AML First Line of Defense Lead

The role:

The Anti-Money Laundering First Line of Defense Lead 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, 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 execution and enhancement of SoFi’s AML program implementation across SoFi’s businesses, including:
• Owning the collection and verification of customer information in line with Know Your Customer (KYC) and Know Your Business (KYB) requirements, including Customer Due Diligence (CDD).  
• Owning the process of collecting and validating relevant updates to customer information in accordance with SoFi’s procedures. 
• Overseeing the effective implementation of customer and transaction monitoring systems and escalation processes.
• Support the creation, iteration, and execution of AML-related policies, making appropriate risk tradeoffs.
• Policy Adherence & Issue Resolution: Driving the remediation of AML-related issues impacting SoFi’s business, customers, and clients.
• 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 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.

• Oversee the development and implementation of AML-related technological and operational solutions to support business objectives while mitigating risk.

• Lead the prioritization of AML initiatives, securing executive buy-in and resourcing to continuously strengthen compliance solutions.

Strategic Leadership & Oversight

• Serve as the primary leader ensuring SoFi’s businesses 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

• Advise executive leadership on emerging AML technology 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, ensuring adherence to compliance requirements across all business initiatives.

• Contributes to development of company objectives. Solves problems and drives results related to those objectives in creative and effective ways.

What you’ll need:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, Finance, or related field

• 10+ years of experience in business operations, technology, strategy, investment banking, 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

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

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

• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with all levels of the organization, across different business lines, and with external stakeholders

• Comfort working in a high growth, constantly changing environment

Nice to have:

• MBA or advanced degree

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