Compliance Officer

Make an impact in sanctions compliance and financial crime prevention.

A company operating in the financial services industry based in New York.

Job Description

Core Responsibilities

• Assess sanctions screening alerts arising from international wire activity, SWIFT messages, correspondent and intermediary banking transactions, cover payments, applicable trade finance activity, and parties associated with correspondent banking relationships.
• Evaluate transaction information, involved parties, jurisdictions, risk indicators, and payment narratives to determine whether an alert is attributable to a false positive or presents a potential sanctions issue requiring further review.
• Perform comprehensive name-screening analysis and conduct sanctions research using appropriate internal systems and external information sources.
• Resolve alerts that are determined to be non-relevant in accordance with established sanctions procedures and applicable bank policies.
• Record disposition decisions thoroughly, ensuring conclusions are supported by clear reasoning, relevant evidence, and appropriate documentation.

OFAC Case Review & Investigations

• Refer suspected sanctions matches and potential violations to the Sanctions Manager or appropriate investigative function for further action.
• Conduct initial investigative reviews covering relevant parties and transaction characteristics, including originators, beneficiaries, financial institutions, vessels, jurisdictions, and payment narratives.
• Collect, evaluate, and synthesize supporting records and intelligence to facilitate compliance and regulatory determinations.
• Develop concise investigation summaries outlining key findings, risk considerations, and recommended actions.
• Contribute to decisions concerning payment release, rejection, blocking, escalation, or other appropriate disposition.

Correspondent Banking Oversight

• Monitor payment flows involving correspondent and intermediary banking arrangements for potential sanctions-related concerns.
• Identify atypical transaction behavior that could suggest sanctions avoidance, shell-company activity, third-country routing, concealment of sanctioned parties, message alteration, or payment stripping.
• Promptly communicate material or emerging sanctions concerns to the Sanctions Manager and relevant stakeholders.

Sanctions Evasion & Circumvention Risk

• Detect and assess indicators that may point to sanctions evasion or circumvention, including opaque ownership arrangements, connections to sanctioned jurisdictions, complicated payment routes, intermediary entities, unusual payment descriptions, and vessel or trade-related warning signs.
• Escalate significant findings and emerging risk indicators to management in a timely manner.
• Assist with enhanced due diligence, targeted reviews, and investigations involving suspected sanctions circumvention.

Regulatory & Policy Compliance

• Perform responsibilities in accordance with applicable OFAC requirements, U.S. sanctions programs, relevant Bank Secrecy Act obligations, and the institution's internal sanctions framework.
• Remain informed of regulatory developments, sanctions-list changes, enforcement trends, and other developments affecting sanctions compliance.
• Help implement changes to procedures, controls, and processes resulting from regulatory developments or enhancements to internal policy.

Case Management, Reporting & Controls

• Maintain thorough, accurate, and well-organized records for sanctions cases and alert activity.
• Produce management reporting, performance metrics, and trend analysis relating to screening alerts, investigations, and sanctions activity.
• Provide support during internal audits, regulatory reviews, examinations, and compliance testing.
• Assist with responses to questions and information requests from business partners, compliance leadership, and other internal stakeholders.

Business & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Sanctions leadership, Financial Crime Compliance, Operations, Payments Operations, Correspondent Banking, Internal Audit, Risk Management, and other relevant functions.
• Provide practical guidance to operational teams concerning sanctions screening requirements, investigative considerations, and appropriate alert disposition practices.

MPI does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, or based on an individual's status in any group or class protected by applicable federal, state or local law. MPI encourages applications from minorities, women, the disabled, protected veterans and all other qualified applicants.

The Successful Applicant

Qualifications & Professional ExperienceEducation

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Industry-recognized certifications such as CAMS or CGSS are highly desirable.

Professional Experience

• Approximately 5-7 years of experience in sanctions compliance, payment screening, sanctions investigations, financial crime compliance, or a closely related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience adjudicating sanctions alerts and conducting investigations within a banking or financial-services environment.
• Background in correspondent banking and international payment processing is preferred.
• Working knowledge of OFAC requirements and broader sanctions compliance obligations.

Knowledge, Skills & CapabilitiesSubject-Matter Expertise

• Strong knowledge of OFAC regulations and U.S. economic sanctions frameworks.
• Understanding of correspondent banking models and associated sanctions risks.
• Familiarity with international and cross-border payment processes.
• Knowledge of SWIFT payment messaging, including traditional MT formats and ISO 20022.
• Solid understanding of financial crime compliance concepts and controls.

Investigation & Analytical Judgment

• Demonstrated ability to conduct detailed investigations and analyze complex transaction information.
• Strong judgment in differentiating legitimate screening matches from false positives and identifying situations that may present genuine sanctions exposure.
• Ability to recognize patterns, behaviors, and transaction structures that could indicate sanctions avoidance, evasion, or circumvention.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to reach well-supported conclusions and communicate findings clearly.

What's on Offer

• Competitive salary ranging from $90,000 to $110,000 USD.
• Permanent position in a varied financial services environment in New York.

Interested? Apply today.