Director, Fraud Strategy - Payments

Why USAA?

At USAA, our mission is to empower our members to achieve financial security through highly competitive products, exceptional service and trusted advice. We seek to be the #1 choice for the military community and their families.

Embrace a fulfilling career at USAA, where our core values – honesty, integrity, loyalty and service – define how we treat each other and our members. Be part of what truly makes us special and impactful.

We are proud to support active-duty military spouses. USAA roles may offer remote or hybrid flexibility for active-duty military spouses consistent with applicable policy and business needs.

The Opportunity

As a dedicated Director of Fraud Strategy for Online Payments, you will lead analytical teams to design, build, and implement robust fraud mitigation strategies across our Zelle, wire transfer, bill pay, and web payment channels. In this role, you will leverage advanced analytics to identify emerging threats, ensuring all fraud data is effectively integrated and optimized within our Snowflake silver layer. You will play a critical role in strengthening our defense posture by utilizing SAS and SQL to derive actionable insights and translating those strategies into comprehensive rules within the Actimize platform. The ideal candidate will combine deep technical proficiency with a proactive, risk-based mindset to safeguard our payment ecosystem.

Relocation assistance is not available for this position.

This role is remote eligible in the continental U.S. with occasional business travel. However, individuals residing within a 60-mile radius of a USAA office will be expected to work on-site four days per week.

What you'll do:

• Develops and implements policies, processes, and procedures for fraud initiatives that align with the company's overall fraud strategy, business objectives, and risk appetite.
• Leads a team within a single vertical (or area of focus) that is responsible for executing the fraud strategic plan that will result in both the short and long-term growth of the business.
• Develops and monitors progress of strategic plan for opportunities and adjusts to rapid changes in the environment.
• People Manager who leads and collaborates with team and other analytical leaders in a defined strategic area of focus within Financial Crimes to develop a comprehensive, actionable, strategic plan for self and direct reports.
• Monitors industry trends and emerging fraud risks, adapting the strategy accordingly to maintain a proactive stance. Effectively communicates and implements business strategy and aligns with the company's overall goals.
• Proactively anticipates and recognizes fraud trends and opportunities, develops solid solutions, and utilizes sound judgment to make viable operational business recommendations and decisions.
• Works within the construct of fraud case management and detection systems to ensure seamless execution of alert generation.
• Builds and oversees a team of employees for assigned functional area through ongoing execution of recruiting, development, retention, coaching and support, performance management, and managerial activities.
• Ensures risks associated with business activities are effectively identified, measured, monitored, and controlled in accordance with risk and compliance policies and procedures.

What you have:

• Bachelor's degree; OR 4 years of relevant education and/or experience.

• 8 years of experience in financial crimes participating in stakeholder consultation, needs assessment, requirement translation and prescription of technology solutions.
• 3 years of direct team lead or management experience.
• Expert experience developing and implementing policies, processes, and procedures for fraud initiatives that drive overall fraud strategy and analytic capabilities.
• Comprehensive understanding of the end-to-end process of gathering business requirements and applying business rules to recommend technology solutions. Knowledge of data analysis tools, data visualization, developing analysis queries and procedures in SQL, SAS, BI tools or other analysis software, and relevant industry data & methods and ability to connect external insights to business problems.
• Extensive knowledge of bank laws and regulations related to money movement and /or payments, including but not limited to Reg E, Reg CC, UDAAP, FACTA and Reg Z.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Extensive experience collaborating with key resources and stakeholders, influencing decisions, and managing work to achieve strategic goals.

What sets you apart:

• Payment Fraud Strategy: Extensive experience designing and implementing fraud detection strategies specifically for Zelle, wires, bill pay, and web payment channels within a financial services environment.
• Technical Proficiency: Advanced hands-on experience with SAS and SQL to perform complex data manipulation and fraud pattern analysis.
• Platform & Data Integration: Proven ability to develop and deploy fraud rules within Actimize, coupled with experience managing data flows and analytics within Snowflake.
• First Line of Defense: Demonstrated expertise operating within a First Line of Defense model, with a strong focus on proactive risk management, strategy execution, and operational fraud mitigation.

Compensation range: The salary range for this position is: $164,780 - $314,960.

USAA does not provide visa sponsorship for this role. Please do not apply for this role if at any time (now or in the future) you will need immigration support (i.e., H-1B, TN, STEM OPT Training Plans, etc.).

Compensation: USAA has an effective process for assessing market data and establishing ranges to ensure we remain competitive. You are paid within the salary range based on your experience and market data of the position. The actual salary for this role may vary by location.

Employees may be eligible for pay incentives based on overall corporate and individual performance and at the discretion of the USAA Board of Directors.

The above description reflects the details considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job and should not be construed as a detailed description of all the work requirements that may be performed in the job.

Benefits: At USAA our employees enjoy best-in-class benefits to support their physical, financial, and emotional wellness. These benefits include comprehensive medical, dental and vision plans, 401(k), pension, life insurance, parental benefits, adoption assistance, paid time off program with paid holidays plus 16 paid volunteer hours, and various wellness programs. Additionally, our career path planning and continuing education assists employees with their professional goals.

For more details on our outstanding benefits, visit our benefits page on USAAjobs.com.

Applications for this position are accepted on an ongoing basis, this posting will remain open until the position is filled. Thus, interested candidates are encouraged to apply the same day they view this posting.

USAA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.