AVP-Senior BSA Analyst OFAC

East West Bank; Hong Kong; On-site; HKD 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

East West Bank in Hong Kong is seeking an AVP - Senior Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) Analyst to join the OFAC Group. The role focuses on sanctions screening, investigations, and broader Financial Crime Compliance matters to support complex reviews and regulatory escalations.

The successful candidate will bring extensive BSA/AML experience, familiarity with HK regulators, and the ability to operate in a fast-paced environment within an international banking setting.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5-7 years of relevant sanctions, BSA/AML, Financial Crime Compliance, or banking experience.
• Strong hands-on experience in sanctions and payment screening, alert investigation, and escalation management.
• Demonstrated knowledge of correspondent banking, wire transfer investigations, and sanctions risks associated with international payment flows.
• Strong knowledge of sanctions and BSA/AML regulations, including relevant U.S. requirements and familiarity with Mainland China regulatory expectations and cross-border compliance risks.
• Experience working within a Hong Kong regulated banking environment and familiarity with HKMA regulatory expectations is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in utilizing sanctions screening platforms, case management systems, and investigative tools to support alert review and dispositioning.
• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to exercise sound judgement when assessing sanctions and financial crime risks.
• Ability to effectively manage competing priorities, complex investigations, and high alert volumes within a dynamic environment.
• Service-oriented mindset with a strong sense of urgency, supported by strong analytical, problem-solving, and reasoning skills.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and organizational skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint.
• Fluency in spoken and written English and Mandarin Chinese is essential for this role.
• Bachelor's Degree preferred.
• Relevant sanctions certification (e.g., CGSS) is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Review OFAC alerts and perform screening, communication with business units for information relating to OFAC reviews.
• Conduct investigations of sanctions screening alerts, including payment screening, customer screening, and transactions involving cross-border payment activities.
• Analyze end-to-end payment flows and underlying transaction information to assess sanctions risks, identify potential true matches, and support dispositioning decisions.
• Keep abreast on various OFAC sanctions and related regulations.
• Maintain a strong understanding of global sanctions developments, including OFAC, UN, Hong Kong, and other relevant sanctions regimes impacting the Bank's business activities.
• Perform screenings related to FinCEN314a, 311 special measures, negative news, PEP, etc.[AML1.1]
• Review and maintain various BSA reports for accuracy, monitor and refer suspicious activities to the appropriate BSA units for further investigation.
• Support sanctions list management activities, screening governance initiatives, screening optimization efforts, and implementation of regulatory changes affecting sanctions controls.
• Provide support for correspondent banking due diligence reviews, wire-related requests for information (RFIs), and other sanctions or FCC-related inquiries.
• Investigate and mitigate complex sanctions matters, higher-risk transactions, and operational issues as appropriate.
• Provide support on sanctions-related matters across the team.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Skills

Sanctions knowledge

BSA/AML

Risk assessment

Analytical skills

Stakeholder management

Communication

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Prioritization

Education

Bachelor's Degree

CGSS certification

Tools

Sanctions screening platforms

Case management systems

Investigative tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Introduction

Since 1973, East West Bank has served as a pathway to success. With over 110 locations across the U.S. and Asia, we are the premier financial bridge between the East and West. Our teams of experienced, multi-cultural professionals help guide businesses and community members on both sides of the Pacific looking to explore new markets and create new opportunities, and our sustained growth and expertise in industries like real estate, entertainment and media, private equity and venture capital, and high-tech help build sustainable businesses and expand our associates' potential for career advancement.

Introduction

Since 1973, East West Bank has served as a pathway to success. With over 110 locations across the U.S. and Asia, we are the premier financial bridge between the East and West. Our teams of experienced, multi-cultural professionals help guide businesses and community members on both sides of the Pacific looking to explore new markets and create new opportunities, and our sustained growth and expertise in industries like real estate, entertainment and media, private equity and venture capital, and high-tech help build sustainable businesses and expand our associates' potential for career advancement. Headquartered in California, East West Bank (Nasdaq: EWBC) is a top-performing commercial bank with a strong foundation, an enterprising spirit and a commitment to absolute integrity. East West Bank gives people the confidence to reach further.

Overview

East West Bank is currently seeking an AVP - Senior Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) Analyst for our OFAC Group. This role will serve as a key contributor to the Bank's sanctions compliance program, providing subject matter expertise in sanctions screening, payments-related investigations, correspondent banking activities, and broader Financial Crime Compliance matters. The successful candidate will be expected to operate as an experienced team member with the ability to support complex sanctions reviews, investigations, and operational escalations.

Responsibilities

• Review OFAC alerts and perform screening, communication with business units for information relating to OFAC reviews.
• Conduct investigations of sanctions screening alerts, including payment screening, customer screening, and transactions involving cross-border payment activities.
• Analyze end-to-end payment flows and underlying transaction information to assess sanctions risks, identify potential true matches, and support dispositioning decisions.
• Keep abreast on various OFAC sanctions and related regulations.
• Maintain a strong understanding of global sanctions developments, including OFAC, UN, Hong Kong, and other relevant sanctions regimes impacting the Bank's business activities.
• Perform screenings related to FinCEN314a, 311 special measures, negative news, PEP, etc.[AML1.1]
• Review and maintain various BSA reports for accuracy, monitor and refer suspicious activities to the appropriate BSA units for further investigation.
• Support sanctions list management activities, screening governance initiatives, screening optimization efforts, and implementation of regulatory changes affecting sanctions controls.
• Provide support for correspondent banking due diligence reviews, wire-related requests for information (RFIs), and other sanctions or FCC-related inquiries.
• Investigate and mitigate complex sanctions matters, higher-risk transactions, and operational issues as appropriate.
• Provide support on sanctions-related matters across the team.
• Additional duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5-7 years of relevant sanctions, BSA/AML, Financial Crime Compliance, or banking experience, preferably within an international banking environment.
• Strong hands-on experience in sanctions and payment screening, alert investigation, and escalation management, supported by a solid understanding of payment systems, transaction processing workflows, and cross-border payment activities.
• Demonstrated knowledge of correspondent banking, wire transfer investigations, and sanctions risks associated with international payment flows.
• Strong knowledge of sanctions and BSA/AML regulations, including relevant U.S. requirements and familiarity with Mainland China regulatory expectations and cross-border compliance risks.
• Experience working within a Hong Kong regulated banking environment and familiarity with HKMA regulatory expectations is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in utilizing sanctions screening platforms, case management systems, and investigative tools to support alert review and dispositioning.
• Strong attention to detail, with the ability to exercise sound judgement when assessing sanctions and financial crime risks.
• Ability to effectively manage competing priorities, complex investigations, and high alert volumes within a dynamic environment.
• Service-oriented mindset with a strong sense of urgency, supported by strong analytical, problem-solving, and reasoning skills.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and organizational skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint.
• Fluency in spoken and written English and Mandarin Chinese is essential for this role.
• Bachelor's Degree preferred.
• Relevant sanctions certification (e.g., CGSS) is advantageous.