AFC Associate - SAR Writer

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.

Who we are

N26 has reimagined banking for today’s digital world. Technology and design empower everything we do and it’s how we are building the global banking platform the world loves to use.

We've eliminated physical branches, paperwork, and hidden fees for an elegant digital experience and supreme savings. Giving people the power to live and bank their way is what gets us out of bed in the morning and inspires the work that we do. 

We are headquartered in Berlin with offices in multiple cities across Europe, including Vienna and Barcelona, and a 1,500-strong team of more than 80 nationalities.

Do you see yourself thriving in this role? We’d love to see your application even if you don’t meet 100% of the criteria. You may just be the right fit for this or other roles!

Equal opportunities for all

At N26, we believe our strength lies in our people and the varied perspectives they bring. We strive to build diverse teams that drive innovation and business success. We actively seek talent from all backgrounds and welcome applications from all genders, cultures, sexual orientations, abilities, neurodiversities, and ages.

We are committed to providing an excellent and accessible candidate experience. If you require any accommodations to make this process work for you, please let us know. We’re here to support you!

Discover more about Diversity & Inclusion at N26: https://n26.com/en-eu/diversity-and-inclusion