Model Risk Management Specialist

Building the Future of Open Finance
Payward - the parent company behind Kraken, NinjaTrader, Breakout, xStocks, Payward Services and CF Benchmarks - has spent the last 15 years building one of the most modern and globally accessible financial infrastructure platforms in the industry, built to advance an open, global financial system.

Before you , we encourage you to explore our culture page to understand what drives us and how we work.
The team
Founded in 2011, Kraken is one of the world's longest-standing crypto platforms, trusted by over 10 million individuals and institutions across the globe. It offers spot trading, margin, futures, staking, and OTC services, with products built for both individual investors and institutional clients.
The opportunity
We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Model Risk Management Specialist to join our team, focusing on Transaction Monitoring and Customer Risk Assessments models for Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) purposes. The successful candidate will be responsible for ensuring that our Transaction Monitoring, Customer Risk Assessment and Screening models are robust, effective, and compliant with regulatory requirements.
- Model Validation: perform independent validation of Transaction Monitoring / Customer Risk Assessment / Screening models, AI models (built in Claude or ChatGPT), including but not limited to:
- Reviewing model pre & post development documentation, data quality, accuracy, access and testing methodologies.

- Assessing model performance, accuracy, and stability.

- Evaluating model risk and identifying potential biases.

- Reviewing AI Models for AML/CFT Program

- AML/CFT Regulatory Compliance: ensure that Transaction Monitoring and Customer Risk Assessment models comply with relevant AML/CFT regulations, including but not limited to:
- EU AML/CFT Directives.

- US BSA/AML regulations.

- FATF recommendations.

- Risk Assessment: conduct risk assessments to identify potential AML/CFT risks associated with Transaction Monitoring and Customer Risk Assessment models, including but not limited to:
- Identifying higher-risk customer segments, products, and geographies.

- Assessing the effectiveness of controls and mitigants.

- Model Monitoring and Maintenance: develop and implement procedures for ongoing model monitoring and maintenance, including but not limited to:
- Annual reporting & certification

- Tracking model performance and identifying degradation.

- Conducting regular model reviews and updates.

- Collaboration and Communication: collaborate with various stakeholders, including but not limited to:
- Model Engineering and owners.

- AML/CFT subject matter experts.

- Business units and risk management teams.

- Documentation and Reporting: prepare and maintain high-quality documentation, including but not limited to:
- Model validation reports.

- Risk assessments.

- Regulatory compliance reports.

- Methodology Development: contribute to the development and maintenance of model validation methodologies, including but not limited to:
- Developing and refining model validation frameworks.

- Identifying best practices and industry standards.

What you bring
- Bachelor's degree in a quantitative field (e.g., mathematics, statistics, computer science, engineering).

- 3+ years of experience in model validation, risk management, or a related field, preferably in AML/CFT.

- Strong understanding of machine learning and statistical modeling techniques.

- Deep understanding of fiat and crypto payment flows

- Proficiency in programming languages (e.g., Python, R, SQL).

- Experience with data visualization tools (e.g., Tableau, Power BI).

- Strong understanding of financial markets, products, and services.

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate complex technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders.

Nice to haves
- Professional certifications (e