Manager, SAR Filing – BSA/AML & Sanctions Operations

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in Arizona, +5 more states.

📋 Description

• Oversee the daily operations of the SAR and CTR filing program, ensuring timeliness, quality, ongoing activity monitoring, and accuracy in FinCEN e-filing.

• Lead internal SAR filing analysts who are tasked with the preparation, quality assessment, and FinCEN e-filing of SARs/CTRs.

• Manage the intake, triage, completeness review, and routing of SARs across both internal and consultant-provided channels.

• Track and escalate issues related to SAR filing timelines, ongoing activity deadlines, aging reports, backlogs, and resource capacity.

• Ensure that intake documentation adheres to the five-element documentation baseline and meets internal quality standards.

• Balance workload and coverage among internal and external resources, reallocating tasks as necessary to maintain quality and timeliness.

• Supervise the operational review process for SAR referrals generated from internal Alerts and Cases teams.

• Manage escalation pathways for potential SARs, ensuring independent reviews and maintaining Pathward's filing and decision-making authority.

• Collaborate with Information Security and Program Management to coordinate least-privilege system access, data handling, residency, and offboarding controls for both domestic and offshore consultants.

• Provide and oversee independent quality assurance for consultant outputs.

• Facilitate communication and feedback between SAR Filing, Alerts, Cases, Complex Investigations, and Sanctions teams.

• Assist in managing consultant/vendor relationships, conducting service reviews, defining scopes, and engaging in continuous improvement discussions.

• Support regulatory examinations, internal audits, and validation processes by preparing necessary intake artifacts and responding to information requests.

• Maintain in-depth knowledge of funds flows, typologies, and party designations across Pathward's product categories and program-manager model.

⛳️ Requirements

• A bachelor's degree is required; an advanced degree (MBA, JD, or Master's) is preferred.

• CAMS certification is preferred; CFE, CFCS, or CRCM designations are advantageous.

• A minimum of 6 years of BSA/AML experience, particularly in SAR processing, intake, or investigations.

• At least 2 years of leadership experience or oversight of consultants, vendors, or outsourced resources.

• Strong background in BSA/AML operations with direct experience in SAR/CTR filing within a regulated financial institution.

• Experience in managing service level agreements, service standards, and quality benchmarks in a regulated setting.

• Familiarity with transaction monitoring and case management systems.

• Proven experience in leading or supervising analysts.

• Experience in overseeing or reviewing resources that are third-party, outsourced, or offshore is preferred.

• Experience in presenting SAR metrics and program performance to senior leadership, examiners, and the Board.

• Extensive knowledge of SAR/CTR filing standards, ongoing activity monitoring, and FinCEN regulations.

• Ability to provide quality assurance and maintain documentation for both internal and consultant-supported review processes.

• Strong understanding of offshore data residency, GLBA/privacy, InfoSec, and OFAC/sanctions-related risks.

• Capability to demonstrate Pathward's oversight of outsourced work to meet examiner standards.

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate effectively across Compliance, Program Management, InfoSec, and Assurance functions.

🏝️ Benefits

• Annual performance-based incentive opportunities.

• Health insurance coverage.

• 401(k) retirement benefits.

• Life insurance coverage.

• Disability benefits.

• Paid time off.

• Comprehensive benefits package available for eligible employees.