Anti-Money Laundering (AML) First Line of Defense Senior Staff Big Business Banking

SoFi•Cottonwood Heights, UT

About The Position

The Senior Anti-Money Laundering (AML) First Line of Defense Staff Big Business Banking role sits within the Member Business Unit and will support the Big Business Banking team in implementing effective, risk-based AML and sanctions controls in line with regulatory expectations, internal risk appetite, and business strategy. Reporting directly to the AML First Line of Defense Big Business Banking Senior Manager, you will serve as a key AML risk partner to Product, Engineering, Operations, and Risk. You will be accountable for executing AML policy and regulatory requirements, supporting key AML risk decisions, and helping ensure the business is prepared for audits, independent testing, and regulatory examinations. This position requires strong independent judgment, the ability to evaluate risk-based tradeoffs, and a focus on embedding compliance into day-to-day operations while supporting responsible growth.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Economics, or a related field.
6-8 years of experience in AML, financial crime risk management, compliance, risk, strategy, or regulated financial services.
Demonstrated experience executing AML controls within a regulated financial institution.
Experience with onboarding complex high risk business clients.
Strong understanding of BSA/AML regulatory expectations, including OCC exam standards.
Experience working with technical and product teams to implement risk and compliance requirements.
Comfort making independent, defensible risk recommendations in high-growth, evolving environments.
Highly analytical, detail-oriented, and able to clearly articulate risk narratives to senior leadership.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced degree
Experience with Virtual Currency clients (Virtual Asset Service Providers, Stablecoin Issuers, etc.)
CAMS/CFE certification preferred (or willingness to become certified within one year of start date)

Responsibilities

Execute the First Line AML control framework for designated businesses, including conducting onboarding, periodic reviews, and event-driven reviews of complex and high-risk customers.
Support the implementation of AML requirements for new products, services, and partnerships, ensuring controls are embedded into product design and technology.
Draft and review AML relationship summaries and risk assessments used to gate onboarding and ongoing service decisions.
Ensure customer and transaction monitoring frameworks (including on-chain monitoring, where applicable) align with documented risk profiles and expected activity.
Apply SoFi’s AML risk appetite in daily processes, identifying prohibited or restricted customer types and escalating exceptions when warranted.
Formulate and defend risk-based recommendations on customer onboarding, expansion of services, enhanced monitoring, remediation, or exit.
Proactively identify emerging risks in day-to-day operations and help drive mitigation plans before they become audit, regulatory, or operational issues.
Assist in First Line responses to internal audits, independent testing, risk assessments, and regulatory examinations.
Ensure documentation, rationale, and control execution are consistent, defensible, and exam-ready.
Partner closely with AML Compliance (Second Line) to facilitate reviews of high-risk relationships and material changes.
Act as an AML resource and risk partner to Product, Engineering, Design, Operations, and Risk to ensure AML controls scale with business growth.
Assist in translating regulatory expectations into clear technical and operational requirements for monitoring, data capture, and controls.
Support the execution of AML initiatives and provide data-driven insights to leadership to aid decision-making on tradeoffs between risk, customer experience, and business objectives.
Contribute to a high-performing AML First Line Big Business Banking team by maintaining high operating standards to support complex, high-risk businesses.
Support the operation and optimization of key AML technology platforms, including transaction and blockchain monitoring systems.
Monitor emerging AML, sanctions, and digital asset risk trends, surfacing relevant insights to leadership.
Contribute to company-wide objectives by assisting in solving ambiguous, complex risk problems in creative and practical ways.