Sr. Analyst - Complex Investigations

pathward; United States; Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 101,000; Full time

Job summary

Pathward is seeking a Senior Analyst, Complex Investigations to conduct and lead high-risk financial crime investigations across AML, Sanctions, and Fraud domains. You will generate defensible SARs, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and ensure regulator-ready documentation and outputs.

As a senior contributor, you will coach less-experienced analysts, escalate issues per leadership guidelines, and help surface systemic risks and process improvements within a hybrid work environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in Finance, Criminal Justice, Accounting, or related field.
• CAMS or equivalent AML certification strongly preferred.
• Advanced certifications (CFE, CFCS) a plus.
• 5+ years of BSA/AML, Sanctions, or Fraud investigations experience, including complex or high-risk casework.
• Demonstrated ability to independently investigate multi-account, multi-entity, and cross-product matters.
• Strong command of financial-crime typologies, transaction monitoring systems (Actimize, FCRM), and watchlist/screening tools (Bridger).

Responsibilities

• Independently conduct complex and high-risk investigations across products and customer types, including multi-account, multi-entity, and cross-product matters.
• Handle repeat SAR subjects, continuing activity reviews, and examiner-referred matters in line with established escalation criteria.
• Analyze transactional, KYC/CDD, and open-source information to reach sound, defensible investigative conclusions.
• Identify and elevate systemic or thematic risks, unusual typologies, and potential control gaps emerging from casework to leadership.
• Draft clear, complete, and defensible SAR narratives and decisioning that withstand examiner, audit, and law-enforcement scrutiny.
• Ensure all investigative documentation meets the five-element documentation baseline and internal quality standards.
• Prepare Continuing Activity Reports (CARs) and support 314(a)/314(b), OFAC, and PEP-related investigative activity as needed.
• Operate within the escalation and quality frameworks owned by leadership; apply routing and escalation criteria consistently.
• Partner with QC/QA teams by responding to feedback, remediating identified defects, and helping surface systemic trends.
• Maintain consistency with enterprise investigative standards and methodologies across AML, Fraud, and Sanctions domains.
• Serve as a subject-matter resource on advanced typologies, investigative techniques, and analyst judgment.
• Provide informal coaching, case feedback, and peer review to less-experienced analysts; support onboarding and training initiatives.
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of procedures, desktop procedures, checklists, and reference guides based on casework insights.
• Coordinate with AML, Fraud, Sanctions, Compliance Advisory, Legal, and Technology partners on complex financial-crime scenarios spanning multiple risk domains.
• Support regulatory examinations, internal audit, and validation efforts by preparing case artifacts and responding to information requests.

Skills

Investigations

SAR drafting

Analytical thinking

Regulatory familiarity

Education

Bachelor's degree in Finance/Criminal Justice/Accounting/Business

CAMS certification

CFE

CFCS

Tools

Actimize

FCRM

Bridger

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 *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 Senior Analyst, Complex Investigations conducts the review, investigation, and resolution of the Bank's most complex and high-risk financial crime matters across AML, Sanctions, and Fraud domains. As a senior individual contributor, the role independently executes multi-account, multi-entity, and cross-product investigations, produces defensible SAR narratives and decisioning, and applies advanced typologies and investigative techniques. The Senior Analyst operates within the escalation and quality frameworks owned by leadership, serves as a technical resource and informal coach to less-experienced analysts, and ensures all investigative outputs are consistent, well-documented, and regulator-ready under OCC, FinCEN, and internal program standards.

What You Will Do

Complex Investigations & Case Execution

Independently conduct complex and high-risk investigations across products and customer types, including multi-account, multi-entity, and cross-product matters.

Handle repeat SAR subjects, continuing activity reviews, and examiner-referred matters in line with established escalation criteria.

Analyze transactional, KYC/CDD, and open-source information to reach sound, defensible investigative conclusions.

Identify and elevate systemic or thematic risks, unusual typologies, and potential control gaps emerging from casework to leadership.

SAR Decisioning, Narratives & Documentation

Draft clear, complete, and defensible SAR narratives and decisioning that withstand examiner, audit, and law-enforcement scrutiny.

Ensure all investigative documentation meets the five-element documentation baseline and internal quality standards.

Prepare Continuing Activity Reports (CARs) and support 314(a)/314(b), OFAC, and PEP-related investigative activity as needed.

Quality, Escalation & Governance

Operate within the escalation and quality frameworks owned by leadership; apply routing and escalation criteria consistently.

Partner with QC/QA teams by responding to feedback, remediating identified defects, and helping surface systemic trends.

Maintain consistency with enterprise investigative standards and methodologies across AML, Fraud, and Sanctions domains.

Technical Expertise & Coaching

Serve as a subject-matter resource on advanced typologies, investigative techniques, and analyst judgment.

Provide informal coaching, case feedback, and peer review to less-experienced analysts; support onboarding and training initiatives.

Contribute to the continuous improvement of procedures, desktop procedures, checklists, and reference guides based on casework insights.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Coordinate with AML, Fraud, Sanctions, Compliance Advisory, Legal, and Technology partners on complex financial-crime scenarios spanning multiple risk domains.

Support regulatory examinations, internal audit, and validation efforts by preparing case artifacts and responding to information requests.

What You Will Need

• Bachelor's degree required (Finance, Criminal Justice, Accounting, Business, or related field).
• CAMS or equivalent AML certification strongly preferred.
• Advanced certifications (e.g., CFE, CFCS) a plus.
• 5+ years of BSA/AML, Sanctions, or Fraud investigations experience, including complex or high-risk casework and SAR filing.
• Demonstrated ability to independently investigate multi-account, multi-entity, and cross-product matters.
• Strong command of financial-crime typologies, transaction monitoring systems (e.g., Actimize, FCRM), and watchlist/screening tools (e.g., Bridger).

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

Salary range

Salary range: $60,000 - $100,500. 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 sp