Senior Compliance Manager - BSA/ AML Crypto and Emerging Banking Solutions

M&T Bank • Buffalo, NY

3d • Onsite

About The Position

Overview: Leads enterprise financial crimes compliance risk management activities related to current and emerging risks associated with digital assets, artificial intelligence, and risk optimization opportunities within the Bank Secrecy Act/ Anti Money Laundering (BSA/AML) and Sanctions organization. Responsible for setting standards for financial crimes compliance framework and control structures, providing oversight of AML risks with associated products and/or services, and designing and managing execution of M&T’s AML control environment, including reporting and KPIs. Works closely with the enterprise Head of Digital Assets to ensure appropriate financial crimes compliance risk frameworks. Supports the BSA/AML Officer and Sanctions Compliance Officer as Deputy. Primary Responsibilities: Act as Deputy BSA/AML and Sanctions Compliance Officer, providing leadership, escalation authority, management reporting to senior leadership and the Board, mentoring staff, and translating emerging financial crime trends into actionable enterprise risk insights. Support the BSA/AML and Sanctions Compliance Officer in the governance, implementation, and ongoing administration of the Bank’s enterprise BSA/AML and OFAC compliance program, including policies, KYC/CDD/EDD procedures, and risk reporting, with specific focus on digital assets, blockchain‑enabled products, stablecoin, and emerging payment rails. Serve as the enterprise financial crimes compliance subject matter expert for crypto‑assets and non‑traditional payment solutions, providing credible challenge and advisory support on regulatory expectations, risk typologies, control design, and supervisory best practices. Lead enterprise‑wide BSA/AML and sanctions risk assessments, including targeted deep‑dives and scenario analyses for digital assets and emerging technologies, ensuring alignment with evolving threat landscapes and regulatory guidance. Oversee and support investigations and SAR decisioning related to suspicious activity involving digital assets and emerging payment solutions, coordinating with AML, fraud, sanctions, cybersecurity, legal, and law enforcement as appropriate. Partner with Technology, Data, and Product teams to evaluate and enhance blockchain analytics, crypto transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, and detection models, ensuring scalable, regulator‑ready financial crimes controls. Advise on and review new or expanded products, services, and fintech partnerships, providing second‑line risk assessments for digital asset and emerging payment initiatives to ensure risks are identified, mitigated, and approved within risk appetite. Represent the Bank in regulatory examinations, audits, and industry forums, including coordination of examiner responses, remediation of findings, and participation in regulatory consultations related to innovation and financial crimes compliance. Work collaboratively with Senior BSA/AML Managers, Head of Digital Assets, Legal, and cross-functional business partners to ensure effective and efficient solutions are implemented to resolve compliance issues related to digital assets and emerging banking solutions. Manage regulatory, audit, and compliance oversight activities, including coordination with state, federal, and international regulators; partnership with Governance and Oversight leadership; liaison with Internal Audit and Compliance Testing; and ownership of the remediation lifecycle for regulatory, audit, and compliance findings through closure. Provide people leadership and risk stewardship, including staffing and performance management responsibilities; maintaining internal control standards aligned with the Company’s risk appetite; escalating material risks; driving timely issue resolution; and fostering a culture that reflects the Bank’s values and compliance expectations. Exercise usual authority of a manager concerning staffing, performance appraisals, promotions, salary recommendations, performance management, and terminations. Understand and adhere to the Company’s risk and regulatory standards, policies, and controls in accordance with the Company’s Risk Appetite. Design, implement, maintain, and enhance internal controls to mitigate risk on an ongoing basis. Identify risk-related issues needing escalation to management. Promote an environment that supports a culture of belonging and reflects the M&T Bank brand. Maintain M&T internal control standards, including timely implementation of internal and external audit points together with any issues raised by external regulators as applicable. Complete other related duties as assigned. Scope of Responsibilities: This position will serve as the Deputy BSA/AML Officer, providing continuity of leadership and assuming essential responsibilities and decision-making authority in the absence of the BSA/AML Officer. The incumbent will be responsible for taking emerging trends in non-traditional banking solutions and turning them into actionable insights for senior leadership, helping shape enterprise risk strategy and decision-making. This role requires an ability to perform independently but maintain close collaboration with cross-functional teams to embed forward-looking risk intelligence into governance, planning, and reporting processes.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of 11 years’ experience in a banking/compliance or other relevant field in related subject matter function with a mastery of regulatory compliance or regulatory compliance support functions (such as governance, testing, examination management, or issues management) with 4 years’ managerial experience, or in lieu of a degree, a combined minimum 15 years’ advanced education and/or equivalent work experience, with 11 years’ experience in a banking/compliance or other relevant field in related subject matter function with a mastery of regulatory compliance or regulatory compliance support functions (such as governance, testing, examination management, or issues management) with 4 years’ managerial experience.
• BSA/AML & The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC): Laws and rules that apply to BSA/AML/Sanctions program including Customer Due Diligence, suspicious activity, OFAC and regulatory reporting.
• Proven track record for being able to work autonomously and within a team environment
• Familiarity with global regulatory frameworks and enforcement actions related to crypto

Nice To Haves

• Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS).
• Experience working in a financial institution, financial technology, or crypto-native company
• Experience with data analytics, machine learning, or forensic accounting in a crypto context

Responsibilities

• Act as Deputy BSA/AML and Sanctions Compliance Officer, providing leadership, escalation authority, management reporting to senior leadership and the Board, mentoring staff, and translating emerging financial crime trends into actionable enterprise risk insights.
• Support the BSA/AML and Sanctions Compliance Officer in the governance, implementation, and ongoing administration of the Bank’s enterprise BSA/AML and OFAC compliance program, including policies, KYC/CDD/EDD procedures, and risk reporting, with specific focus on digital assets, blockchain‑enabled products, stablecoin, and emerging payment rails.
• Serve as the enterprise financial crimes compliance subject matter expert for crypto‑assets and non‑traditional payment solutions, providing credible challenge and advisory support on regulatory expectations, risk typologies, control design, and supervisory best practices.
• Lead enterprise‑wide BSA/AML and sanctions risk assessments, including targeted deep‑dives and scenario analyses for digital assets and emerging technologies, ensuring alignment with evolving threat landscapes and regulatory guidance.
• Oversee and support investigations and SAR decisioning related to suspicious activity involving digital assets and emerging payment solutions, coordinating with AML, fraud, sanctions, cybersecurity, legal, and law enforcement as appropriate.
• Partner with Technology, Data, and Product teams to evaluate and enhance blockchain analytics, crypto transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, and detection models, ensuring scalable, regulator‑ready financial crimes controls.
• Advise on and review new or expanded products, services, and fintech partnerships, providing second‑line risk assessments for digital asset and emerging payment initiatives to ensure risks are identified, mitigated, and approved within risk appetite.
• Represent the Bank in regulatory examinations, audits, and industry forums, including coordination of examiner responses, remediation of findings, and participation in regulatory consultations related to innovation and financial crimes compliance.
• Work collaboratively with Senior BSA/AML Managers, Head of Digital Assets, Legal, and cross-functional business partners to ensure effective and efficient solutions are implemented to resolve compliance issues related to digital assets and emerging banking solutions.
• Manage regulatory, audit, and compliance oversight activities, including coordination with state, federal, and international regulators; partnership with Governance and Oversight leadership; liaison with Internal Audit and Compliance Testing; and ownership of the remediation lifecycle for regulatory, audit, and compliance findings through closure.
• Provide people leadership and risk stewardship, including staffing and performance management responsibilities; maintaining internal control standards aligned with the Company’s risk appetite; escalating material risks; driving timely issue resolution; and fostering a culture that reflects the Bank’s values and compliance expectations.
• Exercise usual authority of a manager concerning staffing, performance appraisals, promotions, salary recommendations, performance management, and terminations.
• Understand and adhere to the Company’s risk and regulatory standards, policies, and controls in accordance with the Company’s Risk Appetite.
• Design, implement, maintain, and enhance internal controls to mitigate risk on an ongoing basis.
• Identify risk-related issues needing escalation to management.
• Promote an environment that supports a culture of belonging and reflects the M&T Bank brand.
• Maintain M&T internal control standards, including timely implementation of internal and external audit points together with any issues raised by external regulators as applicable.
• Complete other related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• As an employer of choice, we are proud to offer competitive benefits ranging from medical and retirement to forty hours of paid volunteer time, each year.

What This Job Offers

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