| Title | AML Compliance Analyst |
|---|---|
| Department | Financial Crimes / BSA-AML / Compliance |
| Reports to | [BSA Officer / AML Manager / Chief Compliance Officer] |
| Location | [Remote / Hybrid / On-site] |
| Employment type | Full-time |
| Salary | [Salary range. Postings with a range perform significantly better, and several states require one.] |
Position overview
The AML Compliance Analyst supports [Company]'s anti-money laundering program, helping the organization detect, investigate, and report potential money laundering and financial crime. This role reviews transaction monitoring alerts, conducts investigations, and supports sanctions screening and customer due diligence.
Working within the financial crimes function, the analyst documents investigations, prepares Suspicious Activity Reports, and helps keep the program aligned to BSA/AML and OFAC requirements. The role is central to protecting the organization from being used to move illicit funds.
This is a hands-on investigative role for a detail-oriented professional who enjoys structured analysis and clear documentation.
Key responsibilities
Transaction monitoring
- Review and disposition transaction monitoring alerts.
- Analyze customer activity for unusual or suspicious patterns.
- Document analysis and decisions clearly and consistently.
- Escalate potential suspicious activity for further review.
Investigations
Conduct investigations into flagged activity, gathering internal and external information to reach a supported conclusion.
- Research customer profiles, transactions, and relationships.
- Assess activity against typologies and risk indicators.
- Prepare well-documented investigation case files.
Suspicious Activity Reports
Prepare and file Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) with FinCEN where warranted, ensuring narratives are clear, complete, and timely. Maintain supporting documentation for each filing.
Sanctions and screening
- Review OFAC and sanctions screening alerts.
- Disposition potential matches and document rationale.
- Escalate confirmed or high-risk matches per procedure.
Customer due diligence
Support KYC and customer due diligence reviews, including enhanced due diligence for higher-risk customers, and help keep customer risk ratings current.
Quality and reporting
Maintain accurate records, support quality assurance and testing, and contribute to management reporting on alert volumes, case outcomes, and program metrics.
Required qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Criminal Justice, Business, or a related discipline, or equivalent experience.
- 2 to 5 years of experience in AML, financial crimes, compliance, or a related role.
- Working knowledge of BSA/AML requirements, sanctions, and KYC concepts.
- Experience reviewing transaction monitoring or sanctions alerts.
- Strong analytical, research, and written documentation skills.
- Sound judgment and attention to detail.
Preferred certifications
One or more of: CAMS, CFE, or equivalent financial crimes certification.
Technical knowledge
Transaction monitoring, alert disposition, suspicious activity investigation, SAR preparation and filing, OFAC and sanctions screening, KYC and customer due diligence, money laundering typologies, and case management systems.
About [Company]
[Two or three sentences about your organization, the maturity of your program, and what the first year looks like. Candidates in this field respond to honesty about whether they are joining a build or an established function.]
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Frequently asked questions
What does an AML Compliance Analyst do?
An AML Compliance Analyst helps an organization detect and report money laundering and financial crime. They review transaction monitoring and sanctions alerts, investigate suspicious activity, prepare Suspicious Activity Reports, and support customer due diligence.
What qualifications and certifications does an AML Compliance Analyst need?
Most bring 2 to 5 years in AML, financial crimes, or compliance, plus a bachelor's degree or equivalent experience. The most common certification is CAMS, and many also hold or pursue the CFE.
What is a SAR?
A Suspicious Activity Report, or SAR, is a report filed with FinCEN when an organization identifies transactions or activity that may involve money laundering or other financial crime. Analysts document the activity and write a clear narrative to support each filing.
What regulations govern AML work?
AML work is governed primarily by the Bank Secrecy Act and its implementing rules, sanctions programs administered by OFAC, and the USA PATRIOT Act, with FinCEN and the FFIEC BSA/AML Examination Manual providing guidance.