Staff AML First Line of Defense Specialist

The role:

The Staff Anti-Money Laundering Line of Defense Specialist will play a crucial role in safeguarding SoFi by ensuring effective implementation of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Sanctions policies across the business. This dynamic position sits within the Member Business Unit reporting to the AML First Line of Defense Lead, and offers the opportunity to collaborate with teams across SoFi, driving both compliance and innovation to ensure each business meets regulatory requirements. If you're passionate about protecting financial integrity and building innovative, technology-driven risk management solutions, this role is for you!

What you’ll do: 

Program Execution & Risk Mitigation

• Direct the alignment and enhancement of SoFi’s AML program implementation into the first line of defense  across SoFi’s businesses, including:


• Owning technical aspects of AML models in the first line of defense


• Supporting the effective implementation of customer and transaction monitoring systems and escalation processes.


• Support the creation and execution of first line AML metrics


• Lead the response to internal audits, independent compliance testing, regulatory exams, and risk assessments, ensuring SoFi’s preparedness and regulatory compliance.

Cross-Functional Partnership & Influence

• Act as a key data liaison between Compliance, Risk, Engineering, Product, Design, and Operations to drive front line AML program enhancements, focusing on accurate and complete capturing of customer data, business strategies to mitigate AML risk, and prioritization of innovative technology-driven compliance solutions.


• Use data to identify, track, and mitigate emerging AML risks


• Drive the data sourcing and analysis for the Annual AML Risk Assessment.

Strategic Leadership & Oversight

• Support SoFi’s businesses to effectively implement AML policies, embedding compliance into business processes and technology.


• Align with stakeholders to develop and implement quarterly and annual objectives, as well as reporting to measure and improve performance


• Support leadership on emerging AML risks and industry best practices to proactively shape SoFi’s compliance strategy.


• Foster a strong risk culture by educating senior business leaders and product teams on AML priorities using data.


• Run at problems and create mitigation plans prior to them becoming high risk issues.

What you’ll need:

• 8+ years of experience in risk management, business operations, technology, strategy, consulting, or similar roles


• Experience working with or within a regulated financial institution, with specific experience developing and implementing an AML program


• Experience working with technical teams


• Data-driven, able to analyze data with strong attention to detail and accuracy, and passionate about telling the story behind the numbers


• Ability to run complex data queries and make results digestible by non technical individuals


• Strong management, organizational, and evaluative process skills; ability to analyze complex organizational and technical issues and drive process improvements


• Experience with AML Models


• Effective negotiation and influencing skills, including strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills.


• Comfort working in a high growth, constantly changing environment

Nice to have:

• Experience with Snowflake


• Experience with Tableau


• CAMS/CFE certification preferred (or willingness to become certified within one year of start date)