Senior Analyst, AML Investigations

Circle; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 98,000 - 116,000; Full time

Job summary

Circle is seeking a Senior Analyst, Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Investigations, to join the Investigation Operations team in Portland, OR. You will detect suspicious activity, own escalated investigations end-to-end, and draft high-quality SARs/STRs while coordinating with policy, legal, and compliance partners.

Ideal candidates have 4+ years in AML alert review, deep AML regulatory knowledge, and familiarity with blockchain ecosystems and forensic tools.

Qualifications

• 4+ years of AML alert review, investigation, and reporting experience.
• Experience writing clear SAR/STR narratives and communicating findings to senior stakeholders or regulators.
• Deep understanding of AML regulations and global frameworks.
• Knowledge of blockchain ecosystems and VASPs; familiarity with blockchain forensic tools.
• Proficiency in SQL and data analysis is a plus.
• Strong organizational, analytical, and written/verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Investigate complex and escalated AML cases, including high-priority alerts and SAR/STR filing.
• Own cases end-to-end; document decisions and file SARs/STRs when appropriate.
• Review transaction monitoring alerts and identify trends across work types.
• Support external parties (law enforcement, banking partners) and internal teams (policy, legal, compliance).
• Escalate significant risks to MLRO and respond to regulator/audit inquiries.
• Ensure customers comply with laws and Circle's obligations; manage time-sensitive workflows.
• Collaborate with policy and data/tech teams to improve detection models and efficiency.
• Provide training and feedback to IO analysts as needed.

Skills

AML investigations

SAR/STR narratives

AML regulations

Blockchain awareness

SQL

Communication

Time management

AI/Automation in AML

Education

B.A./B.S. degree

Tools

TRM Labs

Chainalysis

Elliptic

Google Suite

Slack

Apple MacOS

Job description

Circle (NYSE: CRCL) is one of the world’s leading internet financial platform companies, building the foundation of a more open, global economy through digital assets, payment applications, and programmable blockchain infrastructure. Circle’s platform includes the world’s largest regulated stablecoin network anchored by USDC, Circle Payments Network for global money movement, and Arc, an enterprise-grade blockchain designed to become the Economic OS for the internet. Enterprises, financial institutions, and developers use Circle to power trusted, internet-scale financial innovation. Learn more at circle.com.

What You’ll Be Part Of

Circle is committed to visibility and stability in everything we do. As we grow as an organization, we’re expanding into some of the world’s strongest jurisdictions. Speed and efficiency are motivators for our success and our employees live by our company values: High Integrity, Future Forward, Multistakeholder, Mindful, and Driven by Excellence. We have built a flexible work environment where new ideas are encouraged and everyone is a stakeholder.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

As a Senior Analyst, Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Investigations, you’ll join our Investigation Operations (IO) team to detect fraudulent activity, suspicious/illegal behaviors and patterns as well as drive projects focused on preventing and detecting financial crime. The ideal candidate is a highly inquisitive individual with a background in AML compliance, who enjoys analytical challenges and is passionate about blockchain technology.

What You’ll Work On

• Investigating complex and escalated investigations, including L2 escalations from AML alerts, enhanced monitoring reviews, and L1 transaction monitoring reviews, and identifying activity which may lead to filing suspicious activity reports, as required by law.
• Owning cases end to end, making and documenting the decision to file or not file, and drafting and filing high-quality SARs/STRs.
• Occasionally working transaction monitoring alerts, as-needed, and identifying trends across all work types when appropriate.
• Assisting in fulfilling requests from and providing support to, external parties, such as law enforcement and banking partners, and internal parties, such as policy, legal and Compliance Operations partners.
• Escalating significant risks and findings to the MLRO and compliance leadership, and supporting regulator and audit inquiries.
• Ensuring customers are compliant with the laws and regulations to satisfy Circle’s obligations to the appropriate regulatory authorities.
• Maintaining a strong operational focus with the ability to manage time sensitive workflows across competing priorities.
• Collaborating with policy and compliance data and technology teams to share trends and insights, and driving improvements to detection models, thresholds, and typology coverage to create greater efficiency and more valuable work products for the IO team.
• As needed, conduct training and provide feedback to IO analysts.

What You’ll Bring To Circle

• A passion for harnessing the power of digital currency and blockchain technology and services built on top of it.
• B.A./B.S. degree; quantitative or technical degree a plus.
• 4+ years experience conducting AML alert review, investigation and applicable reporting, strong knowledge of AML regulations.
• Experience writing clear, well-supported SAR/STR narratives and communicating findings to senior stakeholders, law enforcement, or regulators.
• Deep understanding of blockchain ecosystems, VASPs, and evolving global AML/CFT regulations.
• Extensive experience working with blockchain forensic tools (e.g., TRM Labs, Chainalysis, Elliptic).
• Strong organizational, analytical, written, and verbal communication skills with a close attention to detail and confidence to make a reasoned and supported decision.
• Experience analyzing large transactional data sets; SQL experience is a plus.
• Works well under pressure and tight deadlines with an ability to prioritize workloads and ensure tasks are completed in a timely manner.
• Experience and comfort working in an ever changing industry and the flexibility to quickly react to changing demands.
• Proven experience working collaboratively and effectively with the ability to work with multiple stakeholders and internal teams.
• Ability to understand complex business problems, break down analytical projects into a structured approach, and formalize complex ideas into well defined logic.
• CAMS, CFCS or CFE certification is a plus.
• Proficiency in Google Suite, Slack and Apple MacOS preferred.
• Familiarity with generative AI models (ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.) and prompt development.
• Experience applying artificial intelligence, automation, or machine learning tools to optimize AML workflows, such as alert triage, data enrichment, and investigative analysis.

Circle is on a mission to create an inclusive financial future, with transparency at our core. We consider a wide variety of elements when crafting our compensation ranges and total compensation packages.

Starting pay is determined by various factors, including but not limited to: relevant experience, skill set, qualifications, and other business and organizational needs. Please note that compensation ranges may differ for candidates in other locations.

Base Pay Range: $97,500 - $115,833

We are an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, or any other protected status required by the laws in the locations where we hire. Additionally, Circle participates in the E-Verify Program in certain locations, as required by law.

Should you require accommodations or assistance in our interview process because of a disability, please reach out to [e-mail] for support. We respect your privacy and will connect with you separately from our interview process to accommodate your needs.