Manager, BSA/AML Operations – Alerts (Alert Operations)

Pathward; United States; Hybrid; USD 72,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Pathward is seeking a Manager, Alert Operations to lead the SAM alert review function within BSA/AML Operations. You will supervise analysts, optimize alert handling, and ensure regulatory adherence across Actimize and FCRM systems.

Responsibilities include monitoring SLAs, coaching staff, producing risk-focused reporting, and collaborating with Compliance, Technology, and Data Analytics to strengthen the program.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; CAMS certification preferred.
• Solid experience in BSA/AML operations and SAM alert review.
• Experience leading or supervising analysts; strong analytical and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Supervise SAM alert review, triage, disposition, and escalation activities.
• Monitor alerts from Actimize and FCRM; manage manual referrals and backlog.
• Ensure SLA adherence, timely escalations, and defensible dispositions.
• Lead and develop analysts; perform quality reviews of alerts.
• Collaborate with Compliance, Data Analytics, Tech, and Cases teams.
• Support policy, procedure, and control maintenance for SAM alerts.

Skills

BSA/AML operations

SAM alert review

transaction monitoring

leadership

analytical skills

communication skills

SLA management

staff capacity management

Education

Bachelor's degree

CAMS certification

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 are a 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 strong *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 Manager, Alert Operations is responsible for the day-to-day leadership, execution, and oversight of Pathward’s Suspicious Activity Monitoring (SAM) alert review function within the BSA/AML and Sanctions Operations team, ensuring compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), AML regulations, and OCC supervisory expectations. Reporting to the Vice President, BSA/AML Operations – Alerts, this role provides direct supervision over the review, disposition, and escalation of system-generated and manual alerts arising from SAM-related triggers, and ensures that Pathward maintains a well-governed, risk-based, and sustainable alert monitoring framework. Responsible for supporting and enhancing the organization’s Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance program.

What You Will Do:

Scope of Responsibility

• Provides direct supervision of analysts responsible for SAM alert review, triage, disposition, and escalation activities.
• Manages alerts generated through Actimize and FCRM transaction monitoring systems, including manual referrals.
• Owns day-to-day operational performance across alert volumes, aging, dispositions, and regulatory responsiveness, ensuring adherence to established SLAs and quality standards.
• Serves as a first-line operational leader within the BSA/AML and Sanctions Operations team and Pathward’s Financial Crime Compliance (FCC) Program, partnering closely with the Cases team, 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 alert 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.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Oversight and Alert Review

• Ensure alerts are reviewed, documented, and dispositioned in accordance with Pathward policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain accountability for:
• SAM alert review, triage, and disposition
• Timely escalation of alerts to the Cases team for investigation, including matters requiring Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD)
• Timely, complete, and defensible responses to 314(a) information requests and list screening
• Monitor daily queues and workload distribution to ensure alerts remain within SLA and backlogs are proactively managed and escalated.

Team Leadership and Quality

• Lead, coach, and develop analysts, providing direction, feedback, and performance management.
• Perform and oversee quality review of alert dispositions to ensure consistency, completeness, and defensibility.
• Establish and reinforce a culture of accountability, consistency, and continuous improvement across SAM Alert Operations within the BSA/AML and Sanctions Operations team.

Governance, Metrics and Reporting

• Compile and report key risk indicators (KRIs) and key performance indicators (KPIs) for management and Board reporting, including alert volumes, aging, and disposition rates; SLA performance and exceptions; escalation-to-case and false-positive trends; staffing capacity and productivity; and emerging typologies.
• Translate operational data into clear, risk-focused narratives aligned with OCC expectations for senior management and Board oversight.

Risk Management and Root Cause Analysis

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

Technology, Data Analytics and Rule Tuning

• Partner with FCC Program Management, Data Analytics, and Technology Assurance to support tuning and optimization of SAM rules and scenarios, evaluate alert quality and false positives, and ensure rule changes are appropriately governed, tested, and documented.

Policies, Procedures and Talent Development

• Maintain and update SAM alert-related procedures, desktop procedures, checklists, and reference guides to ensure they remain current, accurate, and aligned with regulatory guidance and operational practice.
• Support training, quality assurance, and mentorship for analysts, promoting professional growth and consistent execution.

Products and Services Knowledge

• Alert review, disposition, and escalation require an understanding of how funds move through each Pathward product across the BSA/AML and Sanctions Operations estate. The Manager and their analysts must hold working, product-level knowledge of the funds flows, typologies, and party designations across the Bank’s product categories and its program-manager model, including:
• Card Issuing / Prepaid, GPR, payroll, corporate disbursement, gift, government-benefit and student cards, and the load/spend typologies (structuring, funnel accounts, bust-out) that drive alerts, escalations, and SAR referrals.
• Tax Products (EPS Financial / Refund Advantage), refund transfers, taxpayer advances (including Emerald Advance®), and tax-office loans, and the IRS/ERO funds flows behind seasonal SAR/CTR volume.
• Acquiring (Merchant and ATM), merchant/ISO/payment-facilitator activity, transaction laundering, and ATM cash-access typologies.
• Digital Payments and Faster Payments (Visa Direct / Mastercard Send), push/pull disbursements, P2P, and cross‑border rails.
• Consumer Lending, Commercial Finance, and Commercial Deposits, the CTR, continuing‑activity, and 314(a) obligations Pathward retains as lender/bank of record and depository institution.
• The Bank‑vs‑Program‑Manager framework, Pathward files all SARs, CTRs, and 314(a) responses, so activity must be traced back through the program‑manager escalation model.

What You Will Need:

• Bachelor’s degree required; professional certifications (e.g., CAMS) preferred.
• Solid experience in BSA/AML operations, transaction monitoring, and SAM alert review within a regulated financial institution.
• Demonstrated experience leading or supervising analysts.
• Working knowledge of Actimize, FCRM, and enterprise transaction monitoring systems.
• Strong analytical, communication, and organizational skills, with the ability to manage queues, SLAs, and staff capacity.

Salary range: $72,000 – $120,000

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.

Remote

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

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.

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.