Being a Country Bank team member has a lot of perks! Our competitive total compensation package and comprehensive benefit package include:
- Medical, dental and vision insurance,
- A 401(k) Plan with a generous employer contribution plus match;
- Educational assistance and tuition reimbursement benefits;
- Hybrid work and flexible scheduling options;
- Generous total paid time off, and more!
Country Bank is a growing mutual community bank with locations in Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester counties. We are Made to Make a Difference in the lives of our customers, our communities, and for our team members every day since 1850. It is our people that drive our success and create our inclusive and engaging culture. We’re excited to meet you to discuss our career opportunities and how you can make a difference as a part of our growing Financial Investigations team!
About the Job:
We're excited to announce an opportunity for the position of Senior AML/Financial Crimes Specialist! This position is responsible for protecting the organization from fraud and financial crime. This role analyzes account activity, investigates suspicious behavior, and leads complex cases using a variety of industry tools and regulatory knowledge. This position collaborates across teams, supporting risk mitigation efforts, and helps strengthen our fraud and AML programs, all while making a meaningful impact on the Bank’s overall security and integrity.
The hiring range for this position is $70,000 to $80,000.
This position is Full Time, 40 hours weekly.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities (Other Duties May be Assigned):
- Conducts timely triage of daily Verafin alerts, internal Suspicious Activity Reports or other anomalous report to identify potential suspicious or fraudulent activity. Serves as primary contact for internal and external fraud events. Takes immediate action to mitigate exposure and conducts follow up with the appropriate business units and or Risk Management to curtail future occurrences of suspicious/fraudulent activity, including fraud alerts in the Phoenix Fraud module that may result in account restrictions to reduce financial crime risk.
- Reviews daily returned deposit report to identify potential fraud or kiting. Escalates confirmed or highly suspicious transaction(s) or events to case management for further analysis, customer contact, documentation and support for further dispositioning and possible reporting.
- Performs Case Management and formulates SAR narratives. Actively participates in the Bank’s SAR Committee as a contributing member.
- Serves as banking center liaison by providing initial financial crime training to new frontline team members, ongoing training for existing employees, and providing departments with relevant financial crime related materials for distribution to customers. Educates customers and the community through fraud-related presentations and informational seminars. Coordinates employee BVS training courses with Learning & Development as required by the Financial Investigations Department.
- Serves as a go-to resource for FID team members and provides support by answering day-to-day operational questions to keep work moving smoothly across the team.
- Performs a review of new service providers for compliance with applicable FACT Act red flag rules.
- Maintains the Bank’s Red Flag Identity Theft Prevention Program, including oversight of the risk assessment and annual report to the Risk Committee. Based on risk factors resulting from the assessment, updates Authentication Procedures and reviews the Program and Procedures at least annually making revision recommendations to the AML Officer where applicable.
- Provides subject matter/industry expertise regarding inherent risk and associated controls relevant to BSA/AML/OFAC & fraud crimes.
- Prepares quarterly and annual loss reports for review by the Risk Committee and analyzes data to complete reports including but not limited to fraud loss data reporting to monitor risk management activities associated with losses. Applies results of analysis reports to target patterns and trends in financial crime, making recommendations to adjust risk benchmarks.
- Acts as the designated individual for reporting elder financial exploitation or abuse to the Massachusetts Elder Abuse Hotline and work with local protective services as necessary. Responds to state and federal summons by appearing for witness when requested on behalf of Country Bank.
- Assists Bank customers, employees and law enforcement agencies regarding investigations of suspicious activity or potential fraudulent transactions. Provides comprehensive and timely information as requested.
- Partners with other CFT/AML Risk teams or Relationship Managers/Banking Center team members to provide support where needed.
- Responsible for providing BSA and Kiting Risk information on periodic Cash Management Risk Assessments for Cash Management Customers with Remote Deposit Capture, and ACH Origination services and to update ACH or RDC risk factors and values in Verafin.
- Reviews, tracks and submits Counterfeit Notes/Counterfeit Note Reports to the Secret Service.
- Serves as user administrator for FIS and Verafin services in response to Employee Authorization Forms (EAF). Contributes to testing and revaluating alert thresholds within the Verafin system to maintain efficiency.
- Keeps abreast of current and emerging crime schemes through webinars and seminars, identify loopholes in current systems and policies, and collaborating with other departments, banking centers and external groups to mitigate fraud
- Other job duties, as assigned.
Knowledge and Skills
It is required that the employee in this position can work independently, interpreting ideas and facts, while also analyzing and interpreting federal and state laws and/or regulations. This employee should have strong customer service skills, as well as strong verbal and written communication skills. This individual is expected to demonstrate agile decision-making and manage multiple priorities simultaneously, with a disciplined approach to triaging and sequencing work based on impact and urgency.
This position requires intermediate knowledge of the Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Word and the ability to learn and utilize multiple software applications. Proficiency in Verafin AML detection software is also strongly preferred.
Education and Work Experience
An Associate’s degree or commensurate experience is required for this position. A minimum of three years of BSA/AML/Fraud analysis, investigation, and escalation experience is required. A certification in financial crime is preferred.
Working Conditions/Physical Requirements
This position is in an office environment, which means the physical surroundings are generally pleasant and comfortable with minimal exposure to injury or other hazards, with a moderate level of noise. Prolonged periods of sitting and looking at a computer screen with freedom of movement on a regular basis is expected. Minimal physical effort is required but could include repetitive motion of wrists and fingers; talking and hearing; and handling of light materials and supplies. This position may require some travel between offices.
Country Bank is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Diverse applicants encouraged to apply.