Director of Financial Crimes - AML

Summary

Join Alpaca, a leading brokerage infrastructure technology company, as their new Director of Financial Crimes. This hands-on role requires building and leading key initiatives in a fast-paced crypto environment. You will own end-to-end financial crimes operations, including transaction monitoring, alert clearing, investigations, and SAR filings. You will design and implement workflows and procedures, identify gaps in processes, and collaborate with cross-functional teams. The role involves acting as a subject matter expert, laying the groundwork for a scalable FIU, and staying ahead of regulatory developments. This is an opportunity to build a team and shape a critical function within a growing company.

Requirements

• 4–6 years of relevant experience in financial crimes compliance, BSA/AML, or related areas, ideally with exposure to crypto, fintech, or high-growth startups
• Demonstrated ability to work independently on complex, cross-functional projects with minimal supervision
• Experience with resolving alerts, creating and refining processes, transaction monitoring systems, alert review, and SAR drafting
• A strong understanding of U.S. AML and sanctions laws and regulatory expectations, with the ability to apply them in a fast-moving crypto context
• A “builder” mindset—comfortable operating an evolving playbook, setting priorities, and adapting as you go
• Clear, concise communication skills and a track record of translating risk into actionable business decisions
• CAMS, CFE, or other relevant certification

Responsibilities

• Own the end-to-end financial crimes operations, including transaction monitoring, alert clearing, case investigations, and SAR filings
• Design and implement workflows and procedures for identifying, investigating, and escalating suspicious activity
• Identify gaps and inefficiencies in existing tools and processes, and work cross-functionally to improve them
• Collaborate with engineering, product, and legal teams to ensure compliance controls are built into new systems and features from the start
• Act as the primary subject matter expert on financial crimes risks, providing guidance and insight across the business
• Lay the groundwork for a scalable FIU, including developing playbooks, success metrics, and long-term resourcing plans
• Stay ahead of regulatory developments in the crypto space and adjust internal practices accordingly

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiarity with blockchain analytics tools (e.g., Chainalysis, TRM Labs)
• Experience preparing for regulatory exams or responding to inquiries
• Exposure to global compliance frameworks

Benefits

• Competitive Salary & Stock Options
• Benefits: Health benefits start on day 1. In the US this includes Medical, Dental, Vision. In Canada, this includes supplemental health care. In Japan, you are offered local benefits. Internationally, this includes a stipend value to offset medical costs
• New Hire Home-Office Setup: One-time USD $500
• Monthly Stipend: USD $150 per month via a Brex Card