Screening Adjudication Expert

Klarna•Columbus, OH

6d•$77,539 - $110,884

About The Position

As a US Screening Adjudication Expert, you will own Klarna's sanctions, PEP, and adverse media screening operations for the US market. You will also have direct responsibility for Klarna's obligations under Section 314(a) of the USA PATRIOT Act. While alert processing is handled by an outsourced vendor and in coordination with Klarna's US partner bank, your role is to own the process, hold both parties to Klarna's standards, manage escalations, and personally handle the most complex or time-sensitive cases. The 314(a) obligation is non-negotiable, demanding precision and genuine process discipline due to mandatory regulatory timelines. Beyond compliance, this role is for a fast learner who brings senior-level expertise and a transformative mindset, identifying areas for change, building the case, and driving improvements.

Requirements

A minimum of 5 years of hands-on experience in US sanctions screening, PEP, or adverse media investigations within a fintech, bank, or regulated financial institution.
Demonstrable breadth across at least two of the three screening disciplines (sanctions, PEP, adverse media), with a track record of quickly building expertise in new areas.
Demonstrable knowledge of OFAC regulations, US sanctions frameworks, and the operational implications for a payments business.
Familiarity with Section 314(a) of the USA PATRIOT Act and FinCEN information-sharing obligations; hands-on 314(a) execution experience strongly preferred.
Strong knowledge of EU, UN, and UK sanctions regimes, AML/CTF regulatory requirements, and customer lifecycle risk frameworks is an asset.
Genuine curiosity about AI and automation, hands-on experience using or implementing AI-assisted tools in a compliance or operational context, or a clear track record of proactively adopting technology to solve real problems.
Exceptional energy, drive, and agency: you have a clear trajectory and are looking for the environment to accelerate it; your record shows you get there faster than anyone expects.
A senior specialist who unlocks capabilities the team does not have today, your experience materially changes what is possible, whether through deep technical knowledge, a new approach to automation, or expertise in a discipline we are building from scratch.
Proven ability to drive meaningful change, you have led or materially contributed to process improvements, not just flagged them.
Fast learner who absorbs new tools, regulatory developments, and process changes at pace, comfortable working in an environment that evolves quickly.
Experience working within or alongside a partner bank or regulated financial institution is an advantage.
Familiarity with screening and case management tools such as World-Check, LexisNexis, Fircosoft, or equivalent, including name-matching logic.
Highly organised with the ability to manage competing regulatory deadlines without compromising accuracy; detail-oriented under pressure.
Strong written communication skills and a rigorous approach to audit-trail documentation.
Self-starter who takes ownership without waiting to be prompted, and who energises others around improvement.
Experience supporting audit or regulatory examinations is an advantage.
A relevant certification such as CGSS, CAMS-FCI, CAMS, or equivalent is a plus.

Nice To Haves

Hands-on 314(a) execution experience strongly preferred.
Strong knowledge of EU, UN, and UK sanctions regimes, AML/CTF regulatory requirements, and customer lifecycle risk frameworks is an asset.
Experience working within or alongside a partner bank or regulated financial institution is an advantage.
Experience supporting audit or regulatory examinations is an advantage.
A relevant certification such as CGSS, CAMS-FCI, CAMS, or equivalent is a plus.

Responsibilities

Own the operational health of sanctions, PEP, and adverse media screening globally, and also for the US market.
Serve as the primary point of contact for the outsourced vendor and Klarna's US partner bank across all three disciplines.
Personally conduct alert reviews, PEP, sanctions, and adverse media assessments to maintain end-to-end expertise and ensure readiness to absorb volume spikes or vendor disruptions.
Review and assess sanctions screening alerts against Klarna's internal standards, applying sound name-matching methodology and contextual analysis.
Coordinate with Klarna's US partner bank on sanctions/PEP-related processes, information sharing, and operational alignment, quality-checking outputs where applicable.
Conduct complex, in-house investigations where the nature or sensitivity of the case requires it; support blocking, freezing, or reporting actions in accordance with applicable US and global regulations.
Identify inefficiencies across all three screening processes; design and implement improvements in collaboration with the vendor, Product, and Tech teams, including leveraging AI and automation.
Actively explore, test, and implement AI and automation solutions to improve screening throughput, decision consistency, and alert quality, working with Product and Tech to move from idea to production.
Own and maintain up-to-date SOPs for all sanctions, PEP, adverse media, and 314(a) processes, ensuring alignment with legal requirements and internal standards.
Track and report on screening performance against SLA targets, flagging risks and deviations early; liaise with US Compliance, Legal, and the MLRO function on regulatory developments.
Stay current on OFAC, FinCEN, and other US regulatory developments across screening disciplines, developments across EU, UN, UK, and other applicable sanctions regimes, AML/CTF regulation, and adverse media best practice feeding changes back into process and procedure.
Perform four-eyes review of 314(a) submissions prepared by our vendor, verifying accuracy, completeness, and FinCEN compliance, and monitor execution against mandatory regulatory timelines.
Take ownership of complex or ambiguous 314(a) cases requiring deeper investigation, and escalate any risk of deadline breach or quality gap to Compliance and Legal immediately.