Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) Officer & AML/Sanctions Team Lead

Portage Ventures GP Inc.; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equity

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

Kikoff Inc. is seeking an experienced BSA Officer to lead the AML and OFAC compliance program across its bank-partner ecosystem. This leadership role combines program design with hands-on investigation review and regulatory coordination.

You will build and mentor a growing team, collaborate with regulators and sponsor banks, and drive timely remediation of findings while shaping Kikoff's compliance strategy in a fast-paced fintech environment.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in BSA/AML/OFAC compliance.
• Experience leading regulatory examinations.
• Experience building or scaling transaction monitoring and sanctions screening programs.
• Experience with sponsor-bank programs and CIP reliance.
• CAMS certification (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Serve as Kikoff's designated BSA Officer with authority for BSA/AML compliance.
• Lead and continuously enhance the BSA/AML program (risk assessments, CIP, CDD/EDD, monitoring, SAR/CTR).
• Lead OFAC sanctions compliance across products and counterparty screening.
• Build, mentor, and lead a growing AML and sanctions team.
• Partner with sponsor banks and regulators on examinations and CIP reliance.
• Lead regulatory examinations, internal audits, and remediation actions.
• Develop and deliver AML/OFAC training for relevant teams.
• Present program metrics and risks to executives and the Board.

Skills

BSA/AML/OFAC

Regulatory exams

Bank fintech partnerships

Leadership/mentoring

Sardine/Alloy/Unit21

CAMS certification

Legal/regulatory background

Startup environment

Job description

Kikoff: The Fintech Powering Financial Security at Scale
Kikoff is a profitable, pre-IPO fintech company on a mission to empower everyone to achieve financial security. With record revenue growth in 2025 and a unicorn valuation, we've built a suite of products that help millions of people build credit, access liquidity, and save money.
We're scaling fast. Join us if you want to build something meaningful and help millions of people move forward financially.

Why Kikoff:

This is a consumer fintech startup, and you will be working with serial entrepreneurs who have built strong consumer brands and innovative products. We value extreme ownership, clear communication, a strong sense of craftsmanship, and the desire to create lasting work and work relationships. Yes, you can build an exciting business AND have real-life real-customer impact.

About the Role

Kikoff is seeking an experienced BSA Officer who will also serve as the leader of our AML and OFAC sanctions compliance function. Reporting to the Head of Compliance, you will own the design, implementation, and day-to-day operation of Kikoff's BSA/AML and sanctions program across our bank-partner ecosystem.

This is a highly impactful leadership role for someone who enjoys both building programs and remaining close to the work. You'll help shape our compliance strategy while also reviewing complex investigations, partnering with regulators and sponsor banks, and building a high-performing compliance team as Kikoff continues to grow.

What You'll Do

• Serve as Kikoff's designated BSA Officer, with authority and accountability for the BSA/AML compliance program under applicable regulations and sponsor bank requirements.
• Own and continuously enhance Kikoff's BSA/AML program, including:
  • Enterprise BSA/AML risk assessments
  • Customer Identification Program (CIP)
  • Customer Due Diligence (CDD) and Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD)
  • Transaction monitoring
  • SAR and CTR investigations, decisioning, and filing
  • Independent testing coordination
• Lead OFAC sanctions compliance across all Kikoff products, including customer and counterparty screening, ongoing rescreening, sanctions investigations, and escalation procedures.
• Build, mentor, and lead a growing team of AML and sanctions analysts and investigators.
• Serve as the primary compliance partner for sponsor banks and regulatory examiners on BSA/AML and OFAC matters, including coordination of CIP reliance arrangements.
• Lead regulatory examinations, internal audits, and bank partner reviews while driving timely remediation of findings and corrective actions.
• Evaluate and optimize transaction monitoring and sanctions screening systems by partnering with Data and Engineering teams to improve detection quality and reduce false positives.
• Develop and deliver company-wide BSA/AML and OFAC training, including specialized training for customer-facing, operations, and engineering teams.
• Present program metrics, emerging risks, and material compliance issues to executive leadership and, when appropriate, the Board or designated committees.
• Assess compliance implications of new products and features prior to launch, including AML, sanctions, and customer identification requirements.
• Maintain and update AML and sanctions policies in response to evolving FinCEN guidance, OFAC regulations, and sponsor bank expectations.

What We're Looking For

• 7+ years of progressive experience in BSA, AML, and OFAC compliance.
• Prior experience serving as a BSA Officer, Deputy BSA Officer, or equivalent leadership role at a bank, fintech, BaaS provider, or sponsor-bank program.
• Demonstrated experience leading regulatory examinations and remediating examination findings from federal or state regulators.
• Deep understanding of regulatory frameworks governing bank-fintech partnerships, including CIP reliance, third-party risk management, and sponsor bank oversight.
• Experience building or scaling transaction monitoring and sanctions screening programs, including implementation or optimization of solutions such as Sardine, Alloy, Unit21, ComplyAdvantage, or similar platforms.
• Proven people leadership experience with a track record of hiring, mentoring, and developing compliance professionals.
• CAMS certification (or equivalent) preferred.
• JD or comparable legal or regulatory background is a plus.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced startup environment where you'll build processes while helping execute them.

Compensation

Base salary is location-based and will be determined by factors including market location (Phoenix or San Francisco), experience, skills, and qualifications. In addition to competitive cash compensation, this role is eligible for equity and a comprehensive benefits package.

Base Range

$120,000 — $200,000 USD

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Kikoff Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities and considers qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, sex, gender expression or identity, sexual orientation, citizenship, or any other legally protected class.

Please reference the following for more information.