Vice President, BSA/AML Operations – Cases

About the Role:

The Vice President, BSA/AML Operations – Cases is responsible for the leadership, execution, and oversight of Pathward’s Suspicious Activity Monitoring (SAM) case investigation function, ensuring compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), AML regulations, and OCC supervisory expectations. This role provides senior‑level management over the investigation, documentation, and disposition of escalated cases arising from SAM‑related triggers, and ensures that Pathward maintains a well‑governed, risk‑based, and sustainable investigation and reporting framework. Responsible for supporting and enhancing the organization's Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance program.

What You Will Do:

Scope of Responsibility

• Provides direct oversight of managers responsible for SAM case investigations, enhanced due diligence, and escalation activities.
• Oversees case investigations generated through Actimize and FCRM transaction monitoring systems, as well as manual referrals.
• Manages operational performance across case volumes, aging, investigation quality, and regulatory responsiveness, ensuring adherence to established SLAs and quality standards.
• Serves as a key operational leader within Pathward’s Financial Crime Compliance (FCC) Program, partnering closely with Compliance, Technology, Data Analytics, Program Management, and Assurance functions.
• Support the development, implementation, and maintenance of comprehensive BSA/AML policies, procedures, and controls
• Assist in overseeing various components of the BSA/AML program including customer due diligence, sanctions screening, AML and sanctions screening, and suspicious activity reporting, where applicable
• Participate in risk assessments to identify and evaluate BSA/AML risks across products, services, customers, and geographic locations
• Collaborate with senior leadership to develop and execute strategic initiatives that enhance program effectiveness

Key Responsibilities

Operational Oversight & Investigations

• Ensure cases are investigated, documented, and dispositioned in accordance with Pathward policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain accountability for:
• SAM case investigations and dispositions
• Identification of suspicious activity and preparation of SAR referrals for the SAR Filing function
• CTR accuracy and timeliness
• Escalation of investigations requiring Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD)
• Ensure timely, complete, and defensible responses to:
• 314(a) information requests
• Law enforcement inquiries
• Subpoenas and regulatory requests

Governance, Metrics & Board Reporting

• Develop, maintain, and report key risk indicators (KRIs) and key performance indicators (KPIs) for management committees and the Board, including:
• Case volumes and aging
• SLA performance and exceptions
• SAR referral and investigation outcome trends
• Staffing capacity and productivity
• Emerging typologies and risk trends
• Translate operational data into clear, risk‑focused narratives aligned with OCC expectations for senior management and Board oversight.

Risk Management & Root Cause Analysis

• Lead root cause analysis for operational issues, trends, or findings, including:
• Assessment of existing controls and their effectiveness
• Identification of control gaps and needed enhancements
• Recommendation of risk‑based remediation actions
• Ensure root cause analysis supports sustainable remediation and aligns with Pathward’s enterprise risk management framework.

Technology, Data Analytics & Rule Tuning

• Partner with FCC Program Management, Data Analytics, and Technology Assurance to:
• Support tuning and optimization of SAM rules and scenarios
• Evaluate alert quality, false positives, and risk coverage
• Ensure rule changes and system enhancements are appropriately governed, tested, and documented

Policies, Procedures & Talent Development

• Develops corporate and/or organizational policies and authorizes their implementation. Detailed knowledge of company allows for innovative concepts and promoting new ideas. Provides direction to senior managers in various areas, groups, and/or operations. Recognized as an influential leader. Ensure SAM‑related policies, procedures, and investigation standards remain current, accurate, and aligned with regulatory guidance and operational practice.
• Consistently works with abstract ideas or situations across functional areas of the business. Through assessment of intangible variables, identifies and evaluates fundamental issues, providing strategy and direction for major functional areas. Requires in-depth knowledge of the functional area, business strategies, and the company’s goals.
• Directs and controls the activities of one or more functional areas, divisions, product groups or service areas through senior managers who have overall responsibility for the successful operation of those assigned areas. Establish and maintain a strong training, quality assurance, and mentorship framework for managers and analysts. Promote a culture of accountability, consistency, and continuous improvement across SAM Case Operations.

What You Will Need:

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or professional certifications (e.g., CAMS) preferred.
• Extensive experience in BSA/AML operations, financial crimes investigations, and SAM programs within a regulated financial institution.
• Demonstrated leadership experience managing managers and large investigative teams.
• Strong working knowledge of Actimize, FCRM, and enterprise transaction monitoring systems.
• Proven ability to engage effectively with regulators, auditors, and senior leadership.
• Exceptional analytical, communication, and organizational skills.

The responsibilities listed above are not all inclusive and may be changed at any time.

Salary range: $125,000– $208,000

 

The salary range reflects the minimum and maximum target for a new hire in this role. Individual pay within the range will be determined by multiple factors which can include but are not limited to a candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills, and location. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary for your location during the hiring process. Ranges may be modified in the future.
This role is also eligible for an annual performance-based incentive opportunity.  Pathward offers a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees, including health insurance, 401(k) retirement benefits, life insurance, disability benefits, paid time off, and more.

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