Amazon

Sanctions Risk Specialist, GBS - Denied Party Screening

Amazon · Washington DC-Baltimore Area

  • Hybrid
  • Full-time
  • $80,200 / year
  • Washington DC-Baltimore Area

Job highlights

  • Investigate denied parties and sanctions matches.
  • Perform holistic account reviews and investigations.
  • Assist with audits and outside inquiries.
  • Support investigators and operations team members.
  • Ensure compliance with OFAC and other laws.

About the role

Sanctions Risk Specialist, GBS - Denied Party Screening

Amazon seeks an experienced investigator superstar to be part of a centralized Denied Party Screening team (DPS). Amazon has a diverse set of global businesses, and each business has some level of compliance requirements across multiple areas, including Sellers, Retail, Trade, Human Resources, Tax, Social Responsibility, and others. While the responsibility for maintaining compliance is with the individual business areas, this team will ensure that an effective compliance program is in place to validate each business has identified their regulatory responsibilities and established effective processes, controls and self-testing to understand current status of compliance and identify gaps.

The Sanctions Risk Specialist position focuses on accomplishing production goals and will work closely with the Operations Management Team in DPS. Individual problem-solving and analytical skills are used to authenticate and make determinations on customers and complex transactions and accounts. Nearly all decisions are expected to be made independently and with a high degree of accuracy following standard operating procedures (SOP’s).

This position performs holistic account review and investigations, assists with responding to audits and outside inquiries, offers guidance, feedback and support for investigators and other operations team members working in Denied Parties and Sanctions compliance investigations. The position will help the business comply with applicable OFAC and other agencies laws and regulations, investigate and mitigate risk, and adhere to company policies and procedures.

Key job responsibilities

  • Investigate denied parties and sanctions potential matches that arise from Amazon’s screening solution to support various business units.
  • Participate in ongoing customer due diligence.
  • Assist in identifying gaps and training opportunities for escalations that come through the operations and compliance workflows.
  • Assist with onboarding, training and mentoring new hires.
  • Drive operational metrics reconciliation with the DPS leadership.

About The Team

Diverse Experiences
Amazon Security values diverse experiences. Even if you do not meet all of the qualifications and skills listed in the job description, we encourage candidates to apply. If your career is just starting, hasn’t followed a traditional path, or includes alternative experiences, don’t let it stop you from applying.

Why Amazon Security?
At Amazon, security is central to maintaining customer trust and delivering delightful customer experiences. Our organization is responsible for creating and maintaining a high bar for security across all of Amazon’s products and services. We offer talented security professionals the chance to accelerate their careers with opportunities to build experience in a wide variety of areas including cloud, devices, retail, entertainment, healthcare, operations, and physical stores.

Inclusive Team Culture
In Amazon Security, it’s in our nature to learn and be curious. Ongoing DEI events and learning experiences inspire us to continue learning and to embrace our uniqueness. Addressing the toughest security challenges requires that we seek out and celebrate a diversity of ideas, perspectives, and voices.

Training & Career Growth
We’re continuously raising our performance bar as we strive to become Earth’s Best Employer. That’s why you’ll find endless knowledge-sharing, training, and other career-advancing resources here to help you develop into a better-rounded professional.

Work/Life Balance
We value work-life harmony. Achieving success at work should never come at the expense of sacrifices at home, which is why flexible work hours and arrangements are part of our culture. When we feel supported in the workplace and at home, there’s nothing we can’t achieve.

Basic Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in a relevant field or equivalent work experience
  • Work a flexible schedule/shift/work area, including weekends, nights, and/or holidays
  • Speak, write, and read fluently in Chinese
  • 3+ years of hands-on experience in suspicious activity monitoring, fraud investigations or denied parties and sanctioned country screening within a large company or financial services environment
  • Working knowledge of U.S. denied parties and sanctioned country laws and regulations

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience that includes strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and effective communication abilities
  • CAMS certification
  • Experience handling confidential information
  • Experience with Microsoft Office including Outlook, Word, and Excel
  • Maintain individual accountability for performance metrics, ensuring ever-increasing levels of productivity and accuracy against established benchmarks
  • Ability to make decisions in a timely manner with incomplete or ambiguous information
  • Ability to identify, communicate, and champion process improvement opportunities which will benefit internal and external customers

Key skills/competency

  • Sanctions Risk Specialist
  • Denied Party Screening
  • Compliance
  • Investigations
  • Risk Mitigation
  • OFAC Laws
  • Transaction Monitoring
  • Due Diligence
  • Analytical Skills
  • Fraud Detection

Skills & topics

  • Sanctions Risk Specialist
  • Denied Party Screening
  • Compliance
  • Investigations
  • Risk Mitigation
  • OFAC
  • Transaction Monitoring
  • Due Diligence
  • Fraud Detection
  • Financial Services
  • Amazon
  • Specialist
  • Risk
  • Screening
  • China
  • Analytical Skills

How to get hired

  • Tailor your resume: Highlight your experience in suspicious activity monitoring, fraud investigations, or denied parties and sanctioned country screening. Quantify achievements related to accuracy and productivity.
  • Showcase your skills: Emphasize analytical skills, attention to detail, and experience with U.S. denied parties and sanctioned country laws and regulations. Mention fluency in Chinese.
  • Prepare for behavioral questions: Be ready to discuss how you handle ambiguous information, make timely decisions, and drive process improvements.
  • Understand Amazon's culture: Research Amazon's commitment to customer trust, security, and its inclusive team environment.
  • Highlight relevant certifications: If you have a CAMS certification, ensure it is prominently featured on your resume and during the interview.

Technical preparation

Master U.S. denied parties and sanctions laws.,Practice suspicious activity monitoring techniques.,Develop proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.,Enhance transaction and account analysis skills.

Behavioral questions

Describe a complex investigation you handled.,How do you make decisions with ambiguity?,Share an example of process improvement you championed.,How do you manage competing priorities and metrics?

Frequently asked questions

What are the key responsibilities for a Sanctions Risk Specialist at Amazon?
As a Sanctions Risk Specialist at Amazon, you will investigate denied parties and sanctions potential matches, participate in customer due diligence, identify training opportunities, assist with onboarding new hires, and drive operational metrics reconciliation. You will play a crucial role in ensuring compliance with OFAC and other relevant laws and regulations.
What qualifications are essential for the Sanctions Risk Specialist role at Amazon?
Essential qualifications include a Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience, fluency in Chinese (speaking, writing, and reading), at least 3 years of experience in suspicious activity monitoring, fraud investigations, or denied parties/sanctioned country screening, and a working knowledge of U.S. denied parties and sanctioned country laws. The ability to work a flexible schedule is also required.
Does Amazon value diverse experiences for the Sanctions Risk Specialist position?
Yes, Amazon Security highly values diverse experiences. They encourage candidates to apply even if they don't meet all listed qualifications, especially if your career path is non-traditional or includes alternative experiences.
What are the benefits of working in Amazon Security?
Working in Amazon Security offers the chance to accelerate your career by gaining experience in various areas like cloud, retail, and operations. You'll contribute to maintaining customer trust and high security standards across Amazon's products and services, within an inclusive team culture that promotes learning and curiosity.
How does Amazon support work-life balance for its Sanctions Risk Specialists?
Amazon values work-life harmony and offers flexible work hours and arrangements as part of its culture. The aim is to ensure that professional success does not come at the expense of personal life, fostering a supportive environment both at work and at home.
What is the salary range for a Sanctions Risk Specialist at Amazon?
The base salary range for this position varies by location in the US. For example, in Washington D.C. it's $55,600 - $97,400 annually, while in Seattle, WA it's $80,200 - $97,400 annually. Your final compensation will depend on your experience, qualifications, and location, and will be part of a total compensation package including sign-on bonuses and RSUs.
Can I apply for the Sanctions Risk Specialist role at Amazon if I don't meet every preferred qualification?
Yes, Amazon encourages applications from candidates who may not meet every preferred qualification. They value diverse experiences and believe that alternative backgrounds can bring valuable perspectives to their team.
What type of training and career growth opportunities are available for a Sanctions Risk Specialist at Amazon?
Amazon continuously strives to be Earth's Best Employer, offering endless knowledge-sharing, training, and career-advancing resources. These opportunities are designed to help professionals develop into well-rounded individuals and advance their careers within the company.