Sr. Associate, SAR Quality Reviewer at Community Federal Savings Bank

CFSB is a full-service payments, lending and banking provider that delivers global financial services through a personal approach. We are seeking a SAR Quality Reviewer who will be responsible for ensuring the accuracy, clarity, and completeness of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) prior to filing by CFSB. Operating within the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), this role serves as the final review function in the SAR process, ensuring consistency, quality, and timeliness across both AML and Fraud-related filings.

The SAR Quality Reviewer will review completed investigations, synthesize investigative findings, and ensure a well written, regulator-ready SAR meets the Bank's standards for excellence. The Reviewer plays a vital role in protecting CFSB from financial crime and regulatory risk by ensuring all filings accurately reflect the facts, risk indicators, and rationale for suspicion in alignment with BSA/ AM Land OFAC requirements.

• SAR Drafting & Quality Assurance:
  • Review completed AML and Fraud investigations to ensure findings are clear, concise, and comprehensive SAR narratives.
  • Ensure SARs meet internal quality benchmarks and regulatory expectations related to accuracy, completeness, and clarity.
  • Validate that all required data elements, supporting documentation, and attachments are included prior to submission.
  • Confirm that the "five W's" (who, what, when, where, and why/how) are fully addressed in each SAR narrative.
  • Identify and resolve inconsistencies, missing information, or documentation gaps through collaboration with investigative teams.
  • Maintain adherence to SAR Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and ensure timely filings within required regulatory timeframes.
• Governance & Consistency:
  • Support SAR filing teams in ensuring standardization across all filings and adherence to established templates and writing guides.
  • Participate in SAR review meetings or quality calibration sessions to ensure consistent decisioning across AML and Fraud.
  • Apply sound judgment when identifying cases that require escalation or additional management review.
  • Maintain version control and documentation integrity for all SAR filings.
  • Support the continuous improvement of SAR quality frameworks, checklists, and review criteria.
• Collaboration & Communication:
  • Partner closely with Investigations, Fraud, and Compliance teams to resolve information gaps and clarify investigative findings.
  • Communicate trends, recurring issues, and training opportunities to the SAR Quality Officer.
  • Provide feedback and recommendations that enhance overall SAR quality and investigative documentation standards.
  • Participate in periodic team calibration sessions to ensure consistent application of internal standards.
• Regulatory Alignment & Continuous Improvement:
  • Maintain current knowledge of SAR regulations and effective adherence to new and existing BSA/AML, OFAC, FinCEN, and USA PATRIOT Act guidance and regulations.
  • Incorporate emerging regulatory guidance and typologies into SAR drafting practices.
  • Contribute to process improvement efforts designed to enhance SAR timeliness, quality, and accuracy.
  • Support internal audit, testing, and regulatory examinations by providing documentation and subject matter expertise.

• Demonstrated ability to draft well-structured, regulator-ready SAR narratives.
• In-depth understanding of the Bank Secrecy Act, USA PATRIOT Act, OFAC, FinCEN guidance, and related regulations.
• Familiarity with transaction monitoring and case management systems (e .g., Velocity, Actimize, Hummingbird).
• Excellent written communication skills, with high attention to detail and analytical accuracy.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills with the ability to translate complex cases into clear, factual narratives.
• Strong organizational and time management abilities to balance multiple filings and deadlines.
• Sound analytical judgment to identify inconsistencies or missing information.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively across investigative teams.
• Strong understanding of financial products, customer behaviors, and typologies associated with money laundering and fraud.
• Commitment to confidentiality, accuracy, and professional integrity.
• Continuous learner who adapts quickly to regulatory changes and evolving financial crime trends.

• Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent experience in financial services, law enforcement, or compliance.
• Minimum five (5) years of experience in AML or Fraud investigations, SAR drafting, or regulatory reporting.
• Professional certification (e.g., CAMS, CFE, CFCS) strongly preferred.

Salary Range: $85K-$100K / year

"Base salary range does not include performance-based bonus and/or other benefits, where applicable. Actual base salary offer will vary based on skills and experience."

About Community Federal Savings Bank (CFSB)

Community Federal Savings Bank (CFSB) is a federally chartered bank founded in 2001 and headquartered in New York City. CFSB has focused on providing superior service and added value to clients through as solid understanding of relationship banking. We offer a full range of services including loans, bill payments, card services, internet banking, and merchant processing.

We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, military and/or veteran status, or any other Federal or State legally-protected classes.

JD - CFSB - Sr. Associate, SAR Quality Reviewer.pdf