Director/Head of Financial Crimes Investigations, North America

About the role

This position involves leading the North American Financial Crimes Investigations team, focusing on managing complex investigations from beginning to end, including the Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) filing process. The role requires mentoring experienced investigators to maintain high regulatory standards.

A key aspect of the work is overseeing investigations that use both traditional anti-money laundering (AML) transaction monitoring and advanced blockchain analytics tools. This includes tracing customer blockchain activity to identify suspicious fund flows, sanctions evasion, or the use of mixing services. The role also supports regulatory inquiries, examinations, and law enforcement requests related to digital assets.

Success in this role means developing and monitoring key performance and risk indicators, analyzing trends in suspicious behavior to adjust programs, and ensuring consistent team performance. It also involves collaborating with Data Science, Engineering, and Compliance teams to refine transaction monitoring rules and optimize alert efficiency.

The listed salary for this senior leadership position is between $52,000 and $88,000 USD.

Skills that matter here

• AML/CFT investigations: The role requires extensive experience in anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism investigations, including transaction monitoring and risk assessment.
• leadership or people management: This position demands a leader capable of building and scaling investigative teams within a financial or crypto environment.
• blockchain analytics tools: Direct experience with tools like Chainalysis or TRM Labs is necessary for tracing digital asset transactions and identifying illicit activities.
• financial crime typologies: A deep understanding of crime patterns specific to virtual currencies, such as darknet markets or ransomware, is essential for effective investigation.
• operational focus: The role requires structuring ambiguous problems, analyzing data, and synthesizing actionable insights for executive reporting.
• written and verbal communication: The ability to clearly explain complex crypto and compliance issues to both technical and non-technical audiences is vital.

Who this role suits

• Someone with a proven track record of managing and mentoring investigative teams in a fast-paced financial or crypto setting.
• An individual who is adept at using data and analytics, particularly blockchain tools, to uncover financial crime.
• A professional who understands the specific regulatory landscape and crime typologies associated with virtual currencies.
• A leader who can drive strategic program adjustments based on trend analysis and ensure high operational standards.

From the employer

Responsibilities:

• Manage Investigations: Own and manage the end-to-end review, investigation, and disposition of Level 2/escalated cases and Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) filing processes for North American entities. Lead and mentor a team of experienced investigators conducting complex investigations to the highest regulatory standards.
• Blockchain & Fiat Analytics: Oversee investigations leveraging traditional AML transaction monitoring alongside advanced blockchain analytics software (e.g., Chainalysis, TRM Labs) to trace customer blockchain transaction activity and identify suspicious fund flows, sanctions evasion, or mixing services.
• Regulatory Support: Continuously support the local Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) and / or BSA / Compliance Officer. Support responses to regulatory inquiries, examinations, internal audits, and law enforcement requests (e.g., subpoenas) involving digital assets and complex financial crime.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with Data Science, Engineering, and Compliance teams to evaluate the performance of transaction monitoring rule sets. Provide feedback to refine detection scenarios, optimize alert efficiency, and ensure coverage of emerging money laundering and terrorist financing typologies. Regularly coordinate with Compliance Operations Management to review quality of Level 1 alert dispositions and escalations.
• Program Strategy & Metrics: Develop, monitor, and report on a suite of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and Key Risk Indicators (KRIs) for internal stakeholders and executive leadership. Proactively analyze trends in suspicious behavior to guide programmatic adjustments and scale operations.
• Performance Management: Oversee service level agreements and quality indicators to ensure consistent performance in the team. Forecast staffing requirements, drive the recruitment of top investigative talent, and develop robust training programs.

Requirements:

• 5+ years of relevant experience in AML/CFT investigations, transaction monitoring, customer due diligence and risk assessment, etc.
• 3+ years of experience in a leadership or people management role, building and scaling teams within a crypto exchange, digital asset fintech, or complex financial institution.
• Extensive, hands-on experience managing complex crypto/fiat transactional investigations, including drafting and reviewing SARs to FinCEN/FinTRAC and other regulatory standards.
• Direct experience utilizing blockchain analytics tools (e.g., Chainalysis, TRM Labs) and enterprise case management platforms.
• Broad and deep understanding of financial crime typologies specific to virtual currencies (e.g., darknet markets, ransomware, pig butchering scams, unhosted wallets, and mixing services).
• Strong operational focus with the ability to structure ambiguous problems, manipulate data, and synthesize actionable insights for executive reporting.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to translate complex crypto and compliance issues for both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Preferred: Professional certifications such as CAMS, CFE, CFCS, or specialized blockchain compliance certifications (e.g., CCAS, CRC) are highly preferred.

Conditions:

• Competitive salary
• Attractive annual leave entitlement including: birthday, work anniversary
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• Eligible for company-sponsored group health, dental, vision, and life/disability insurance
• Work Flexibility Adoption. Flexi-work hour and hybrid set-up
• Aspire career alternatives through us. Our internal mobility program can offer employees a diverse scope.