BSA Specialist

BSA Specialist

The BSA Specialist helps carry out Altura Credit Union's Bank Secrecy Act/Anti-Money Laundering (BSA/AML) program. The role reviews monitoring alerts, investigates unusual activity and completes required regulatory filings, managing an assigned caseload from start to finish. The BSA Specialist works closely with branch and department staff and serves as a real-time resource on account opening and due diligence. The role helps protect members from fraud, scams and financial exploitation, working both independently and alongside other BSA team members and management.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Reviews and investigates alerts for money laundering, terrorist financing, structuring, unlicensed money services business activity, and internal and external fraud, including OFAC screening alerts. Analyzes cash, check, ACH, wire and loan activity against each member's history; determines whether activity is explained, a false positive or warrants investigation; gathers information from staff and members; and recommends account actions, weighing the member relationship and risk profile. Documents all reviews and decisions to regulatory and internal standards.
• Prepares and files Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) within FinCEN deadlines, including clear narratives and continuing activity reviews. Reviews branch-initiated Currency Transaction Reports (CTRs) for accuracy, aggregates cash activity across branches and ATMs, files CTRs, and maintains the CTR exempt persons list, including exemption filings and annual reviews. Processes FinCEN 314(a) and 314(b) requests and maintains complete case files to support examinations and audits.
• Serves as a real-time resource for branch and department staff on account opening, Customer Identification Program (CIP), customer due diligence (CDD) and OFAC questions. Reviews account documentation for member business accounts, trusts, estates, powers of attorney and conservatorships; performs enhanced due diligence and periodic reviews on higher-risk members, such as cash-intensive businesses and politically exposed persons; and follows up with staff to keep member information and risk profiles current.
• Answers inbound calls and works service tickets from staff across the credit union, including documentation reviews, CTRs, OFAC reviews and unusual activity referrals. Processes elder and dependent adult financial abuse referrals, serves as a liaison with law enforcement on BSA-related matters, and coordinates with the Fraud and Disputes team on referrals involving disputed transactions.
• Travels locally to branches and visits other departments to provide targeted BSA compliance training on topics such as beneficial ownership certifications and occupation information. Supports regulatory examinations and audits, contributes to department metrics and work activity logs, presents findings to leadership, provides administrative support for BSA systems, and gives feedback on monitoring rules to reduce false positives. Maintains strict confidentiality of SAR information and stays current on BSA/AML, USA PATRIOT Act and OFAC requirements.

Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time - with or without notice.

Education, Experience and Qualifications

• High school diploma or its equivalent is required.
• Associate's degree, specialized coursework, or equivalent work experience preferred.
• At least one year of financial institution experience, such as branch, operations, fraud or compliance work.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Entry-level knowledge of BSA/AML, CIP, CDD, and OFAC laws and regulations, credit union or community bank operations, NCUA or comparable BSA expectations, AML considerations for share and loan relationships, and regulatory reporting requirements such as those of FinCEN and the NCUA.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including entry-level math (averages, percentages, ratios and rates) to compare transaction volume, spot unusual patterns and interpret system outputs, proficiency with Microsoft Excel and case management platforms; familiarity with AML monitoring applications and core systems is a plus.
• Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills including well-supported case documentation, explaining requirements simply to employees at all levels, and presenting findings clearly to leadership. Strong interpersonal skills to work effectively with Altura Credit Union and affiliate staff and leadership.
• Strong organizational and time management skills to prioritize alerts, cases, and SAR filings under strict deadlines alongside inbound calls and tickets.
• Ability to learn and apply regulatory requirements and make sound decisions with confidence after gathering facts and weighing alternatives, including recommendations that weigh the impact on the member relationship and risk profile.

Why Altura?

Work-Life Balance

• Vacation (10+ or Minimum Days)
• Sick (8 Days)
• Holidays (11 Days & 1/2 Day Christmas Eve)
• Birthday & Anniversary Day Off
• Specialized Paid Time Off (Jury Duty, Bereavement, etc.)
• Community Volunteer Events
• Social Events & Outings
• Event & Venue Discounts

Wealth Incentives

• Competitive Pay
• Stakeholders
• 401k Dollar-for-Dollar Match up to 6% (after one year of service)
• Business Attire Allowance
• Annual Performance Review & Increase
• Wellness Incentive
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Awards, Recognitions & Incentives
• Free Checking & Savings Accounts
• Discounted Employee Loan Rates

Health And Wellness

• Kaiser and Cigna Medical & Prescription Plans
• Dental & Vision
• Fitness Challenges & Gym Access
• Onsite Wellness Programs
• Medical & Dependent Flex Spending Account
• Life & A&D Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Pet Insurance