Senior Compliance Analyst (AML)

Principal Financial Group • Des Moines, IA

6d • Remote

About The Position

At Principal Financial Group, the Senior Compliance Analyst will contribute to the Financial Crimes team and its Anti-Money Laundering program supporting life, annuity, and retirement business lines and products. The role focuses on investigating potentially suspicious activity and supporting regulatory reporting, while helping strengthen AML controls and processes. The analyst works with enterprise stakeholders across compliance, risk management, fraud, and business functions.

Requirements

• Associate or bachelor’s degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• At least 6 years of direct compliance, AML, financial crimes, investigations, or related experience.
• Strong experience conducting AML investigations, transaction reviews, and suspicious activity analysis.
• Experience preparing, reviewing, or supporting Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs).
• Strong understanding of AML regulatory requirements, including BSA, FinCEN, OFAC, and USA PATRIOT Act requirements.
• Ability to analyze large volumes of information and perform complex research and investigations.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience drafting compliance-related documentation, including policies, procedures, standards, and process documentation.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other business applications.
• Ability to independently manage complex cases and investigations from initial review through reporting.
• Strong analytical mindset and exceptional attention to detail.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with employees and leaders across all levels of the organization.
• Adaptability in a fast-changing regulatory and compliance environment.
• Strong relationship-building skills and a customer-focused approach to compliance partnership.

Nice To Haves

• ACAMS certification (strongly preferred).
• Experience in AML investigations and reporting, particularly roles supporting downstream reporting activities following investigations (strongly preferred).
• Experience using NICE Actimize or similar AML transaction monitoring and case management platforms.
• Insurance industry experience or knowledge of insurance products (strongly preferred).
• Broker-dealer or securities industry experience.
• FINRA Series 7 license.
• Experience supporting evolving AML technology and process transformation initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Conduct detailed reviews and investigations of potentially suspicious activity identified through transaction monitoring, alerts, referrals, and other internal sources.
• Analyze transactional activity and customer behavior to identify potential money laundering, fraud, and other financial crime risks.
• Coordinate the gathering, analysis, and documentation of information required for regulatory reporting.
• Draft, review, and edit Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) for submission to FinCEN.
• Partner with AML Officers, compliance leaders, fraud teams, and business stakeholders throughout investigations and the reporting lifecycle.
• Provide business partners with guidance on AML obligations, regulatory requirements, and financial crime risk indicators.
• Maintain expertise in BSA, USA PATRIOT Act, OFAC, FinCEN, anti-fraud regulations, and elder financial exploitation requirements.
• Support risk assessments, audit requests, regulatory examinations, and compliance initiatives.
• Assist with procedure updates, training development, and continuous improvement across the AML program.
• Participate in technology and process enhancement initiatives to improve monitoring, investigations, and reporting capabilities.

Benefits

• Non-sales positions have the opportunity to participate in a bonus program.
• Flexible Time Off (FTO) with pay for vacation, personal time, or short-term illness; salaried exempt employees do not accrue a bank of time off and there is no set number of days provided.
• Pension eligible.
• Comprehensive, competitive benefit offerings designed to support employees’ physical, financial, and social well-being.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree