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to break down complex requirements into easy to understand and practical systems.
  • Proficiency with computer programs including fraud identification and AML software.
  • Organize workflow efficiently, self-direct personal training needs and utilize available resources.
  • Perform financial analysis, draw logical conclusions, and make recommendations when needed.
  • Sound analytical, evaluation, communication, and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to distinguish and manage confidential information, materials, and conversations.
  • Establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees from other departments.
  • Ability to work scheduled full-time hours and maintain regular attendance.
  • Ability to multi-task in a fast-paced environment.

Supervisory Responsibilities (Applicable to both positions):  These roles do not currently have any supervisory responsibilities, although that may change in the future. 


Physical/Mental Demands & Work Environment (Applicable to both positions):


The incumbent in the course of performing this position frequently spends time writing, typing, speaking, listening, operating basic business equipment, seeing (such as close, color and peripheral vision, depth perception and adjusted focus), sitting, walking, standing, reading documents or instruments, detailed work, problem solving, client contact, reasoning, math, language, presentations, verbal and written communication, analytical reasoning, stress, multiple concurrent tasks, and constant interruptions. The incumbent for this position will occasionally lift up to 15 pounds, pull, squat, kneel and reach. The incumbent is in a non-confined office-type setting in which they are free to move about at will. The work environment is typically quiet to a moderate noise level.

 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Management reserves the right to change this position description at any time.


Requirements


See qualifications above.


Poppy Bank provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.


This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.


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Salary Description
$76,000-$110,000,000 DOE