Head of Financial Crimes Compliance - Remote

EMPOWER OVERVIEW

Empower is a high-growth financial technology company on a mission to expand access to fair credit to give anyone in the world the opportunity to improve their financial security and mobility. We dream up and launch one-of-a-kind features that help our members get money instantly whenever they need it, save for the future, and rewrite their financial story. Our members see Empower Cash Advance as a life-saver, Empower Automatic Savings as a game-changer, and the new Empower Thrive line of credit as a lifeline to low-cost borrowing and the only practical path to building good credit.

Empower is backed by Sequoia Capital, Blisce, and Icon Ventures. Are we the next great place for you to increase your impact and accelerate your career? We think so:

Inc. ranked Empower #56 in the 2023 Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the US (#55 in 2022). Forbes put Empower on its 2023 list of America's Best Startup Employers. Fast Company recognized the new Empower Thrive line of credit in their 2022 list of the Next Big Things in Tech.

THE EMPOWER WAY

Great Expectations: We come up with bold, audacious goals for ourselves and go all out for impact

Owner Mindset: We give every employee latitude to act independently, make smart choices, and move the business forward

Spirited Debate: We love skeptics and seek counter opinions to challenge our personal assumptions and expand our view

Customer Obsession: We listen to understand, empathize, and create a memorable, rewarding experience for our community

Inclusive Collaboration: We believe diverse teams make the best decisions, and we strive to give diverse voices a seat at the table

No Jerks Allowed: We value our relationships and take the time to build trust and connection and communicate respectfully

WHAT EMPOWER OFFERS

Competitive salary

Generous equity package

Full healthcare benefits

Technology expense reimbursement

Work from anywhere

JOB DESCRIPTION

We are looking for a Head of Financial Crimes Compliance to lead Empower’s financial crimes program. You will be responsible for developing and executing Empower’s global strategy for financial crime prevention efforts, including anti-money laundering/ counter-terrorist financing, customer onboarding (KYC), economic sanctions, and anti-corruption. In this role, you will build scalable processes and systems design and lead with data-driven approaches. The successful candidate will bring an expert-level understanding of domestic and global anti-money laundering and financial crimes compliance laws, substantial experience across the financial services industry, products, and delivery channels, and executive-level communication and presentation skills.

Travel for company offsites is expected at a minimum 2 times a year.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Set priorities and drive the strategy for Empower’s financial crimes compliance program, operating across Empower’s global footprint

• Mature, maintain, and oversee the implementation of Empower’s BSA/AML/OFAC Program, including policies, procedures, processes, and controls across all products and geographies

• Manage, develop, and grow a best-in-class team 

• Design and perform BSA/AML/OFAC risk assessments 

• Lead the design of Empower’s transaction monitoring, investigations, and UAR/ SAR reporting systems

• Design and implement proactive monitoring and surveillance systems to prevent suspicious activities

• Apply strong data analysis skills to analyze trends and patterns in alerts and disposition outcomes to enhance risk mitigation and detection strategies

• Prepare clear, concise, and actionable management- and board-level reporting

• Mature and deliver role-specific financial crimes compliance training for management and the Board

• Handle communications and interactions with Empower’s bank partners, regulators, auditors, and other external stakeholders regarding the company’s financial crimes compliance program

QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience developing and building a financial crimes compliance function in a growing, highly regulated financial services company

• Deep knowledge of domestic and global anti-money laundering and financial crimes compliance laws

• Experience managing high-performing teams in a remote-first model 

• Demonstrated ability to build relationships across a global organization, exert influence, and partner across business teams

At Empower, we hire for people that push themselves to understand others and seek out ways to challenge their personal assumptions. Our hope is that by fostering such an environment, we strengthen our business and relationships by putting people first. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workspace where everyone (regardless of age, education, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or any personal characteristics) feels like they belong. Even if your experience doesn’t exactly match up to our job description, you should feel empowered to apply regardless!