VP, Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) – BSA/AML & Sanctions Operations

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

📋 Description

• Take full ownership of the SAR and CTR filing program from start to finish, ensuring timely submissions, high quality, ongoing monitoring of activities, and accurate FinCEN e-filing.

• Lead the internal SAR team, which includes the SAR Lead/QA Reviewer and SAR/CTR filing analysts.

• Act as the primary point of contact for both domestic and international external/outsourced reviewers.

• Establish and oversee Statements of Work (SOWs), Service Level Agreements (SLAs), Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), milestone acceptance, and change control processes.

• Manage escalations from consultants while ensuring that Pathward retains independent oversight of all filings and decision-making authority.

• Coordinate access privileges, data handling, residency, and offboarding controls for consultant personnel.

• Conduct independent quality assurance of consultant outputs and ensure that third-party outcomes align with expectations.

• Verify that offshore activities comply with OFAC/sanctions, GLBA/privacy regulations, and Information Security policies.

• Maintain examiner-ready documentation that reflects third-party oversight.

• Include consultant throughput and SAR volume in inventory wind-down reporting.

• Report on program performance to the Senior Vice President (SVP), Deputy BSA Officer, and BSA Officer.

• Collaborate with Vendor Management, Third-Party Risk, Legal, Privacy, and Information Security teams.

• Oversee review activities across various domains, including card issuing/prepaid, tax products, acquiring, digital/faster payments, consumer lending, commercial finance, and commercial deposits.

• Ensure that SAR narratives and CTR filings are accurate, with a clear tracing of activities through the bank vs. program manager escalation model.

⛳️ Requirements

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

• CAMS certification is required; CFE, CFCS, or CRCM certifications are preferred.

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in BSA/AML, including direct oversight of SAR programs.

• At least 5 years of experience in people leadership, particularly leading investigators or filing teams.

• Proven experience in managing third-party/outsourced review engagements, including those with offshore resources.

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

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

• Expertise in vendor/relationship governance, including SOW/SLA design, quality assurance, and reliance documentation.

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

• Ability to demonstrate Pathward's supervision of outsourced work to meet examiner standards.

• Proficient in executive communication and cross-functional leadership involving Legal, Privacy, InfoSec, and Vendor Management.

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

🏝️ Benefits

• Annual performance-based incentive opportunities.

• Health insurance coverage.

• 401(k) retirement benefits.

• Life insurance provisions.

• Disability benefits.

• Paid time off.

• A comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees.