AML Governance Senior Manager - Anti-Money Laundering Governance & Advisory - Digital Assets

     In this role at Citizens, you’re made ready for a fulfilling career with exciting new challenges and opportunities to stretch yourself. You will be positioned for a fulfilling career with meaningful opportunities to grow and take on new challenges. This position offers a unique opportunity to support the continued evolution of the AML & Sanctions Program, including shaping governance and advisory capabilities as the bank expands digital asset–related activities.

      As part of the AML Governance & Advisory team, you will help mitigate money laundering and illicit finance risks to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and internal policies. You will support and lead key program initiatives, provide guidance on new and emerging products, services, and technologies, and deliver enterprise‑level and business line advisory support.

     Working closely with AML colleagues, you will contribute as a key individual contributor to program execution, risk identification, and the development of standards that support innovation and evolving risk profiles. You will also participate in initiatives that leverage innovation to enhance program effectiveness and strengthen financial crime risk management. Most importantly, you will feel valued, supported, and empowered to achieve both personal and professional goals at Citizens.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Serve as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and business partners by assessing business strategies, identifying AML & Sanctions risks, and recommending practical, risk‑based solutions that align with regulatory expectations.
• Define, enhance, and maintain AML & Sanctions methodologies, risk frameworks, governance standards, and compliance requirements supporting digital assets and emerging payment activities.
• Research, analyze, and monitor AML, Sanctions, and illicit finance risk trends related to digital assets, including industry benchmarking and upstream risk identification.
• Interpret and apply evolving regulatory requirements and guidance, including BSA, USA PATRIOT Act, and OFAC expectations, and translate them into policies, control standards, and governance practices.
• Provide independent AML & Sanctions risk advisory support for digital asset activities, including custody, trading, payments, on‑ and off‑ramps, staking, settlement, and cross‑border blockchain‑based transactions.
• Partner with business lines throughout the product lifecycle to ensure AML & Sanctions risks are appropriately identified, assessed, documented, mitigated, and monitored prior to launch and through ongoing operations.
• Coordinate and perform enterprise, business line, and product risk assessments and compliance reviews to evaluate the effectiveness of AML & Sanctions controls and risk mitigation strategies.
• Collaborate with technology partners to identify, evaluate, and implement blockchain analytics, transaction monitoring, and digital asset risk management tools aligned with regulatory expectations and enterprise strategy.
• Participate in customer risk assessments, investigations, and complex escalations involving digital asset activity.
• Manage AML & Sanctions examinations, audits, and internal assurance activities, including issue remediation and regulatory engagement.
• Support AML & Sanctions governance committees through preparation of materials, executive reporting, and business intelligence development.

Qualifications, Certifications and/or Other Professional Credentials

• Relevant experience in AML, sanctions, financial crime risk, compliance, or audit within the financial services industry.
• Demonstrated experience supporting AML and sanctions risk management for digital assets, cryptocurrencies, tokenized products, or other emerging financial technologies.
• Deep understanding of banking products, financial crime regulatory requirements, and key risk drivers across products, operations, and technologies.
• Proven experience operating in environments subject to significant regulatory oversight and scrutiny.
• Expert knowledge of at least one AML program pillar with a strong understanding of end‑to‑end enterprise program design and execution.
• Experience conducting AML and sanctions risk assessments for new, innovative, or complex products and services, including digital asset and embedded finance offerings.
• Working knowledge of blockchain analytics, crypto transaction monitoring concepts, and third‑party digital asset risk management tools (e.g., wallet risk scoring, blockchain tracing).
• Strong investigative, analytical, and research capabilities, with the ability to synthesize complex data into actionable risk insights.
• Experience translating evolving regulatory expectations into governance frameworks, policies, control standards, and practical business guidance.
• Prior experience in consulting, compliance or risk technology implementations, data analytics, or BI development preferred but not required.
• Proven ability to act as a strategic advisor to senior leaders, influencing outcomes across multiple stakeholders with competing priorities.
• Strong judgment and decisiveness, with the confidence to challenge the status quo and escalate risks appropriately.
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills, with a demonstrated ability to communicate complex risk topics clearly to technical and non‑technical audiences.
• Strong collaboration, negotiation, and conflict‑resolution skills across business, risk, compliance, and technology partners.
• Excellent critical thinking and problem‑solving capabilities.
• Strong business writing and executive‑level communication skills.
• Proficient in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Visio.

Education:

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• Certifications Preferred: Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist, Certified Internal Auditor, Certified Regulatory Compliance Manager, Certified Fraud Examiner,  
• Digital asset–related certifications or training (e.g., Certified Cryptocurrency Investigator (CCI), Chainalysis/ TRM Labs fundamentals, or equivalent coursework) a plus but not required

Hours and Work Schedule: (4 days in office, 1 day remote)

Hours per Week: 40

Work Schedule: Monday-Friday

Pay Transparency

The salary range for this position is 175,000 to 200,000 per year, plus an opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus. Actual pay is based on various factors including but not limited to the work location, and relevant skills and experience.

We offer competitive pay, comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, retirement benefits, maternity/paternity leave, flexible work arrangements, education reimbursement, wellness programs and more. Note, Citizens’ paid time off policy exceeds the mandatory, paid sick or paid time-away policy of every local and state jurisdiction in the United States. For an overview of our benefits, visit https://jobs.citizensbank.com/benefits .

Citizens will not sponsor an applicant for a work visa, such as an H-1B, for this position.

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Equal Employment Opportunity

Citizens, its parent, subsidiaries, and related companies (Citizens) provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all colleagues and applicants for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, citizenship, physical or mental disability, perceived disability or history or record of a disability, ethnicity, gender, gender identity or expression, genetic information, genetic characteristic, marital or domestic partner status, victim of domestic violence, family status/parenthood, medical condition, military or veteran status, national origin, pregnancy/childbirth/lactation, colleague’s or a dependent’s reproductive health decision making, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by federal, state and/or local laws. At Citizens, we are committed to fostering an inclusive culture that enables all colleagues to bring their best selves to work every day and everyone is expected to be treated with respect and professionalism. Employment decisions are based solely on merit, qualifications, performance and capability.

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Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the candidate successfully passing a background check, which may include initial credit, motor vehicle record, public record, prior employment verification, and criminal background checks. Results of the background check are individually reviewed based upon legal requirements imposed by our regulators and with consideration of the nature and gravity of the background history and the job offered. Any offer of employment will include further information.