Manager – Financial Crime Risk & Model Validation

RSM is seeking a dynamic Manager to join our Risk Consulting practice and specifically support financial crimes compliance model engagements for our Financial Services clients. This role is ideal for someone with a strong audit and second-line risk function background who has worked extensively with financial institutions and is passionate about model validation, financial crime risk, and data analytics.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Statistics, Economics, or a related field.
• 7+ years of relevant experience in audit, risk management, or internal controls within the financial services industry.
• Strong understanding of second-line risk functions, model risk management (MRM), and governance frameworks (e.g., SR 11-7, NY DFS 504).
• Demonstrated experience with model validation, especially in AML suspicious activity monitoring, sanctions screening, and optimization models.
• Familiarity with common financial crimes models such as NICE Actimize, Oracle FCCM, Verafin, Fircosoft, etc.)
• Proficiency in Python, Alteryx, R or other analytics tools; experience with SQL, or SAS is a plus.
• Ability to manage teams, lead engagements, and mentor junior professionals.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to travel as needed (estimated <30%).

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and manage fieldwork on model validation and financial crime risk engagements for banks, asset managers, and other financial institutions.
• Perform technical model validation and tuning/optimization of suspicious activity monitoring, customer risk rating d and sanctions screening including review of model assumptions, development methodology, testing, and performance monitoring.
• Assess financial crime compliance programs including sanctions, transaction monitoring, and KYC processes.
• Utilize strong data analytics and coding skills (Python, Alteryx, etc.) to validate and test models and detect anomalies or weaknesses.
• Coach and mentor junior staff, reviewing work and providing structured feedback to develop technical and soft skills.
• Manage multiple projects concurrently, including planning, scoping, budgeting, execution, and reporting, ensuring delivery meets RSM’s quality standards.
• Communicate findings and recommendations clearly in both written reports and client presentations.
• Work collaboratively with internal teams and clients to mitigate risk and improve operational effectiveness.
• Participate in business development efforts, including proposal writing and client presentations when appropriate.
• Lead and manage fieldwork on model validation and financial crime risk engagements for banks, asset managers, and other financial institutions.
• Perform technical model validation and tuning/optimization of suspicious activity monitoring, customer risk rating d and sanctions screening including review of model assumptions, development methodology, testing, and performance monitoring.
• Assess financial crime compliance programs including sanctions, transaction monitoring, and KYC processes.
• Utilize strong data analytics and coding skills (Python, Alteryx, etc.) to validate and test models and detect anomalies or weaknesses.
• Coach and mentor junior staff, reviewing work and providing structured feedback to develop technical and soft skills.
• Manage multiple projects concurrently, including planning, scoping, budgeting, execution, and reporting, ensuring delivery meets RSM’s quality standards.
• Communicate findings and recommendations clearly in both written reports and client presentations.
• Work collaboratively with internal teams and clients to mitigate risk and improve operational effectiveness.
• Participate in business development efforts, including proposal writing and client presentations when appropriate.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional certifications such as CPA, CAMS, FRM, or CFA.
• Prior experience at a public accounting firm, professional services/consulting firm, or in an internal audit/internal model risk function.