Risk Analyst - AML & Financial Crimes

Ember Group Consulting; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Ember Group Consulting is seeking an experienced Risk Analyst – AML & Financial Crimes to support financial services clients in investigating potentially suspicious activity and assessing financial crime risk. The role emphasizes strong investigative judgment, detailed documentation, and compliance in regulated environments.

This full-time opportunity is located in a hybrid client environment with travel or remote flexibility as needed.

Qualifications

• Three to five years of AML/financial crimes experience.
• Experience in banking or financial services compliance.
• Ability to document investigations with clear narratives.
• Strong written communication and attention to detail.
• Experience with regulatory reporting exposure.

Responsibilities

• Conduct AML, fraud, and financial crimes investigations by analyzing customer activity.
• Review alerts and investigate unusual activity per policy.
• Perform Enhanced Due Diligence on high‑risk customers.
• Support sanctions screening and adverse media reviews.
• Prepare concise investigative narratives and documentation.
• Assist with SAR investigations and regulatory reporting.
• Research customers using internal systems and open sources.
• Collaborate with compliance, risk, and legal teams.
• Maintain audit-ready case files and confidentiality.
• Build strong client relationships through proactive communication.

Skills

AML investigations

Fraud investigations

Transaction monitoring

Sanctions screening

EDD

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Risk Analyst – AML & Financial Crimes with a strong background in Anti-Money Laundering (AML), financial crimes investigations, and fraud within banking or financial services environments. This individual will support our financial services clients in investigating potentially suspicious activity, assessing financial crime risk, and executing critical AML and compliance processes.

The ideal candidate brings a strong investigative mindset, sound judgment, and hands‑on experience analyzing customer and transactional activity. This role requires strong attention to detail, clear written communication, and the ability to effectively document and elevate investigative findings within highly regulated environments.

This is a full‑time consulting opportunity supporting our financial services clients. We are seeking candidates with 3-5 years of relevant experience located in or near Charlotte, NC; New York, NY; or Frisco/Dallas, TX who are comfortable working in a hybrid environment.

Role Summary

As a Risk Analyst – AML & Financial Crimes, you will partner with client compliance, risk, and financial crimes teams to conduct investigations, assess potentially suspicious activity, and support effective execution of AML and financial crimes programs.

Depending on the engagement, responsibilities may include transaction monitoring, unusual activity investigations, Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), name and sanctions screening, adverse media reviews, fraud investigations, and alert and case management. You will analyze complex information, identify potential financial crime risk, document findings, and support appropriate escalation and regulatory reporting processes.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct AML, fraud, and financial crimes investigations by analyzing customer profiles, transactional activity, account behavior, and other relevant information.
• Review, investigate, and disposition transaction monitoring and financial crimes alerts in accordance with established policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Identify and investigate unusual or potentially suspicious activity, including transaction patterns, movement of funds, customer relationships, and other financial crime risk indicators.
• Perform Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) and risk reviews involving higher‑risk customers, relationships, transactions, or jurisdictions.
• Support name screening, sanctions screening, adverse media/negative news reviews, and related escalation processes as needed.
• Conduct fraud‑related investigations and identify patterns, anomalies, or behaviors that may indicate fraudulent or suspicious activity.
• Prepare clear, concise, and defensible investigative narratives, case documentation, recommendations, and escalations.
• Support Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) investigation, decisioning, documentation, and drafting processes as appropriate.
• Research customers, counterparties, entities, and transactions using internal systems, external research tools, and available data sources.
• Partner with compliance, risk, operations, legal, and other stakeholders to resolve complex cases and support broader financial crimes initiatives.
• Maintain accurate, complete, and audit‑ready documentation while adhering to applicable regulatory requirements, internal policies, and confidentiality standards.
• Build strong client relationships through proactive communication, collaboration, sound judgment, and a value‑added consulting approach.

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience in AML, financial crimes investigations, fraud, transaction monitoring, EDD, sanctions/name screening, or a related compliance or risk function.
• Demonstrated hands‑on experience conducting investigations and analyzing potentially suspicious or fraudulent financial activity.
• Strong understanding of AML and financial crimes concepts, investigative methodologies, risk indicators, and escalation requirements.
• Experience within banking, financial services, wealth management, insurance, or another highly regulated financial environment.
• Strong analytical and critical‑thinking skills with the ability to identify patterns, anomalies, and risk across complex information.
• Excellent written communication skills with the ability to produce clear, concise, and well‑supported investigative documentation.
• Strong attention to detail, organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple cases and priorities.
• Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and work effectively with sensitive information.
• Bachelor’s degree preferred; relevant professional experience and certifications will also be considered.

Nice‑to‑Have

• Experience across multiple financial crimes functions, including transaction monitoring, EDD, unusual activity investigations, fraud, sanctions/name screening, adverse media, or KYC/CDD.
• Experience drafting or supporting SARs and preparing investigative documentation for regulatory, compliance, or audit review.
• Knowledge of common money laundering, fraud, sanctions, and financial crime typologies and red flags.
• Experience with AML transaction monitoring, screening, or case management platforms such as NICE Actimize or similar tools.
• CAMS, CFE, CFCS, or another relevant AML, fraud, compliance, or financial crimes certification.
• Prior consulting experience or experience working across large, matrixed financial institutions.

Hiring Location

This is a full‑time consulting opportunity supporting hybrid client environments. We are seeking candidates located in or within reasonable commuting distance of Charlotte, NC; New York, NY; or the Frisco/Dallas, TX area. Candidates should be comfortable working in both remote and onsite settings based on client engagement and team collaboration needs.

Culture at Ember Group Consulting

At Ember Group Consulting, we spark transformation by turning insight into action—through curiosity, structured delivery, partnership, and people‑first collaboration. We care deeply about the relationships we build with our clients, approaching every engagement with a tailored mindset that adapts to their unique needs, priorities, and operating realities.

Here, you help teams navigate complex challenges, strengthen critical business functions, and create sustainable improvements while working alongside experienced consultants and client leaders. We believe lasting impact happens when expertise, execution, collaboration, and trust move together.

We spark the opportunity—you ignite your consulting career.