Job description
We are a hybrid, remote-office company dedicated to growing our talent anywhere!
We have onsite locations in: Sioux Falls, SD, Scottsdale, AZ, Louisville, KY, Troy, MI, Franklin, TN, Easton, PA.
At Pathward, we take tremendous pride in our purpose to create financial inclusion for all™. We are a financial empowerment company that works with innovators to increase financial availability, choice, and opportunity for all. We strive to remove barriers that traditional institutions put in the way of financial access, and promote economic mobility by providing responsible, secure, high quality financial products.
We are a team of problem solvers and innovators who celebrate our differences and know that our unique perspectives make us stronger and well-positioned for success. We celebrate, and embrace, our team members through our *HUMBLE*HUNGRY*SMART approach, and we believe that we are strongest when we embrace the voices of our employees, customers, partners, and the communities we serve.
About the Role:
Independently plans and executes complex, risk‑based audits with a primary focus on BSA/AML, sanctions
(OFAC), and Partner Solutions (embedded finance/“BaaS”). The role applies deep financial‑crimes and partner‑oversight expertise to assess governance, risk management, and control effectiveness across Pathward’s products, services, and third‑party ecosystems. Leveraging sound judgment, data‑driven analysis, and plain‑language storytelling, this position develops actionable insights, influences senior stakeholders, and drives continuous improvement, while adhering to the IIA Standards and Pathward’s Internal Audit methodology, and expectations from regulatory bodies such as the OCC and FinCEN.
While the core emphasis is on financial‑crimes and partner‑banking risks, this position will also lead audits in adjacent domains (e.g., operations, payments and money movement, consumer compliance) as business needs dictate. The ideal candidate thrives in ambiguity, navigates complex business models and technology stacks, and communicates with clarity and empathy to build trust and deliver high‑quality outcomes. Experience engaging with regulatory bodies is highly valued.
What You Will Do:
- Plan and lead end‑to‑end, risk‑based audits (planning, fieldwork, reporting, and follow‑up).
- Set clear objectives/scope/criteria; identify key risks and controls; tailor procedures to business model and risk profile; deliver on time with high quality.
- Evaluate BSA/AML program pillars, governance and oversight, risk assessments, internal controls, policies and standards, training, and monitoring/quality assurance.
- Test financial‑crimes processes: CIP/KYC/CDD/EDD, customer risk rating, watchlist screening, transaction monitoring, investigations, SAR/CTR obligations, model validation and coverage, and recordkeeping across platforms and partners.
- Assess sanctions (OFAC) compliance: governance, interdiction, alert handling, escalation, and intersections across payments and money‑movement rails.
- Audit Partner Solutions (BaaS) and related third-party oversight including BSA/AML and OFAC compliance across the partner lifecycle: due diligence, onboarding, ongoing monitoring, change management, issue management, and termination.
- Review BSA/AML and OFAC third-party risk classification, oversight practices, and compliance reporting for sufficiency, accuracy, and decision usefulness.
- Use data analytics, where possible, to profile population risk, select samples, and detect anomalies across screening, monitoring, disputes, and partner portfolios.
- Evaluate enterprise interdependencies affecting BSA/AML and OFAC by testing data from source to report, testing ownership and SLAs at handoffs, and identifying gaps so processes are reliable, well‑controlled, and decision‑useful.
- Assess rules/models/scenarios and data pipelines: change control, documentation, performance monitoring/back‑testing, and data lineage/integrity supporting BSA/AML and OFAC.
- Produce clear, evidence‑based findings with root‑cause analysis, business impact, and prioritized action plans; challenge management responses and validate remediation (including regulatory items) for sustained effectiveness.
- Engage stakeholders constructively (business leaders, Compliance, Risk, Technology); present concise, executive‑ready narratives/visuals; escalate emerging risks promptly and tailor messaging to audiences (working groups, executives, committees).
- Lead non‑financial‑crimes audits as needed (e.g., payments and money movement (ACH/wires/RTP)), consumer compliance, third‑party risk management, and model risk—applying the same risk‑based methodology and clear, audience-tailored reporting.
- Coordinate co‑sourced providers, ensuring adherence to methodology, templates, workpaper quality, and delivery timelines.
- Support annual risk assessment and audit planning with insights on regulatory themes, partner risks, product/technology changes, and data/controls maturity.
- Exemplify ethics and judgment: integrity, objectivity, confidentiality, and sound judgment under uncertainty/complexity.
- Demonstrate strong interpersonal effectiveness: active listening, constructive feedback, patience and perseverance, collaborative relationships, compassion and respect, customer focus, and disciplined planning to achieve audit goals.
- Stay abreast of emerging issues involving internal audit, changes to federal and state banking laws, and evolving laws and regulations that could impact the organization, particularly with BSA/AML and sanctions, BaaS, third party risk, prepaid products and/or deposit products, consumer payment applications/wallets, and/or digital or electronic payments processing/processors.
- Assist in the development of less-experienced staff through the review of audit work papers and timely feedback.
- Other duties as assigned.
What You Will Need:
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g., Accounting, Finance, Business, or related displace), or equivalent education and work
- Professional certifications such as: CAMS, CFE, CIA, CRMA, and/or CPA preferred. Additional credentials in BSA/AML, or sanctions compliance are a plus.
- 5+ years of relevant experience in internal audit, compliance, or risk within financial services.
- Demonstrated strength in BSA/AML, sanctions, and partner/third‑party oversight.
- Ability to pivot and lead audits in adjacent domains.
- Proficiency with data‑centric testing and visualization techniques; strong written and verbal communication.
The responsibilities listed above are not all inclusive and may be changed at any time.
Salary range: $72,000 – $120,000
The salary range reflects the minimum and maximum target for a new hire in this role. Individual pay within the range will be determined by multiple factors which can include but are not limited to a candidate’s experience, qualifications, skills, and location. Your recruiter can share more about the specific salary for your location during the hiring process. Ranges may be modified in the future.
This role is also eligible for an annual performance-based incentive opportunity. Pathward offers a comprehensive benefits package for eligible employees, including health insurance, 401(k) retirement benefits, life insurance, disability benefits, paid time off, and more.
#LI-Remote
Don’t have everything listed under qualifications? If you’re excited about this role but your experiences don’t match exactly to everything in the posting, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other Pathward roles. Pathward is an equal employment opportunity employer and considers candidates for roles without regard to their race, sex, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability or any other category protected by law.
Who we are:
Our commitment to inclusion is woven into our DNA. We believe that we are strongest when we embrace the voices of our employees, customers, partners, and the communities we serve.
We provide equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, pregnancy, national origin, age (age 40 and over), disability, genetic information, marital status, hair texture or hairstyle, ancestry, service in the uniformed services, protected veteran status, status as a victim of domestic violence or any other class protected by federal, state and local laws.
Please click here to learn more about our benefits and review information about our Privacy Policy, Affirmative Action Plan and other notices. Applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and certain state or local laws. For assistance completing an application, please contact a Pathward People & Culture Representative by emailing – [email protected]
Please click here to view Pathward’s Applicant Privacy Notice.
Applications will be accepted for a minimum of 3 days after posting, and there is no predetermined date by which applications should be submitted.
Knowingly submitting false information will result in disqualification for consideration of future positions, termination of employment and forfeiture of other rights.
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