Senior AML Investigator & SAR Specialist

Principal International; Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 132,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible Time Off

Pension Eligible

Job summary

Principal Financial Group in Des Moines is seeking a Senior Compliance Analyst to join our Financial Crimes team. You will conduct complex transaction reviews, investigate suspicious activity, and support regulatory reporting obligations, helping protect customers and the financial system.

You will collaborate with AML Officers and business partners, stay current on BSA/FinCEN/OFAC rules, and contribute to process improvements across the program.

Qualifications

• Associate or bachelor’s degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 6+ years of direct compliance, AML, financial crimes, investigations, or related experience.
• Strong experience conducting AML investigations, transaction reviews, and suspicious activity analysis.
• Experience preparing, reviewing, or supporting Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs).
• Strong understanding of AML regulatory requirements, including BSA, FinCEN, OFAC, and USA PATRIOT Act requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze large volumes of information and perform complex research and investigations.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience drafting compliance-related documentation, including policies, procedures, standards, and process documentation.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other business applications.

Responsibilities

• Conducting detailed reviews and investigations of potentially suspicious activity identified through transaction monitoring, alerts, referrals, and other internal sources.
• Analyzing transactional activity and customer behavior to identify potential money laundering, fraud, and other financial crimes risks.
• Coordinating the gathering, analysis, and documentation of information required for regulatory reporting.
• Drafting, reviewing, and editing Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) for submission to FinCEN.
• Partnering with AML Officers, compliance leaders, fraud teams, and business stakeholders throughout the investigative and reporting lifecycle.
• Providing guidance to business partners regarding AML obligations, regulatory requirements, and financial crime risk indicators.
• Maintaining expertise in Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), USA PATRIOT Act, OFAC, FinCEN, anti-fraud regulations, and elder financial exploitation requirements.
• Supporting risk assessments, audit requests, regulatory examinations, and compliance initiatives.
• Assisting with procedure updates, training development, and continuous improvement efforts across the AML program.
• Participating in technology and process enhancement initiatives to improve monitoring, investigations, and reporting capabilities.

Skills

AML investigations

Transaction monitoring

Regulatory reporting

SAR drafting

Data analysis

Excel proficiency

Stakeholder collaboration

Communication skills

Regulatory knowledge

Research skills

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Associate degree

Tools

NICE Actimize

Job description

Principal Financial Group in Des Moines is seeking a Senior Compliance Analyst to join our Financial Crimes team. You will conduct complex transaction reviews, investigate suspicious activity, and support regulatory reporting obligations, helping protect customers and the financial system.

You will collaborate with AML Officers and business partners, stay current on BSA/FinCEN/OFAC rules, and contribute to process improvements across the program.