A compliance officer at a large bank has been tasked with investigating a series of...

A compliance officer at a large bank has been tasked with investigating a series of unusual transactions involving a long-time customer. The customer has made several large cash deposits into multiple accounts within a short period, raising red flags. After gathering and analyzing transaction data, reviewing customer records, and cross-referencing external sources, the compliance officer determines that there is a reasonable suspicion of money laundering. As part of documenting this investigation, the compliance officer must decide how and when to escalate the matter internally and whether to file a suspicious activity report (SAR).

What is the next critical step in this process?