Director, FIU - Typology Investigations & Strategic Analysis

Western Union • Denver, CO

19d • Hybrid

About The Position

Lead the FIU’s Typology Investigations & Strategic Analysis (TISA) function. Integrate advanced intelligence tradecraft, proactive collection, and data-driven controls to identify, investigate, and mitigate complex AML/TF and consumer fraud risks across products and geographies. Direct high-impact typology investigations (e.g., terrorist financing, human trafficking, consumer fraud), translate fragmented signals into actionable intelligence, and oversee enterprise strategy, governance, and performance of real-time transaction controls (RTRA) for AML and fraud exposure. Partner across Enterprise Risk, Compliance & Cyber (ERCC)—including transaction monitoring, analytics, sanctions, and risk assessment—to embed typology-driven insights into compliance and risk processes. Represent FIU externally with law enforcement, intelligence agencies, NGOs, and industry forums. Reinforce the FIU as the organization’s center of analytic and typology expertise, equipping the team to deliver complex, ad hoc, and innovation work for Compliance leadership and enterprise priorities. Role Responsibilities Lead typology investigations. Direct comprehensive investigations into high-risk typologies (e.g., terrorist financing, human trafficking, consumer fraud). Ensure rapid triage, rigorous case development, and decisive risk mitigation informed by pattern analysis and intelligence. Drive strategic analysis & enterprise mitigation. Assess typology threats at scale across Western Union’s products and services. Apply structured analytic techniques and threat modeling to convert fragmented signals into enterprise-level mitigation strategies and enhance detection models and controls. Enhance proactive intelligence collection. Institutionalize open-source intelligence gathering and rapid response to global developments. Generate high-quality investigative leads and maintain updated risk pictures across typologies and markets. Set transaction control strategy (AML & fraud). Oversee design, approval, implementation, and performance of real-time controls. Establish governance, decision rights, and metrics that balance risk mitigation with customer experience. Strengthen governance & operational discipline. Build dashboards, KPIs/KRIs, and oversight mechanisms for investigations, intelligence products, and controls. Ensure audit/exam readiness and consistent documentation standards. Innovate across methods, tools & data. Champion modernization of investigative and analytic methodologies. Oversee adoption of tools and platforms such as Python, Snowflake, automation, and ML to expand capacity, reduce cost, and improve precision. Integrate typology intelligence across compliance & risk. Embed typology insights into compliance and risk management processes. Partner with Regional Compliance, Analytics, Sanctions, and Risk Assessment to drive system enhancements and scalable solutions. Equip and maintain TISA as an enterprise resource. Position TISA as the organization’s expert resource for analytics and systems. Ensure readiness for complex, ad hoc, and innovation work supporting FIU and enterprise priorities. Represent FIU internally & externally. Act as a typology and analytic expert with law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and industry forums. Serve as a strategic partner to Compliance leadership across critical functions. Develop talent & culture. Mentor investigators and analysts; elevate typology expertise and intelligence tradecraft. Drive engagement through clear goals, recognition, growth pathways, and inclusive practices that promote collaboration and high performance.

Requirements

• AML Typology & Intelligence Expertise: Deep experience applying typologies and intelligence methodologies; ability to translate evolving threats into investigations, program changes, and enterprise controls.
• Analytic & Intelligence Tradecraft: Mastery of structured techniques, threat modeling, and pattern recognition; skilled at converting fragmented signals into actionable insights at scale.
• Innovation Leadership: Proven ability to advance methods, adopt new technologies (Python, Snowflake, ML), and enhance operational oversight.
• Technical Fluency: Proficiency with modern data analysis and visualization tools and compliance case management systems; ability to turn investigative leads and intelligence into effective data analytic approaches.
• Operational Excellence: Strong documentation discipline, audit readiness, and governance experience.
• Leadership & Influence: Success leading multi-jurisdictional teams and aligning cross-functional partners to deliver enterprise-scale outcomes.
• External Representation: Ability to represent FIU with law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and industry forums.
• Communication & Change Enablement: Clear, concise communicator; adept at guiding teams through change.
• 6–8+ years of relevant experience in retail/consumer financial services/payment services organizations with multiple financial products.
• 5+ years experience in a compliance management role focusing on anti-money laundering responsibilities.
• 5+ years developing and applying structured analytic techniques and threat modeling in financial services, government, or regulated industries.
• Deep knowledge of major AML typologies (terrorist financing, human trafficking, organized crime, consumer fraud).
• Engagement with law enforcement and intelligence agencies; experience in public speaking or executive briefings.
• Hands-on experience designing and tuning real-time transaction controls; familiarity with performance metrics and customer experience trade-offs.
• Experience establishing KPIs/KRIs, governance routines, and audit readiness programs.
• Success partnering with Technology, Product, Data Science, and Compliance functions to deliver enterprise-scale risk mitigation.
• 5+ years managing investigative and analytic teams; ability to navigate complex regulatory environments.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with Python, Snowflake/SQL, automation, and dashboards (Power BI/Tableau); hands-on technical proficiency is a plus.
• Graduate degree preferred; AML/financial crime certifications (CAMS, CFCS, ACAMS Advanced) a plus.

Responsibilities

• Lead typology investigations.
• Direct comprehensive investigations into high-risk typologies (e.g., terrorist financing, human trafficking, consumer fraud).
• Ensure rapid triage, rigorous case development, and decisive risk mitigation informed by pattern analysis and intelligence.
• Drive strategic analysis & enterprise mitigation.
• Assess typology threats at scale across Western Union’s products and services.
• Apply structured analytic techniques and threat modeling to convert fragmented signals into enterprise-level mitigation strategies and enhance detection models and controls.
• Enhance proactive intelligence collection.
• Institutionalize open-source intelligence gathering and rapid response to global developments.
• Generate high-quality investigative leads and maintain updated risk pictures across typologies and markets.
• Set transaction control strategy (AML & fraud).
• Oversee design, approval, implementation, and performance of real-time controls.
• Establish governance, decision rights, and metrics that balance risk mitigation with customer experience.
• Strengthen governance & operational discipline.
• Build dashboards, KPIs/KRIs, and oversight mechanisms for investigations, intelligence products, and controls.
• Ensure audit/exam readiness and consistent documentation standards.
• Innovate across methods, tools & data.
• Champion modernization of investigative and analytic methodologies.
• Oversee adoption of tools and platforms such as Python, Snowflake, automation, and ML to expand capacity, reduce cost, and improve precision.
• Integrate typology intelligence across compliance & risk.
• Embed typology insights into compliance and risk management processes.
• Partner with Regional Compliance, Analytics, Sanctions, and Risk Assessment to drive system enhancements and scalable solutions.
• Equip and maintain TISA as an enterprise resource.
• Position TISA as the organization’s expert resource for analytics and systems.
• Ensure readiness for complex, ad hoc, and innovation work supporting FIU and enterprise priorities.
• Represent FIU internally & externally.
• Act as a typology and analytic expert with law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and industry forums.
• Serve as a strategic partner to Compliance leadership across critical functions.
• Develop talent & culture.
• Mentor investigators and analysts; elevate typology expertise and intelligence tradecraft.
• Drive engagement through clear goals, recognition, growth pathways, and inclusive practices that promote collaboration and high performance.

Benefits

• You will also have access to short-term incentives, multiple health insurance options, accident and life insurance, and access to best-in-class development platforms, to name a few ( https://careers.westernunion.com/global-benefits/ ).
• Family First Program
• Flexible Time off
• Medical, Dental and Life Insurance
• Tuition Assistance Program
• Parental Leave

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees