Global Financial Crimes Compliance – Germany AML Investigations – Associate

With a diverse team of Compliance professionals supporting all areas of our business around the globe, the team is working diligently to be innovative and present all business partners with thoughtful and unique solutions to the challenges they face. The Compliance function has a robust set of priorities in place focused on best practice and employee development to ensure goals are delivered.

As an Anti-Money Laundering (AML) Investigations Associate within our Global Financial Crimes Compliance (GFCC) team, you will be responsible for identification, investigation and compiling of suspicious activity reporting. You will investigate unusual activity from financial crime perspective to support decision making in regard of filing Suspicious Activity Reports to relevant financial intelligence unit (FIU) or law enforcement, where necessary.  

Job responsibilities 

• Conduct investigations arising from strategic transaction monitoring systems and referrals from other sources such as financial institutions (including fraud recalls), the business and law enforcement in a timely manner.
• Undertake client and company research using in-house databases and publicly available information to identify whether activity is unusual, and ultimately supports the decision-making process regarding reporting to the relevant FIU or law enforcement, where necessary.
• Perform analysis and assessment of risks and abnormalities in relation to activity and escalate unusual activity and present cases to the relevant country Money Laundering Reporting Officers ("MLROs").
• Draft Suspicious Activity Reports ("SARs") for submission to the FIU and/or law enforcement, where necessary.
• Perform monitoring activities with regard to regular control plan tasks.
• Participate in proactive investigative projects in support of national/ European, legal entity or global priorities and initiatives, including engagement with external partners.
• Develop subject matter expertise through knowledge, research and training, leading to new investigative approaches to uncover unusual activity.
• Participate proactively and influence team's engagement with the firm's people agenda initiatives.
• Take responsibility and accountability in meeting strict deadlines and adhere to defined timelines.

Required qualifications, capabilities, and skills

• Good knowledge of the German, European and global regulatory anti-financial crime requirements and standards, including financial crime typologies.
• Experience in anti-financial crime investigations or intelligence analysis or comparable field experience.
• Combination of Minimum Bachelor's degree or equivalent, strong academic background and/ or work achievements.
• Demonstrated skills in risk assessment and the ability to make sound decisions, including escalation when appropriate in regard to financial crime risk.
• Foster excellent investigative skills & possess an analytical mindset with proven problem solving ability. 
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills necessary to work effectively with people at all levels in the organization.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including proficiency in concisely summarising complex topics & presenting to wide audiences in a precise and correct manner. 
• Proficient is MS Office (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint etc.), and has the experience to handle large volumes of quantitative data.
• Strong German and English language skills.

Preferred qualifications, capabilities, and skills

• Prior experience in managing technology driven case management tools would be preferable.
• Ability to make decisions, multi-task and prioritise tasks in a fast-paced environment.
• Practical Knowledge and Qualification in the use of visualisation, data automation software (e.g. Alteryx, UiPath, Python, Tableau, and/or Xceptor) would be added advantage.