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AFC Associate - SAR Writer
Department:Risk
Location:Madrid
About the opportunity
We are looking for an AFC Associate - SAR Writer to join our Italian MLRO Team in Madrid. In this role, you will act as the crucial bridge between first-line operational investigations and regulatory reporting. You will be responsible for reviewing the initial transaction analysis provided by the 1st Line of Defense and drafting high-quality, comprehensive Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs / segnalazioni di operazioni sospette) for the Italian market. Working closely with the SAR Delegate and the Italian MLRO, your primary focus will be turning escalated first-line cases into precise, well-structured narratives ready for final validation and submission to the Italian Financial Intelligence Unit (UIF).In this role, you will:
- Review and challenge the initial alerts analysis, customer profile assessments, and transaction findings escalated by the 1st Line of Defense.
- Draft detailed, structured, and compliant SAR reports, writing the official case narrative and reconstructing the customer’s suspicious behavior according to Italian FIU (UIF) guidelines.
- Identify any analytical gaps or missing documentation in the 1st line escalation and collaborate with operational teams to collect necessary case details before finalizing the draft.
- Prepare finalized draft files alongside clear, evidence-based recommendations for the SAR Delegate and Italian MLRO to facilitate final review, sign-off, and submission.
- Provide feedback to 1st Line of Defense on escalation quality to help align first-line investigative standards with regulatory expectations.
- Support the Italian MLRO team in maintaining organized SAR logs, updating report templates, and compiling data for internal audits and annual regulatory self-assessments.
What you need to be successful:
- University degree in Law, Economics or a related field.
- 1 to 3 years of experience within an Anti-Financial Crime (AFC), AML, or Compliance function (2nd Line of Defense preferred), ideally in a bank, payment institution, or fintech operating in Italy.
- Direct experience or strong familiarity with the SAR/SOS drafting process (segnalazioni di operazioni sospette) under the Italian FIU (UIF) regulatory framework.
- Professional certifications (e.g., ICA, ACAMS) are a plus.
- Solid knowledge of Italian AML/CTF regulations (D.Lgs. 231/07) and UIF anomaly indicators/reporting guidelines.
- Fluency in Italian and English (written and spoken) are mandatory.
- Exceptional writting skills (Italian) to craft accurate, formal, and concise narrative reports, with a strong critical eye for reviewing 1st line work.
- Meticulous approach to data consistency, document cross-referencing, and factual accuracy.
What’s in it for you:
- Accelerate your career growth by joining one of Europe’s most talked about disruptors 🚀.
- Employee benefits that range from a competitive personal development budget, work from home budget, discounts to fitness & wellness memberships, language apps and public transportation.
- As an N26 employee you will have access to a Premium subscription on your personal N26 bank account. As well as subscriptions for friends and family members.
- A high degree of autonomy and access to cutting edge technologies - all while working with a friendly team of peers of diverse nationalities, experiences, and backgrounds.
- A relocation package with visa support for those who need it.