Financial Crimes Compliance Associate

• Vestwell is seeking a Financial Crimes Compliance Associate to be part of our growing Legal and Compliance Team
• In this role you will take ownership of day-to-day fraud detection and anti-money laundering operations across all three of our business lines to manage fraud risk and comply with regulatory requirements
• You will report to the Manager of Financial Crimes Compliance and will work cross-functionally and in close collaboration with our Client, Operations and Services Teams
• The role will have a significant impact by understanding, analyzing and controlling key risk for the company as we continue to scale
• As a Financial Crimes Compliance Associate, you will serve as a strategic, exempt individual contributor responsible for monitoring, analyzing, and mitigating financial crime risk
• This role requires independent judgment, strong analytical skills, and the ability to interpret and apply regulatory requirements to protect the company and its clients
• You will collaborate across teams to ensure accurate escalation, investigation, and resolution of suspicious activity while supporting compliance initiatives
• Fraud Detection & Analysis:
  Analyze daily high-risk fraud indicators and surveillance reports to identify suspicious activity, applying critical thinking and regulatory knowledge to assess potential risk
• Typology Development:
  Identifying emerging fraud patterns and trends, and communicate them for adaptations to reporting and training materials
• Regulatory Interpretation:
  Interpret applicable financial crimes and anti-money laundering regulations, applying them to business operations and client activity to ensure compliance and mitigate risk
• Escalation & Reporting:
  Review, research, and respond to escalated surveillance and screening alerts. Prepare detailed escalation memos to alert clients or internal stakeholders of potential suspicious activity
• Collaboration & Issue Resolution:
  Partner with Client, Operations, and Services Teams to track, research, and resolve inquiries, complaints, and escalations related to potential financial crimes
• Data Logging & Reporting:
  Maintain accurate records of suspicious activity investigations and prepare data for management and client reporting
• Process Improvement & Compliance Projects:
  Collaborate on improving procedures, workflows, and platform features to enhance efficiency and effectiveness of security reviews. Support Legal and Compliance team initiatives to scale financial crime mitigation strategies
• Independent Judgment:
  Exercise discretion and analytical judgment when reviewing alerts, escalating issues, and recommending procedural or operational improvements

• Competitive health coverage
• A dedicated Employee Wellbeing Committee
• Generous vacation, safe/sick time, and leave policies
• Strong focus on learning & development
• Hybrid work environment
• A great 401(k) plan!

Strong critical-thinking skills, with the ability to analyze information, identify patterns, and make sound, evidence-based decisions

Ability to manage time effectively, set priorities, and meet deadlines

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Experience with research tools like Lexis Nexis Comfort  working in a fast-paced start-up environment with a substantial degree of autonomyA Bachelor’s degree in business, finance and/or criminal justice

Experience performing fraud detection or anti-money laundering functions

Exceptional analytical and detail-oriented aptitude; a high degree of accuracy is required

Proficiency with productivity tools, especially JIRAExperience working at a financial institution or fintech or high growth startup

Experience drafting SARs or responding to FinCEN 314(a) requests

Familiarity with identity-verification platforms such as Plaid or Persona