Director, Financial Crimes Compliance

Upstart; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 201,200 - 278,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive compensation

401(k) with company match

Comprehensive health coverage

Paid time off and sick leave

Annual wellness allowance

Job summary

Upstart is seeking a Director, Financial Crimes Compliance to lead the BSA/AML compliance program. The position focuses on developing compliance solutions, leading risk assessments, and working with various teams to ensure regulatory alignment.

This role is remote-friendly and requires strong experience in financial crimes compliance and regulatory oversight. Join Upstart and contribute to reshaping access to credit for Americans.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience leading BSA/AML compliance programs.
• Deep knowledge of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and USA PATRIOT Act.
• Demonstrated experience leading regulatory examinations and remediation efforts.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain Upstart’s Enterprise-Wide Compliance Program.
• Lead risk assessments and establish monitoring frameworks.
• Present regular reporting to the Board of Directors.

Skills

BSA/AML compliance

Financial crime risk assessment

Regulatory examination

Regulatory reporting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Criminal Justice, or Law

Job description

About Upstart

At Upstart, we’re united by a mission that matters: to radically reduce the cost and complexity of borrowing for all Americans. Every day, we bring creativity, experimentation, and advanced AI to reshape access to credit, helping millions move forward financially with clarity and confidence.

As the leading AI lending marketplace, we partner with banks and credit unions to expand access to affordable credit through technology that’s both radically intelligent and deeply human. Our platform runs over one million predictions per borrower using more than 1,800 signals, powering smarter, fairer decisions for millions of customers. But the numbers only hint at the impact. Every idea, every voice, and every contribution moves us closer to a world where credit never stands between people and their financial progress.

We’re proudly digital-first, giving most Upstarters the flexibility to do their best work from wherever they thrive, alongside teammates across 80+ cities in the US and Canada. Digital-first doesn’t mean distant. We’re intentional about in-person connection through team onsites, planning sessions, and moments that spark creativity and trust. And whether you choose to work primarily from home or collaborate in-person from one of our offices in Columbus, Austin, the Bay Area, or New York City (opening Summer 2026), you’ll have the support to work in the way that works best for you.

If you’re energized by tackling meaningful problems, excited to innovate with purpose, and motivated by work that truly matters, we’d love to hear from you.

The Role

As the Director, Financial Crimes Compliance you will play a key role in providing guidance in supporting Upstart Bank’s FCC program.

If you are excited by designing scalable compliance solutions, and building trusted relationships across a fast-moving fintech, this role is for you.

How you’ll make an impact

• Develop, implement, and maintain Upstart’s Enterprise-Wide BSA/AML/OFAC Compliance Program, ensuring it remains aligned with regulatory requirements, evolving financial crime risks, and the company’s risk appetite.
• Lead enterprise-wide BSA/AML and sanctions risk assessments, identify emerging risks, and establish risk-based controls, monitoring frameworks, and governance processes to mitigate financial crime exposure.
• Present regular reporting to the Board of Directors, executive leadership, and risk committees, including risk assessment results, program effectiveness metrics, key risk indicators (KRIs), regulatory developments, and remediation progress.
• Manage a comprehensive Customer Identification Program (CIP), Know Your Customer (KYC), Customer Due Diligence (CDD), and Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) framework, including oversight of customer risk rating methodologies and ongoing monitoring activities.
• Oversee the review and management of high-risk customer relationships, including onboarding decisions, periodic reviews, escalation processes, and recommendations regarding customer exits or relationship terminations.
• Provide senior-level oversight and strategic guidance for complex investigations involving unusual activity, suspicious activity reporting (SAR), and regulatory reporting obligations.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for regulatory examinations, independent audits, and compliance reviews related to BSA/AML and sanctions compliance, ensuring timely and effective remediation of identified issues.
• Partner with Product, Engineering, Operations, Legal, and Risk teams to design scalable financial crime controls for new products, including consumer deposit and lending products.
• Monitor regulatory developments and provide guidance on BSA, AML, sanctions, fraud, and related financial crime compliance requirements impacting Upstart’s business.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Accounting, Criminal Justice, Law, or a related field.
• 10+ years of experience leading BSA/AML compliance programs within a bank, credit union, fintech, or other regulated financial institution.
• Deep knowledge of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), USA PATRIOT Act, OFAC sanctions requirements, FinCEN guidance, Know Your Customer (KYC), Customer Identification Program (CIP), Customer Due Diligence (CDD), Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), and Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) requirements.
• Experience completing BSA/AML/OFAC risk assessments and using the results to build, enhance, and manage BSA/AML compliance programs supporting consumer deposit products and lending products.
• Experience overseeing high-risk customer programs, customer risk rating methodologies, enhanced due diligence reviews, and customer relationship termination decisions.
• Demonstrated experience leading regulatory examinations, independent audits, and remediation efforts related to BSA/AML and sanctions compliance.
• Experience presenting financial crime compliance matters, risk assessments, and program metrics to senior executives, risk committees, and Boards of Directors.
• Knowledge of consumer banking regulations applicable to deposit and lending products.

Preferred Qualifications

• CAMS (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist), CAFP (Certified AML and Fraud Professional), CRCM, or comparable compliance certification.
• Experience serving as a BSA Officer, Deputy BSA Officer, or senior financial crimes compliance leader within a highly regulated financial institution.
• Experience building and scaling AML transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, customer risk scoring, and implementing case management programs.
• Experience using AI powered solutions to scale and automate BSA program work.
• Knowledge of digital banking, fintech, embedded finance, or marketplace lending business models.
• Experience implementing technology-enabled compliance solutions, automated controls, and risk monitoring frameworks.
• Experience working directly with federal and state banking regulators, including OCC, FDIC, Federal Reserve, CFPB, FinCEN, or state banking agencies.
• Familiarity with fraud risk management frameworks and the intersection of fraud and AML compliance programs.

Position location

Remote

Time zone requirements

The team operates on the East/West coast time zones.

Travel requirements

As a digital first company, the majority of your work can be accomplished remotely. The majority of our employees can live and work anywhere in the U.S. but are encouraged to still spend high quality time in-person collaborating via regular onsites. The in-person sessions’ cadence varies depending on the team and role; most teams meet once or twice per quarter for 2-4 consecutive days at a time.

Salary

At Upstart, your base pay is one part of your total compensation package. The anticipated base salary for this position is expected to be within the below range. Your actual base pay will depend on your geographic location— with our "digital first" philosophy, Upstart uses compensation regions that vary depending on location. Individual pay is also determined by job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary range for your preferred location during the hiring process.

In addition, Upstart provides employees with target bonuses, equity compensation, and generous benefits packages (including medical, dental, vision, and 401k).

United States | Remote – Anticipated Base Salary Range

$201,200-$278,500 USD

What you’ll love

At Upstart, our benefits are designed to support your health, financial well-being, family, and personal growth. Here’s what you can expect:

• Competitive compensation, including base pay, bonus opportunities, and annual equity grants that vest quarterly.
• Retirement benefits to help you plan for the future, including a 401(k) or Group Retirement Savings Plan with a company match of $2 for every $1 contributed, up to $15,000 annually (USD in the US, CAD in Canada).
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP) with discounted stock purchase options for eligible employees (US only).
• Comprehensive health coverage designed to support you and your family, including medical, dental, vision, and wellness resources for US and supplemental health coverage for Canada.
• Health Savings Account contributions from Upstart for eligible plans (US only).
• Income protection benefits, including life insurance and disability coverage for added financial security.
• Paid time off, sick leave, and company holidays, in line with local requirements.
• Paid family and parental leave to support caregiving and major life moments (duration varies by country).
• Family-centered benefits to support fertility, parenthood, and caregiving needs.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) offering mental health support and life-centered resources.
• Financial wellness resources, including access to financial planning tools and a financial concierge service (US Only).
• Annual wellness allowance to support your physical and emotional well-being and personal development, based on what matters most to you.
• Annual productivity allowance to invest in relevant tools and resources you need to do your best work, no matter where you work from.
• Connection and community through team events, all-company updates, and employee resource groups (ERGs).
• Onsite perks, including catered lunches and fully stocked micro-kitchens when working from one of our offices in the Bay Area, Austin, Columbus, and New York City (opening Summer 2026!).

For roles based in Canada, please note that we are not currently able to hire in Quebec.

Upstart is a proud Equal Opportunity Employer. Just as we are dedicated to improving access to affordable credit for all, we are committed to inclusive and fair hiring practices.

If you require reasonable accommodation in completing an application, interviewing, completing any pre-employment testing, or otherwise participating in the employee selection process, please email [e-mail].

https://www.upstart.com/candidate_privacy_policy