Senior Operations Associate

WNS Holdings; Gurugram District; On-site; INR 600,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

WNS Holdings in India seeks an AML transaction monitoring professional to review high-complexity transactions and ensure compliance with AML, sanctions, and fraud controls. You will conduct real-time screening, investigations, and escalation decisions within a regulated environment.

Ideal candidates bring 3+ years in financial crime investigations, knowledge of FIFO patterns, and strong data analytics. ACAMS/CFE is desirable; role focuses on enhancing detection and risk management across

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in AML transaction monitoring, payment screening, sanctions clearance, or financial crime investigations in financial services, fintech, or payments.
• ACAMS or CFE certification is highly desirable.

Responsibilities

• Review and analyze high-complexity customer transactions to evaluate AML, sanction, and fraud risks.
• Perform real-time payment screening and post-transaction monitoring to decide on approval, rejection, or escalation.
• Detect, investigate, and mitigate AML typologies including FIFO, Money Mule networks, layering, and third-party payment risks.
• Conduct investigations using internal data and OSINT to analyze counterparty relationships and transaction patterns.

Skills

AML transaction monitoring

Sanctions screening

Fraud risk assessment

OSINT

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Criminology/Business/Law

ACAMS or CFE certification desirable

Tools

Transaction monitoring software

OSINT tools

Sanctions screening tools

Job description

Roles and Responsibilities

• Review and analyze high-complexity customer transactions to evaluate potential AML, sanction, and fraud risks, ensuring adherence to internal policies, regulatory compliance standards, and risk thresholds.
• Perform real-time payment screening and post-transaction monitoring to decide whether transactions should be approved, rejected, or escalated.
• Detect, investigate, and mitigate complex AML typologies, including Fast In Fast Out (FIFO), Money Mule networks, layering, structuring, and third-party payment risks.
• Conduct advanced investigations utilizing internal data platforms and Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) to analyze counterparty relationships, payment frequency, velocity, and behavioral anomalies.

Case Decisioning & Regulatory Compliance

• Differentiate clearly between first-party fraud, third-party payment risks, and legitimate customer behavior using advanced analytical framework and risk judgment.
• Maintain comprehensive, audit-ready case documentation detailing investigation rationale, key evidence, and recommended mitigation actions.
• Ensure strict adherence to global Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF), and Sanctions regulations.

Operational Leadership & Process Optimization

• Serve as a senior point of contact for complex case escalations from frontline screening and monitoring analysts.
• Mentor and provide operational guidance to junior team members, helping elevate overall investigative quality and consistency.
• Partner with FraudOps leads, compliance, and product teams to identify gaps in existing screening rules, suggest threshold updates, and optimize transaction monitoring scenarios.
• Monitor emerging financial crime trends, sanctions developments, and AML typologies to enhance detection strategies.

Required Qualifications & Competencies

Experience & Education

• 3+ years of experience in AML transaction monitoring, payment screening, sanctions clearance, or financial crime investigations within financial services, fintech, or payment processing industries.
• Bachelors degree in Finance, Criminology, Business, Law, or a related field (or equivalent professional experience). ACAMS or CFE certification is highly desirable.

Technical & Analytical Skills

• Deep working knowledge of AML principles, sanctions screening frameworks, and financial crime indicators.
• Specialized expertise in recognizing typologies such as Fast In Fast Out (FIFO), Money Mule activity, synthetic identity, and complex layering patterns.
• Proven proficiency with transaction monitoring software, sanctions screening tools, and OSINT investigative methodologies.
• Advanced data analysis skills to dissect payment data, counterparty connections, and customer transaction histories.

Soft Skills & Leadership

• Outstanding critical thinking, attention to detail, and objective decision-making skills under tight operational deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with a proven track record of writing clear, audit-ready investigative case reports.
• Strong collaboration skills with the ability to work effectively across FraudOps, Compliance, and Operations teams.