Senior Transaction Monitoring Specialist

We are seeking an experienced Senior Transaction Monitoring Specialist to join an international financial services project based in Malta, with the role located in Yerevan, Armenia.  The Senior Transaction Monitoring Specialist will play a key role in the institution’s first-line financial crime controls, overseeing the day-to-day transaction monitoring operation from the Yerevan Hub on behalf of the Malta MLRO.  The transaction monitoring team is the first line of alert handling for the institution. You will be responsible for reviewing and overseeing unusual and potentially suspicious payment activity, ensuring alerts are investigated thoroughly, decisions are properly documented, and matters requiring further action are escalated appropriately.  The quality and consistency of your work will directly support the MLRO in fulfilling their statutory obligations, including the identification and escalation of matters that may require reporting to the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) in Malta. 

Alert Handling and Investigation 

Review and investigate transaction monitoring and screening alerts across Fast Shift’s payment flows, ensuring cases are handled within established SLAs. 

Analyse customer and transaction activity, including source and destination of funds, counterparties and payment patterns, to identify potential financial crime risks. 

Review sanctions, PEP and adverse-media screening alerts, including appropriately discounting false positives with clear documented rationale. 

Review relevant SWIFT, ISO 20022 and SEPA transactions and identify key AML/CFT red flags, including structuring, layering, third-party funding and sanctions evasion. 

Make evidence-based decisions to clear, close or escalate alerts. 

Escalate suspicious, complex or higher-risk activity to the Senior Transaction Monitoring Specialist, providing a complete and well-documented case file. 

Maintain clear and accurate investigation records, findings and rationale to ensure cases are fully auditable. 

Support the Senior Specialist and MLRO with additional information or case analysis when required. 

Quality and Compliance 

Follow the company’s AML/CFT, transaction monitoring and screening procedures consistently. 

Maintain a high standard of investigation quality and ensure all relevant evidence is properly documented. 

Identify recurring false positives, emerging typologies or potential weaknesses in monitoring and escalate them to the Senior Specialist. 

Support internal reviews, audits and regulatory requests by providing relevant case information when required. 

Keep up to date with relevant Malta and EU AML/CFT requirements and financial crime risks. 

5+ years in AML transaction monitoring, financial crime investigations or sanctions screening at a bank, EMI, payment institution or fintech; at least 2 years supervising analysts or acting as QA/second reviewer. 

Hands-on experience with a rules-based transaction monitoring system and a screening tool (configuration, tuning, or at minimum daily operation with an understanding of how the rules work). 

Solid understanding of SWIFT (MT103/MT202, ISO 20022 pacs messages), SEPA SCT/SCT Inst and correspondent-banking flows. 

Working knowledge of EU AML/CFT framework: 4th–6th AML Directives, Regulation (EU) 2023/1113 (transfer of funds), EU sanctions regimes and the incoming AMLR/AMLA package. Knowledge of the Maltese framework (PMLA, PMLFTR, FIAU Implementing Procedures) is a strong advantage; willingness to master it quickly is mandatory. 

Ability to write a clear investigative narrative in English that a regulator can follow without the analyst in the room. 

Fluent English (written and spoken) — all case files, escalations and MLRO communication are in English. Armenian and/or Russian useful for group and regional counterparties. 

Professional certification (CAMS, ICA Diploma/Advanced Certificate, CFCS or equivalent) preferred. 

Advantages of working with us  - Competitive benefits package, including health insurance, performance.based annual bonus and salary review, training opportunities, individual professional development programs.