Zytek Medsearch
About the job AML Surveillance Manager
Title: AML Surveillance Manager
Location: NYC or Palo Alto, CA
Relocation Assistance: Yes
We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Anti-Money Laundering Surveillance Manager to lead our Financial Intelligence Units transaction monitoring and investigations functions. This role is instrumental in protecting the company from financial crime risks across both traditional and crypto platforms. You will drive operational excellence, ensure regulatory compliance, and collaborate across teams to enhance Company's Anti-Money Laundering program.
Operational Leadership & Oversight
Lead and manage all AML operational workflows including digital asset transaction monitoring (TM), investigations, and suspicious activity reporting. Oversee escalations from internal teams, law enforcement, and regulators including 314(a), 314(b), subpoenas, and sanctions screening matches. Maintain and optimize Compliance program documentation, including policies, procedures, and desktop guidance. Collaborate cross-functionally with internal teams and contribute to regulatory exams and internal/external audits. Transaction Monitoring (TM)
Serve as the Transaction Monitoring Lead and Model Owner, responsible for system calibration, scenario design, and rule implementation. Calibrate and enhance TM systems such as Elliptic, TRM Labs, and Unit21 through rule optimization and data-driven analysis. Develop and maintain TM model documentation, desktop procedures, and coverage assessments. Monitor TM alerts, assign investigations, track deadlines, and perform QA/QC to ensure accuracy and consistency. Report TM metrics, alert trends, and system issues to the Head of FIU and collaborate with Compliance Technology and regional Compliance Officers. Investigations & Regulatory Reporting
Oversee all case investigations, including those related to TM alerts, negative news, sanctions hits, and proactive FIU-initiated inquiries. Investigate escalated alerts and matches from transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, law enforcement, and 314(b) requests. Manage the case management system, assign workloads, and maintain timelines and investigative quality. File regulatory reports such as Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) and ensure accurate documentation and timely submission. Track and report investigation metrics and emerging financial crime typologies to senior leadership. Risk & Trend Analysis
Identify emerging digital asset financial crime risks and typologies through investigative outcomes, metrics, and regulatory developments. Lead horizon scanning and regulatory change assessments to ensure the program stays ahead of enforcement expectations and industry trends. Perform ongoing surveillance of stablecoin ecosystems, including risky wallet clusters and counterparties; develop insights into digital asset financial crime trends occurring in stablecoin ecosystems. Reporting & Collaboration
Deliver comprehensive reporting on productivity, alert/investigation/SAR trends, and system performance to senior Compliance leadership. Collaborate with global compliance teams to share best practices and support international regulatory requirements. Contribute to the development of strategic compliance initiatives and system enhancements across the organization. Qualifications
5+ years
of experience in AML compliance, financial investigations, or FIU operations, ideally in fintech, crypto, or financial services. Expertise in configuring and calibrating TM platforms such as
Elliptic ,
Unit21 , and
TRM Labs . Strong knowledge of AML regulations, sanctions screening, SAR/STR reporting, and enforcement obligations (e.g., NYDFS Part 504, FinCEN, OFAC). Proven leadership experience managing investigations teams and operational workflows. Skilled in data analysis, reporting, and documentation of compliance models and decisions. Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills. Model validation experience, such as NYDFS Part 504, including alert calibration, above the line/below the line, and quality assurance
Expected salary: 140K-180K base
Title: AML Surveillance Manager
Location: NYC or Palo Alto, CA
Relocation Assistance: Yes
We are seeking a proactive and detail-oriented Anti-Money Laundering Surveillance Manager to lead our Financial Intelligence Units transaction monitoring and investigations functions. This role is instrumental in protecting the company from financial crime risks across both traditional and crypto platforms. You will drive operational excellence, ensure regulatory compliance, and collaborate across teams to enhance Company's Anti-Money Laundering program.
Operational Leadership & Oversight
Lead and manage all AML operational workflows including digital asset transaction monitoring (TM), investigations, and suspicious activity reporting. Oversee escalations from internal teams, law enforcement, and regulators including 314(a), 314(b), subpoenas, and sanctions screening matches. Maintain and optimize Compliance program documentation, including policies, procedures, and desktop guidance. Collaborate cross-functionally with internal teams and contribute to regulatory exams and internal/external audits. Transaction Monitoring (TM)
Serve as the Transaction Monitoring Lead and Model Owner, responsible for system calibration, scenario design, and rule implementation. Calibrate and enhance TM systems such as Elliptic, TRM Labs, and Unit21 through rule optimization and data-driven analysis. Develop and maintain TM model documentation, desktop procedures, and coverage assessments. Monitor TM alerts, assign investigations, track deadlines, and perform QA/QC to ensure accuracy and consistency. Report TM metrics, alert trends, and system issues to the Head of FIU and collaborate with Compliance Technology and regional Compliance Officers. Investigations & Regulatory Reporting
Oversee all case investigations, including those related to TM alerts, negative news, sanctions hits, and proactive FIU-initiated inquiries. Investigate escalated alerts and matches from transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, law enforcement, and 314(b) requests. Manage the case management system, assign workloads, and maintain timelines and investigative quality. File regulatory reports such as Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) and ensure accurate documentation and timely submission. Track and report investigation metrics and emerging financial crime typologies to senior leadership. Risk & Trend Analysis
Identify emerging digital asset financial crime risks and typologies through investigative outcomes, metrics, and regulatory developments. Lead horizon scanning and regulatory change assessments to ensure the program stays ahead of enforcement expectations and industry trends. Perform ongoing surveillance of stablecoin ecosystems, including risky wallet clusters and counterparties; develop insights into digital asset financial crime trends occurring in stablecoin ecosystems. Reporting & Collaboration
Deliver comprehensive reporting on productivity, alert/investigation/SAR trends, and system performance to senior Compliance leadership. Collaborate with global compliance teams to share best practices and support international regulatory requirements. Contribute to the development of strategic compliance initiatives and system enhancements across the organization. Qualifications
5+ years
of experience in AML compliance, financial investigations, or FIU operations, ideally in fintech, crypto, or financial services. Expertise in configuring and calibrating TM platforms such as
Elliptic ,
Unit21 , and
TRM Labs . Strong knowledge of AML regulations, sanctions screening, SAR/STR reporting, and enforcement obligations (e.g., NYDFS Part 504, FinCEN, OFAC). Proven leadership experience managing investigations teams and operational workflows. Skilled in data analysis, reporting, and documentation of compliance models and decisions. Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration skills. Model validation experience, such as NYDFS Part 504, including alert calibration, above the line/below the line, and quality assurance
Expected salary: 140K-180K base