BSA Risk Advisor

East West Bank•Houston, TX

13d•$80,000 - $120,000

About The Position

East West Bank is currently seeking a BSA Risk Advisor. This person will report up to our [New York City / San Fransico / Pasadena / Houston] location. The position will serve as a key liaison between the First Line of Defense (Business Units and Front Office) and the Second Line of Defense (BSA Office). This role ensures effective communication, coordination, and execution of financial crime risk controls, supporting the Bank’s adherence to regulatory requirements while enabling responsible business growth. The individual will provide guidance on client onboarding, high-risk activities, transaction monitoring escalations, and process enhancements.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Business, Compliance or related field.
7+ years’ experience of BSA/AML, KYC or Financial Crimes Compliance experience
Current knowledge of BSA/AML relevant law and regulations.
Strong knowledge of customer due diligence, OFAC, TPPP/MSB/Correspondent Banking risk, and onboarding processes.
Excellent communication, stakeholder management, problem-solving mindset, ability to translate risk requirements into business action.
Well-organized, analytical, and critical thinking skills.
Excellent verbal and written communication.
Ability to work in a fast-paced environment, creative out-of-the-box thinker, internet savvy, solutions oriented, handle tight deadlines, adaptable to changes in requirements
Applicants must have legal authorization to work in the United States.
We do not offer visa sponsorship at this time.

Nice To Haves

Professional working proficiency in Mandarin and or Cantonese is a plus
Preferred candidates would have 3+ years of experience in retail banking, private banking, and/or central operations.
3+ year's of management or project management experience.
Fluency in English and Chinese preferred.
CAMS, CAFP, CRCM certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Act as the primary point of contact between Business Units and BSA Office for KYC, EDD, OFAC, and transaction monitoring-related matters.
Facilitate and triage inquiries from frontline teams, ensuring timely escalation and resolution with compliance.
Provide interpretation of BSA policies and procedures to support business decision-making.
Review high-risk customer onboarding requests and package cases for BSA office review and approval.
Coordinate CDD/EDD Reviews, RFI responses, and document remediation efforts across business lines.
Monitor and track action items from compliance directives, audits, or regulatory exams.
Assist 1LoD in implementing new AML-related controls or system changes directed by 2LoD.
Maintain centralized tracker for KYC escalations, EDD cases, advisory requests, and approvals.
Prepare dashboards and metrics summarizing advisory trends, risks, and SLA performance.
Contribute to policy/procedure testing and feedback loops to enhance workflow efficiency.
Deliver periodic training sessions to business partners on BSA/AML expectations.
Develop and distribute reference guides, playbooks, or FAQs for frontline use
May perform other duties as assigned