Analyst – Case Operations

Pathward, N.A.; Sioux Falls (SD); Hybrid; USD 43,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k) retirement benefits

Life insurance

Disability benefits

Paid time off

Job summary

Pathward, N.A. seeks an Analyst, Case Operations to investigate and disposition SAM cases within the BSA/AML & Sanctions Operations team. You will ensure compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and OCC expectations, supporting a governed investigation and reporting framework.

You will collaborate with Alerts, SAR Filing, Compliance, Data Analytics, and Technology teams while contributing to policy maintenance and risk assessments across products and locations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; CAMS certification preferred.
• Experience in BSA/AML operations and SAM investigations.
• Experience conducting case investigations and SAR referrals.
• Knowledge of Actimize and enterprise transaction monitoring systems.
• Ability to manage queues, SLAs, and workload effectively.

Responsibilities

• Conduct SAM case investigations and enhanced due diligence.
• Investigate cases from transaction monitoring systems and manual referrals.
• Maintain case work across volumes, aging, and regulatory responsiveness.
• Prepare SAR referrals and ensure CTR accuracy and timeliness.
• Document outcomes with clear risk-focused narratives.

Skills

Analytical thinking

Communication

Organizational skills

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree

CAMS certification (preferred)

Tools

Actimize

FCRM

Job description

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 area 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 Analyst, Case Operations is responsible for the day-to-day investigation, documentation, and disposition of Pathward’s Suspicious Activity Monitoring (SAM) cases within the BSA/AML & Sanctions Operations team, ensuring compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), AML regulations, and OCC supervisory expectations. Reporting to the Manager, BSA/AML Operations – Cases, this role performs the investigation, documentation, and disposition of escalated cases arising from SAM-related triggers, and supports Pathward in maintaining a well-governed, risk-based, and sustainable investigation and reporting framework. Responsible for supporting and enhancing the organization’s Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance program.

What You Will Do

• Conducts SAM case investigations, enhanced due diligence, and escalation activities.
• Investigates cases generated through transaction monitoring systems, as well as manual referrals.
• Executes day-to-day case work across case volumes, aging, investigation quality, and regulatory responsiveness, ensuring adherence to established SLAs and quality standards.
• Serves as a first-line individual contributor within the BSA/AML & Sanctions Operations team and Pathward’s Financial Crime Compliance (FCC) Program, partnering closely with the Alerts and SAR Filing teams, Compliance, Technology, Data Analytics, Program Management, and Assurance functions.
• Supports the development, implementation, and maintenance of BSA/AML policies, procedures, desktop procedures, and controls for the case function.
• Assists in executing components of the BSA/AML program including customer due diligence, sanctions screening, and suspicious activity identification, where applicable.
• Contributes to risk assessments to identify and evaluate BSA/AML risks across products, services, customers, and geographic locations.

  Operational Execution & Investigations

  • Investigate, document, and disposition cases in accordance with Pathward policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
  • Maintain accountability for:
  • SAM case investigations and dispositions
  • Identification of suspicious activity and preparation of SAR referrals for the SAR Filing function
  • CTR accuracy and timeliness
  • Escalation of investigations requiring Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD)
  • Timely, complete, and defensible responses to 314(a) information requests, law enforcement inquiries, subpoenas, and regulatory requests
  • Manage assigned queues and workload to ensure cases remain within SLA and proactively elevate potential backlogs.

  Quality & Collaboration

  • Participate in coaching, feedback, and continuous learning to strengthen investigation skills and consistency.
  • Perform self-review and support quality review of investigations and SAR referrals to ensure consistency, completeness, and defensibility.
  • Contribute to a culture of accountability, consistency, and continuous improvement across SAM Case Operations within the BSA/AML & Sanctions Operations team.

  Reporting

  • Document investigation outcomes in clear, risk-focused narratives aligned with OCC expectations for senior management and Board oversight.

  Risk Management & Root Cause Analysis

  • Support root cause analysis for operational issues, trends, or findings, including identification of control gaps and recommendation of risk-based remediation actions.
  • Support remediation activities that are sustainable and aligned with Pathward’s enterprise risk management framework.

  Technology, Data Analytics & Rule Tuning

  • Partner with FCC Program Management, Data Analytics, and Technology Assurance by providing feedback on SAM rules and scenarios, evaluating alert and case quality, and supporting appropriately governed, tested, and documented rule changes.

  Policies, Procedures & Professional Development

  • Follow and provide feedback on SAM case-related procedures, desktop procedures, checklists, sample narratives, and reference guides to help ensure they remain current, accurate, and aligned with regulatory guidance and operational practice.
  • Participate in training, quality assurance, and mentorship, promoting professional growth and consistent execution.

What You Will Need

• Bachelor’s degree required; professional certifications (e.g., CAMS) preferred.
• Experience in BSA/AML operations, financial crimes investigations, and SAM programs within a regulated financial institution.
• Demonstrated experience conducting case investigations and preparing SAR referrals.
• Working knowledge of Actimize, FCRM, and enterprise transaction monitoring systems.
• Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage queues, SLAs, and personal workload.

The responsibilities listed above are not all inclusive and may be changed at any time.

Salary range: $43,000 – $70,000

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.

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.