Senior AML & Crypto Officer

Lever, Inc.; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Lever, Inc. is seeking a Senior AML & Crypto Officer based in South Africa to lead end-to-end investigations of complex crypto-related financial crime risks.

You will review customer profiles, transaction activity, and on-chain/off-chain data, performing blockchain wallet analyses with tools such as Chainalysis, Elliptic, and Fireblocks, and advise on controls and policy improvements. You will collaborate with internal stakeholders and may engage with enforcement authorities when required.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in AML, financial crime, or related fields.
• Hands-on crypto and blockchain investigations.
• Strong knowledge of AML/CTF, KYC/KYB, and sanctions.
• Experience with blockchain analytics tools (Chainalysis, Elliptic, Fireblocks).
• Excellent report writing and documentation skills.
• Experience with compliance processes and enforcement collaboration.
• Knowledge of on-chain/off-chain risks; fintech or crypto background preferred.

Responsibilities

• Conduct end-to-end AML, financial crime, transaction monitoring, sanctions, fraud, and crypto-related investigations.
• Review customer profiles, transaction activity, source of funds and wealth, and unusual or potentially suspicious account behavior.
• Investigate cryptocurrency transactions and perform blockchain and wallet analysis using platforms such as Chainalysis, Elliptic, Fireblocks, or comparable tools.
• Identify exposure to sanctioned entities, high-risk wallets, fraud schemes, mixers, darknet activity, high-risk jurisdictions, and other financial crime typologies.
• Review alerts generated by crypto transaction monitoring systems and apply risk-based judgement to distinguish genuine suspicious activity from false positives.
• Analyze on-chain and off-chain activity to identify unusual patterns, red flags, and emerging typologies, including layering, structuring, rapid movement between fiat and crypto, and exposure to mixing services.
• Analyze transaction data to identify emerging financial crime patterns and support the continuous improvement of monitoring capabilities.
• Contribute to the enhancement of AML, KYT, transaction monitoring, onboarding, and wallet-risk controls.
• Contribute to the tuning and calibration of crypto monitoring scenarios, thresholds, and rules to improve detection effectiveness and reduce unnecessary alerts.
• Maintain accurate, comprehensive, and audit-ready investigation records and documentation.
• Develop and deliver practical guidance and training to colleagues on crypto-specific risks, typologies, onboarding, and transaction monitoring best practices.
• Influence crypto compliance policies and contribute to defining and maintaining an appropriate risk appetite.
• Represent the compliance function professionally in internal and external discussions concerning cryptocurrency financial crime risks.
• Act as a primary liaison with enforcement authorities when required, including matters involving investigations and asset recovery.
• Manage crypto compliance activities end-to-end in alignment with the Head of Compliance.

Skills

AML/CTF knowledge

Investigative skills

Analytical thinking

Report writing

Stakeholder management

Communication

Tools

Chainalysis

Elliptic

Fireblocks

Job description

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Senior AML & Crypto Officer based in South Africa.

This is a senior compliance role focused on investigating complex AML, transaction monitoring, sanctions, fraud, and cryptocurrency-related financial crime risks.
You will lead end-to-end investigations across customer profiles, transaction activity, source of funds and wealth, and unusual account behavior.
The role combines traditional financial crime expertise with advanced blockchain and wallet analysis to identify emerging risks and sophisticated typologies.
You will contribute to the development and enhancement of AML, KYT, transaction monitoring, and crypto risk controls.
The position also provides an opportunity to influence crypto compliance policies, risk appetite, monitoring rules, and operational processes.
You will collaborate with internal stakeholders and may engage directly with enforcement authorities on matters involving crypto financial crime.
The role requires strong investigative judgement, regulatory knowledge, analytical capabilities, and the ability to operate effectively in a rapidly evolving digital asset environment.

Accountabilities

• Conduct end-to-end AML, financial crime, transaction monitoring, sanctions, fraud, and crypto-related investigations.
• Review customer profiles, transaction activity, source of funds and wealth, and unusual or potentially suspicious account behavior.
• Investigate cryptocurrency transactions and perform blockchain and wallet analysis using platforms such as Chainalysis, Elliptic, Fireblocks, or comparable tools.
• Identify exposure to sanctioned entities, high-risk wallets, fraud schemes, mixers, darknet activity, high-risk jurisdictions, and other financial crime typologies.
• Review alerts generated by crypto transaction monitoring systems and apply risk-based judgement to distinguish genuine suspicious activity from false positives.
• Analyze on-chain and off-chain activity to identify unusual patterns, red flags, and emerging typologies, including layering, structuring, rapid movement between fiat and crypto, and exposure to mixing services.
• Analyze transaction data to identify emerging financial crime patterns and support the continuous improvement of monitoring capabilities.
• Contribute to the enhancement of AML, KYT, transaction monitoring, onboarding, and wallet-risk controls.
• Contribute to the tuning and calibration of crypto monitoring scenarios, thresholds, and rules to improve detection effectiveness and reduce unnecessary alerts.
• Maintain accurate, comprehensive, and audit-ready investigation records and documentation.
• Develop and deliver practical guidance and training to colleagues on crypto-specific risks, typologies, onboarding, and transaction monitoring best practices.
• Influence crypto compliance policies and contribute to defining and maintaining an appropriate risk appetite.
• Represent the compliance function professionally in internal and external discussions concerning cryptocurrency financial crime risks.
• Act as a primary liaison with enforcement authorities when required, including matters involving investigations and asset recovery.
• Manage crypto compliance activities end-to-end in alignment with the Head of Compliance.

Requirements

• 7+ years of experience in AML, financial crime, transaction monitoring, compliance investigations, or a closely related field.
• Hands-on experience conducting cryptocurrency and blockchain investigations.
• Strong knowledge of AML/CTF, KYC/KYB, sanctions requirements, and financial crime typologies.
• Practical experience with blockchain analytics and crypto compliance tools such as Chainalysis, Fireblocks, Elliptic, or similar platforms.
• Strong analytical and investigative capabilities, with excellent report-writing and documentation skills.
• Experience establishing or improving crypto compliance processes and operational frameworks.
• Experience working with global law enforcement authorities and supporting asset recovery activities.
• Experience in fintech, payments, cryptocurrency, or digital assets is preferred.
• Strong understanding of on-chain and off-chain transaction analysis and crypto-specific financial crime risks.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to represent compliance matters effectively with internal and external parties.
• SQL and data-analysis experience is a plus.
• Experience developing or working with AI agents to support compliance, investigation, or analytical workflows is a plus.

Benefits

• Opportunity to work in a senior crypto compliance and financial crime function.
• Exposure to blockchain analytics, cryptocurrency investigations, AML/KYT controls, and emerging digital asset risk typologies.
• Opportunity to influence crypto compliance policies, risk appetite, and monitoring frameworks.
• Collaboration with compliance leadership, internal stakeholders, and external enforcement authorities.
• Opportunity to contribute to the development of crypto-focused processes, controls, and investigative capabilities.
• The source job description does not specify salary, healthcare coverage, paid time off, or additional benefits.