Manager, BSA/AML Ops Risk
Pathward · United States
- Hybrid
- Full-time
- $120,000 / year
- United States
Job highlights
- Lead BSA/AML monitoring coverage assessments.
- Optimize rules and scenarios with analytics teams.
- Ensure transaction monitoring meets regulatory standards.
- Analyze metrics and perform root cause analysis.
- Collaborate with operations, analytics, and governance.
About the role
Manager, BSA/AML Ops Risk
We are a hybrid, remote-office company dedicated to growing our talent anywhere! We have onsite locations in: Sioux Falls, SD, Scottsdale, AZ, Louisville, KY, Troy, MI, Franklin, TN, Easton, PA.
At Pathward, we take tremendous pride in our purpose to create financial inclusion for all™. We are a financial empowerment company that works with innovators to increase financial availability, choice, and opportunity for all. We strive to remove barriers that traditional institutions put in the way of financial access, and promote economic mobility by providing responsible, secure, high quality financial products.
We are a team of problem solvers and innovators who celebrate our differences and know that our unique perspectives make us stronger and well-positioned for success. We celebrate, and embrace, our team members through our *HUMBLE*HUNGRY*SMART approach, and we believe that we are strongest when we embrace the voices of our employees, customers, partners, and the communities we serve.
About the Role:
The Manager, Monitoring Coverage & Analytics is responsible for assessing and strengthening the effectiveness of Pathward’s Suspicious Activity Monitoring (SAM) program across products, customers, and delivery channels. This role leads coverage assessments, partners closely with Data Analytics and Technology teams on rule tuning and scenario optimization, and ensures transaction monitoring remains risk‑based, defensible, and aligned with regulatory expectations.
The role serves as a key connective function between operations, analytics, and governance, translating risk and investigative insights into sustainable monitoring improvements and clear documentation suitable for regulatory review.
Scope of Responsibility:
- Owns ongoing monitoring coverage assessments and related documentation
- Partners with Data Analytics, Technology, and SAM Operations to optimize rules and scenarios
- Supports governance, validation readiness, and exam responses related to monitoring effectiveness
- Does not directly manage alert production queues but supports operational teams through analytical and risk coverage expertise
What You Will Do:
Monitoring Coverage & Risk Assessment
- Lead periodic and ad‑hoc coverage assessments of transaction monitoring rules and scenarios across products (BaaS, payments, cards, tax, deposits, etc.).
- Assess alignment between: Identified financial crime risks and typologies, Existing rules, scenarios, and thresholds, Alert volumes, false positives, and investigative outcomes
- Document coverage rationale, gaps, and recommendations in a regulator‑ready format.
Rule Tuning & Analytics Partnership
- Partner with Data Analytics and Technology to: Support rule tuning initiatives, threshold adjustments, and scenario enhancements, Evaluate alert quality, false positive drivers, and risk signal effectiveness, Help translate investigative feedback, SAR trends, and QA results into actionable tuning opportunities.
- Ensure changes are risk‑based, well‑documented, tested, and appropriately governed.
Metrics, Trends & Root Cause Analysis
- Analyze monitoring metrics, including: Alert volumes and mix, Conversion rates (alert → case → SAR), Emerging typologies and recurring issues
- Perform root cause analysis on material trends, coverage gaps, or operational issues.
- Elevate risks and observations requiring management attention.
Governance & Regulatory Readiness
- Support exam, audit, and validation efforts related to monitoring coverage and effectiveness.
- Maintain documentation supporting: Rule purpose and risk linkage, Coverage decisions, Tuning rationale and outcomes
- Contribute to responses to regulatory inquiries related to transaction monitoring design and effectiveness.
Collaboration & Advisory Support
- Serve as a subject matter resource to SAM Operations, Program Management, and Assurance.
- Participate in new product, partner, or change initiatives to assess monitoring coverage implications.
- Support updates to standards, procedures, and training related to monitoring effectiveness.
What You Will Need:
- Bachelor’s degree required; CAMS or similar certification preferred.
- 5+ years of experience in BSA/AML, transaction monitoring, financial crimes analytics, or risk management.
- Strong understanding of transaction monitoring concepts, typologies, and regulatory expectations.
- Experience working with monitoring systems (e.g., Actimize, FCRM) and analytics/data teams.
- Demonstrated ability to translate data into clear risk narratives and written documentation.
- Strong organizational, analytical, and communication skills.
Measures of Success:
- Clear, defensible monitoring coverage aligned to risk assessments
- Documented and governed tuning activity that improves alert quality
- Strong partnership with Analytics, Technology, and Operations
- Positive examiner and audit feedback on monitoring effectiveness
The responsibilities listed above are not all inclusive and may be changed at any time.
Salary Range:
$72,000 – $120,000
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.
Don’t have everything listed under qualifications? If you’re excited about this role but your experiences don’t match exactly to everything in the posting, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other Pathward roles. Pathward is an equal employment opportunity employer and considers candidates for roles without regard to their race, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability or any other category protected by law.
Who we are:
Our commitment to inclusion is woven into our DNA. We believe that we are strongest when we embrace the voices of our employees, customers, partners, and the communities we serve.
We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, pregnancy, national origin, age (age 40 and over), disability, genetic information, marital status, hair texture or hairstyle, ancestry, service in the uniformed services, protected veteran status, status as a victim of domestic violence or any other class protected by federal, state and local laws.
Please click here to learn more about our benefits and review information about our Privacy Policy, Affirmative Action Plan and other notices. Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. For assistance completing an application, please contact a Pathward People & Culture Representative by emailing – careers@pathward.com
Please click here to view Pathward's Applicant Privacy Notice.
Applications will be accepted for a minimum of 3 days after posting, and there is no predetermined date by which applications should be submitted.
Knowingly submitting false information will result in disqualification for consideration of future positions, termination of employment and forfeiture of other rights.
Candidate Scam Warning:
We encourage you to be cautious of hiring scams that impersonate Pathward. Copy and paste the following URL into your browser to learn more: https://www.pathward.com/about-us/people-culture/careers/
Key skills/competency:
- BSA/AML Compliance
- Transaction Monitoring
- Financial Crimes Analytics
- Risk Management
- Regulatory Compliance
- Data Analysis
- Rule Tuning
- Scenario Optimization
- Risk Assessment
- Manager, BSA/AML Ops Risk
Skills & topics
- BSA/AML
- Transaction Monitoring
- Financial Crimes
- Risk Management
- Compliance
- Data Analysis
- Rule Tuning
- Scenario Optimization
- Regulatory
- Manager
How to get hired
- Tailor your resume: Highlight BSA/AML, transaction monitoring, and risk management experience.
- Showcase analytics skills: Emphasize experience with monitoring systems and data translation.
- Address qualifications: Mention CAMS certification if applicable, and clearly state years of experience.
- Prepare for interviews: Be ready to discuss risk narratives and regulatory expectations.
- Follow application instructions: Submit your application as per Pathward's guidelines.
Technical preparation
Behavioral questions
Frequently asked questions
- What are the primary responsibilities of a Manager, BSA/AML Ops Risk at Pathward?
- The Manager, BSA/AML Ops Risk at Pathward is responsible for assessing and improving the effectiveness of the Suspicious Activity Monitoring (SAM) program. This involves leading coverage assessments, partnering with Data Analytics and Technology for rule tuning and scenario optimization, and ensuring transaction monitoring is risk-based and compliant with regulations.
- What qualifications are essential for the Manager, BSA/AML Ops Risk role at Pathward?
- A Bachelor's degree is required, with a CAMS or similar certification being preferred. Essential qualifications include over 5 years of experience in BSA/AML, transaction monitoring, financial crimes analytics, or risk management, a strong understanding of monitoring concepts and regulatory expectations, and experience with monitoring systems and data analysis.
- How does Pathward approach hybrid and remote work for this role?
- Pathward operates as a hybrid, remote-office company, supporting talent growth from anywhere. While the role can be performed remotely, Pathward also has several onsite locations including Sioux Falls, SD, Scottsdale, AZ, Louisville, KY, Troy, MI, Franklin, TN, and Easton, PA.
- What kind of experience is needed in transaction monitoring systems and data analytics for this position?
- The role requires experience working with transaction monitoring systems such as Actimize or FCRM, and collaborating with analytics and data teams. This includes the ability to translate data into clear risk narratives and documentation, and to support rule tuning and scenario enhancement initiatives.
- How does Pathward ensure financial inclusion for all, and how does this role contribute?
- Pathward's purpose is to create financial inclusion for all by working with innovators to increase financial availability, choice, and opportunity. The Manager, BSA/AML Ops Risk role contributes by ensuring robust transaction monitoring systems that are risk-based and defensible, which helps maintain secure and high-quality financial products, removing barriers to financial access.
- What is the salary range for the Manager, BSA/AML Ops Risk position at Pathward?
- The salary range for this position is $72,000 to $120,000 annually. The exact salary offered will depend on factors such as the candidate's experience, qualifications, skills, and location. This role is also eligible for an annual performance-based incentive opportunity.