BSA Coordinator - High Risk Analyst

Ascend is the largest credit union in Middle Tennessee and one of the largest credit unions in the United States, with over $4 billion in assets. With an occupation-based field of membership, Ascend is focused on the expansion and diversification of the select employee groups it serves, which creates greater security for the credit union and its member-owners. Approximately 650 employees serve more than 260,000 members from 27 Middle Tennessee branch locations, Regional Operations Center, Teller Center and Corporate Headquarters. Ascend recognizes that its employees are critical to the credit union’s sustained success and future growth. Our employees are the face of the credit union and their personal successes fuel the success of the team. Through collaboration between employees, management, our membership and our Board, we fuel an engine that propels the credit union forward.

Thank you for your interest in a career with Ascend Federal Credit Union! Being employed by Ascend is vastly different than just holding a job. The credit union prides itself on providing employees rewarding career opportunities, competitive benefits and a unique work culture. The credit union’s commitment to its employees is fostered by its commitment to the member-owners, ensuring dedicated and engaged employees to serve the membership. Ascend’s vision to be the most loved credit union in our market by employees and members alike has earned the credit union distinctions including Federal Credit Union of the Year (NAFCU, 2015), Best Credit Union to Work For (2016-2022) and Training APEX Awards (2015-2023).

As BSA High Risk Analyst, you will be responsible for overseeing the identification, monitoring, and management of high-risk members and entities to ensure full compliance with Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations, and Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) requirements. Your primary focus will be on executing Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), maintaining rigorous high-risk monitoring protocols, and managing sanctions compliance. You will play a critical role in ensuring that member risk ratings accurately align with their activity and overall risk exposure. Additionally, the role will strengthen the credit union's compliance framework by evaluating the effectiveness of risk models, scoring methodologies relating to high-risk members, and monitoring systems.

• Identify and manage high risk members throughout the member lifecycle, including onboarding, periodic reviews, and ongoing monitoring.
• Perform and document member due diligence and enhanced due diligence reviews to understand the nature, purpose, and expected activity of high risk relationships.
• Maintain ownership of assigned high risk portfolios, ensuring reviews are completed timely and documentation is complete and audit ready.
• Validate member risk ratings based on transactional behavior, stated sources of funds, member profile information, and identified risk factors.
• Review and investigate Anti-Money Laundering alerts and cases associated with high risk members.
• Determine when activity warrants escalation and the filing of Suspicious Activity Reports.
• Prepare and file Suspicious Activity Reports and supporting documentation within regulatory timeframes, including clear investigative narratives and conclusions.
• Maintain complete documentation supporting decisions to file or not file Suspicious Activity Reports.
• Conduct enhanced sanctions reviews for high risk members and escalated alerts.
• Investigate potential matches, document findings, and determine appropriate disposition using independent judgment.
• Coordinate escalation and required reporting of confirmed or potential matches.
• Ensure ongoing sanctions compliance, including reviews tied to material changes in member relationships.
• Use the credit union’s BSA/AML monitoring system to assess and manage member risk, including: Member Due Diligence/Enhanced Due Diligence workflows and case management, member risk categories and member segmentation, and member risk categories and member segmentation.
• Review reports related to high risk members, including: missing or incomplete due diligence documentation, unmatched or inconsistent member data, overdue or missing Enhanced Due Diligence review dates, beneficial ownership status, and quality assurance or secondary review outcomes.
• Collaborate with BSA leadership to recommend enhancements to: risk categories and segmentation, risk factors and scoring thresholds, monitoring logic related to high-risk members, and participate in testing, validation, and documentation of changes to high risk risk models and scoring methodologies.
• Work closely with the Business Banking department to ensure appropriate due diligence is completed for business members, including initial onboarding, enhanced due diligence, and periodic reviews.
• Partner with various levels of staff to obtain, review, and validate required Customer Due Diligence documentation, including business purpose, ownership structure, beneficial ownership, and source of funds information.
• Assist the Business Banking department in identifying business members that meet high risk criteria and require elevated monitoring or enhanced review.
• Provide guidance to staff on BSA/AML expectations related to high risk industries, entity structures, products, services, and transactional activity.
• Ensure business member risk ratings accurately reflect member activity, risk factors, and the nature and purpose of the relationship.
• Coordinate follow ups for missing, outdated, or incomplete due diligence documentation and ensure timely resolution.
• Support consistent application of risk based due diligence standards across departments while maintaining BSA’s independent review role.
• Prepare high risk member metrics, summaries, and reports for management, committees, auditors, board members, and regulators.
• Serve as a subject matter resource to internal teams on high risk member management and expectations.
• Assist with training and cross training of BSA staff related to Enhanced Due Diligence standards, high risk typologies, and system workflows.
• Stay current on emerging financial crime risks, regulatory guidance, and examination expectations.
• Read all internal publications including HUB and Possibilities.
• Perform other duties as required or assigned.

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice, Finance, Business, or a related field is required

Work Experience

• 3-5 years of BSA/AML experience required, including high risk customer (member) management and SAR decisioning in a financial institution is required
• BSA/AML certification is highly preferred; candidates without certification must successfully obtain it within the first 12 to 18 months of employment is required
• OFAC and sanctions screening experience is strongly preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Deep understanding of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), USA PATRIOT Act, OFAC requirements, and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) regulations.
• Ability to use critical thinking skills in order to break down problems, gather information and stay focused on objectives in an effective and efficient manner.
• Ability to organize and prioritize work with minimum supervision.
• Must possess a high degree of poise and tact to represent the credit union positively in outside contacts and employees.
• Possess excellent verbal and written communications skills.
• Must possess and maintain a valid, unrestricted driver's license.
• Working knowledge of computer programs including Word Perfect, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Outlook, and Excel. Must be able to be trained on surveillance and access control systems. Must be proficient in internet navigation.
• Must be able to operate or have the ability to be trained to operate related office equipment, including calculator, computer terminal (PC), multifunction copier, telephone, fraud fighter, and typewriter.
• Regular and reliable attendance is required.

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