Senior Associate, AML Compliance

Hightower Advisors; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical coverage

Dental & Vision

Parental leave

Hybrid schedule

Gym access

401(k) match

HSA contributions

Student loan assistance

Pet insurance

Salary range disclosed

Job summary

Hightower Advisors seeks a Senior Associate, AML Compliance in Chicago to administer the firm’s AML program for BD operations and oversee its sanctions program for RIA operations. You will support risk-based testing and regulatory inquiries, reporting to the Executive Director, Compliance.

The role requires knowledge of FINRA rules, BSA/AML, and a strong analytical mindset, with emphasis on accuracy and collaboration across departments. Hybrid schedule in Chicago office and remote on Fridays.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
• 3+ years of compliance experience, preferably with broker-dealer or RIA.
• Strong knowledge of FINRA Rules 3310, 3110, and 3120; BSA/AML regulations; and Investment Advisers Act requirements.
• Ability to articulate regulatory distinctions between BD and RIA requirements.
• Advanced Excel skills for data analysis and reconciliation.
• Experience using AML technology and screening tools.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Administer and enhance the BD’s AML program, including policies, procedures and controls.
• Oversee CIP, CDD, and EDD.
• Manage sanctions program including OFAC screening and SARs with FinCEN.
• Review transactions and surveillance outputs for broker-dealer activity.
• Prepare regulator-ready testing reports with findings and risk ratings.
• Track remediation and maintain testing documentation for regulatory review.

Skills

BSA/AML

Regulatory compliance

Excel proficiency

Data analysis

Regulatory reporting

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

AML screening tools

Job description

Our Story

Founded in 2008, Hightower is a wealth management firm that provides investment, financial and retirement planning services to individuals, foundations and family offices, as well as 401(k) consulting and cash management services to corporations. Hightower's capital solutions, operational support services, size and scale empower its vibrant community of independent-minded wealth advisors to grow their businesses and help their clients achieve their financial vision. Based in Chicago with advisors across the U.S., we operate as a registered investment advisor (RIA). Hightower Securities is our affiliated broker-dealer (BD).

Our Story

Founded in 2008, Hightower is a wealth management firm that provides investment, financial and retirement planning services to individuals, foundations and family offices, as well as 401(k) consulting and cash management services to corporations. Hightower's capital solutions, operational support services, size and scale empower its vibrant community of independent-minded wealth advisors to grow their businesses and help their clients achieve their financial vision. Based in Chicago with advisors across the U.S., we operate as a registered investment advisor (RIA). Hightower Securities is our affiliated broker-dealer (BD).

Your Future Team

Hightower’s Compliance Department strives to provide industry-leading support to the firm’s advisor teams. We are passionate about serving as collaborators within all facets of the organization and focus on developing processes and strategies that are effective for advisors, their clients, and other middle- and back-office departments, while adhering to applicable regulatory requirements. This position is based in Chicago and follows a hybrid schedule, with employees working in the office Monday through Thursday and remotely on Friday.

What You’ll Do

The Senior Associate, AML Compliance is a dual-focus role with primary responsibility for administering the firm’s Anti-Money Laundering (AML) program under the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) for its FINRA-regulated BD operations and the firm’s sanctions program for its RIA operations. This role also supports risk-based testing of selected BD and RIA compliance controls. The role requires a strong understanding of the differing regulatory obligations applicable to broker-dealers and registered investment advisers, including AML applicability, fiduciary obligations, disclosure requirements, and supervisory controls. This position reports to the Executive Director, Compliance.

AML & Sanctions Program

• Administer, maintain, and enhance the BD’s AML Program, including policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Oversee the Customer Identification Program (CIP), Customer Due Diligence (CDD), and Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD).
• Administer and monitor the firm’s sanctions program, including OFAC screening, potential-match review and escalation, and applicable recordkeeping.
• Review client transactions, transaction-monitoring alerts, exception reports, and surveillance outputs related to broker-dealer activity.
• Investigate potential suspicious activity and prepare, review, and file Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) with FinCEN.
• Manage AML-related regulatory requests, law enforcement inquiries, and information-sharing requirements, including Section 314(a) requests.
• Coordinate and deliver annual AML training to registered representatives and other applicable personnel.
• Oversee AML service providers, surveillance tools, and clearing firm relationships.

Compliance Testing Program

• Perform risk-based testing of selected compliance controls for BD and RIA requirements, including supervision, fiduciary duty, disclosures, conflicts of interest, communications, and recordkeeping.
• Conduct walkthroughs, sample testing, and root-cause analysis to assess control design and operating effectiveness.
• Prepare clear, regulator-ready testing reports with findings, risk ratings, and corrective action recommendations.
• Track remediation efforts, validate closures, and maintain testing documentation for regulatory review.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience.
• 3+ years of experience in compliance, supervision, or a related function, preferably with a broker-dealer or RIA. Specific BSA/AML experience required.
• Strong working knowledge of FINRA Rules 3310, 3110, and 3120; BSA/AML regulations; and Investment Advisers Act requirements.
• Ability to assess and articulate regulatory distinctions between BD and RIA requirements.
• Strong analytical, investigative, and problem-solving skills.
• Demonstrated advanced proficiency in Excel, including analyzing and reconciling large datasets, using pivot tables, lookup and conditional formulas, filtering and data-validation tools, and identifying trends, discrepancies, and exceptions.
• Experience implementing and using AML technology and third-party screening or surveillance tools.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for regulatory and executive audiences.
• Independent judgment with a collaborative, risk-based approach.
• Strong organizational and project management capabilities.

What We Offer

• Coverage on the first day of employment for medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid parental leave (16 weeks for primary caregiver and 8 weeks for secondary caregiver)
• In-office Monday through Thursday and work from home on Fridays
• Mother's lounge onsite
• Flexible PTO plan
• Free gym in the Chicago office
• 401(k) matching plan
• HSA employer contributions
• Student loan assistance
• Pet insurance
• Base salary of $90,000 - $100,000 plus discretionary bonus (exact base salary amount will be dependent on experience)

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

Hightower is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate based upon race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital status, national origin, citizenship, veteran status, ancestry, age (over 40), physical or mental disability, medical condition (cancer-related), gender identity or expression, genetic information including sickle cell or hemoglobin C trait, or any other consideration made unlawful by applicable federal, state, or local law.

You are a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident or possess other unrestricted U.S. work authorization and will not require sponsorship for U.S. work authorization now or anytime in the future