Analyst, BSA/ AML Operations

About the role

The Analyst, BSA/AML Operations is responsible for conducting investigations of merchant-level transactional activity to identify potential suspicious behavior and financial crime risk within Pathward's acquiring portfolio. This role focuses on executing alert reviews, case investigations, and regulatory filings related to sponsored merchants, payment facilitators, and ISO partners. The Analyst applies risk-based judgment to detect merchant-specific typologies including transaction laundering, merchant misclassification, prohibited merchant activity, chargeback misrepresentation, and factoring and prepares SARs and CTRs in accordance with Pathward procedures and FinCEN requirements.

Responsibilities

• Investigate alerts and cases generated from transaction monitoring systems related to merchant acquiring activity, applying risk-based judgment to identify potentially suspicious behavior
• Analyze merchant-level transaction data, including payment flows, authorization patterns, MCC codes, chargeback ratios, refund activity, and settlement behavior to identify anomalies and red flags
• Identify and investigate merchant acquiring-specific typologies including:
• Transaction laundering / factoring - merchant processing payments for undisclosed or unrelated businesses
• Merchant misclassification - incorrect MCC assigned at onboarding or modified to circumvent controls
• Prohibited / high-risk merchant activity - merchants operating in prohibited categories concealed at underwriting
• Chargeback misrepresentation - merchant disputes legitimate chargebacks fraudulently; cardholder abuse
• Load balancing, BIN attacks, velocity attacks - indicative of merchant terminal compromise or coordinated fraud
• MID-cycling / BIN-hopping - merchants closing and reopening accounts to evade network violations
• Prepare and file SARs with clear, well-structured narratives, ensuring merchant-specific facts, transaction amounts, and typology indicators are articulated
• File CTRs accurately and timely in accordance with regulatory standards
• Review and investigate partner referrals and escalations involving sponsored merchants, sub-merchants, and payment facilitators
• Document investigative findings clearly and accurately within Actimize case management systems
• Meet defined SLAs, productivity expectations, and quality standards for the merchant acquiring workstream
• Escalate high-risk or complex matters to the Manager, including MATCH list entries, card network monitoring program flags, suspected terrorist financing through merchant fronts, and undisclosed sub-program activity
• Maintain current knowledge of BSA/AML and OFAC regulations, FinCEN guidance, card network rules, and evolving merchant acquiring fraud and money laundering typologies
• Collaborate with BSA/AML peers, Fraud Operations, and partner oversight teams to ensure comprehensive risk coverage

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required (Finance, Criminal Justice, Accounting, Business, or related field)
• CAMS or equivalent AML certification strongly preferred
• Advanced certifications (e.g., CFE) a plus
• 1-3 years of experience in BSA/AML investigations, transaction monitoring, fraud operations, or financial crimes compliance; merchant acquiring or payments experience strongly preferred
• Knowledge of merchant acquiring risks including transaction laundering, MCC misclassification, chargeback fraud, and prohibited merchant categories
• Familiarity with Actimize, FCRM, or similar transaction monitoring and case management platforms
• Strong analytical skills with ability to interpret transaction data, identify patterns, and articulate findings
• Working knowledge of BSA/AML regulations, SAR/CTR filing requirements, and FinCEN guidance
• Excellent written communication skills, particularly SAR narrative drafting
• The responsibilities listed above are not all inclusive and may be changed at any time.
• Salary range: $43,000 - $70,000
• The salary range reflects the minimum and ma

Benefits

Additional Information

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.

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