FINANCIAL CRIME QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER
VISTRA
Keywords
Online Banking
Finance
Quality Management
Skills
online banking
Project history
10/2022
-
03/2023
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
* Providing expert technical guidance on matters related to customer due diligence (CDD) and
anti-money laundering (AML) compliance. I have in depth knowledge in relation to onboarding
processes, policies, and files to ensure that they are compliant with relevant regulations and
best practices
* Conducting risk assessments and developing risk management frameworks to mitigate financial
crime risks. Familiarity with policy development and implementation, including creating and
updating policies and procedures to align with regulatory requirements and industry best
practices.
* Strong understanding of banking systems including CRM, Core Banking, research and workflow
tools, and a good knowledge of relevant banking regulations and compliance guidelines, to work
with each in-scope area across the business to ensure that key processes and key risk controls
are reviewed regularly, ensuring they meet with the agree standards when dealing with complex
cases
* Excellent knowledge of Corporate and Commercial banking products, services, policies, and
procedures, including online banking systems
* Relevant Financial Services sector experience including a competent understanding of AML
policies and procedures including Onboarding, Sanctions, Bribery, Corruption and Transaction
Monitoring used to address financial crime risk
* Proven experience in Onboarding, Compliance Monitoring or Internal Audit role providing design
and operating effectiveness assurance over financial crime risk management in a banking
environment.
* Experience providing in depth knowledge over the Financial Crime Risk Management Systems and
Controls, including their adequacy and effectiveness both at a framework and individual control
level.
* Collaborating with colleagues to assess whether FC Risks are adequately identified, assessed
and managed.
* Implementing Transaction Monitoring & Cash Controls workstream focusing on ensuring the
accuracy, completeness, and validity of financial transactions.
* Identifying issues or improvements and advising Senior Management through high quality,
impactful reports
* Conduct detailed quality assurance reviews on work undertaken by other team members. -
identifying errors and providing detailed reworks
CAREER & ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE
* Providing expert technical guidance on matters related to customer due diligence (CDD) and
anti-money laundering (AML) compliance. I have in depth knowledge in relation to onboarding
processes, policies, and files to ensure that they are compliant with relevant regulations and
best practices
* Conducting risk assessments and developing risk management frameworks to mitigate financial
crime risks. Familiarity with policy development and implementation, including creating and
updating policies and procedures to align with regulatory requirements and industry best
practices.
* Strong understanding of banking systems including CRM, Core Banking, research and workflow
tools, and a good knowledge of relevant banking regulations and compliance guidelines, to work
with each in-scope area across the business to ensure that key processes and key risk controls
are reviewed regularly, ensuring they meet with the agree standards when dealing with complex
cases
* Excellent knowledge of Corporate and Commercial banking products, services, policies, and
procedures, including online banking systems
* Relevant Financial Services sector experience including a competent understanding of AML
policies and procedures including Onboarding, Sanctions, Bribery, Corruption and Transaction
Monitoring used to address financial crime risk
* Proven experience in Onboarding, Compliance Monitoring or Internal Audit role providing design
and operating effectiveness assurance over financial crime risk management in a banking
environment.
* Experience providing in depth knowledge over the Financial Crime Risk Management Systems and
Controls, including their adequacy and effectiveness both at a framework and individual control
level.
* Collaborating with colleagues to assess whether FC Risks are adequately identified, assessed
and managed.
* Implementing Transaction Monitoring & Cash Controls workstream focusing on ensuring the
accuracy, completeness, and validity of financial transactions.
* Identifying issues or improvements and advising Senior Management through high quality,
impactful reports
* Conduct detailed quality assurance reviews on work undertaken by other team members. -
identifying errors and providing detailed reworks
CAREER & ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE
05/2022
-
09/2022
FINANCIAL CRIME QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER
COUTTS
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
* Consulting and banking environments, where I have gained practical knowledge of onboarding
processes and the challenges associated with implementing effective CDD/AML programs. This
experience enabled me to provide practical advice on how to improve processes and policies to
enhance compliance.
* Worked closely with compliance teams, risk managers, and other stakeholders to identify areas
for improvement and to develop and implement solutions to address identified issues. keeping
up-to-date with changes to relevant regulations and to provide guidance on how to adapt processes
and policies to meet new requirements.
* Taking a leading role in dealing with tricky and complex financial crime supervision issues,
dealing directly with senior management at regulated firms, as well as colleagues from across the
FCA and partner agencies
* Work closely with management on the delivery of the wider compliance and business framework and
be able to identify improvements to current processes and work closely with other stakeholders to
implement changes
* Identify opportunities for improving and refining data quality, reducing 'noise' and false
positives reported and to be integral part global projects to embed new Anti-Money Laundering
(AML) and future controls
* Act as primary liaison for audit reviews in addition to addressing any relevant
observations/findings. To work with stakeholders to escalate and agree on any risk tolerance and
develop strategy and framework to manage risks
* Reviewing Corporate Banking client files in line with CDD requirements, AML, and sanctions
standards.
* Provide guidance, input, and showcase a detailed plan of what is required to bring the
onboarding processes in line with market standards.
* Manage the implementation of financial crime in compliance with the banks UK policy and
applicable external laws and regulations, to prevent money laundering, breaches of sanctions and
terrorism financing and bribery and corruption within the aligned business unit
* Experience of the full account opening and, or KYC refresh, life cycle including form filling,
direct client liaison, gathering information and documentary evidence to satisfy KYC, due
diligence and other regulatory requirements, data entry and full application submission, through
to the issuance of account details once opened
CAREER & ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE
* Consulting and banking environments, where I have gained practical knowledge of onboarding
processes and the challenges associated with implementing effective CDD/AML programs. This
experience enabled me to provide practical advice on how to improve processes and policies to
enhance compliance.
* Worked closely with compliance teams, risk managers, and other stakeholders to identify areas
for improvement and to develop and implement solutions to address identified issues. keeping
up-to-date with changes to relevant regulations and to provide guidance on how to adapt processes
and policies to meet new requirements.
* Taking a leading role in dealing with tricky and complex financial crime supervision issues,
dealing directly with senior management at regulated firms, as well as colleagues from across the
FCA and partner agencies
* Work closely with management on the delivery of the wider compliance and business framework and
be able to identify improvements to current processes and work closely with other stakeholders to
implement changes
* Identify opportunities for improving and refining data quality, reducing 'noise' and false
positives reported and to be integral part global projects to embed new Anti-Money Laundering
(AML) and future controls
* Act as primary liaison for audit reviews in addition to addressing any relevant
observations/findings. To work with stakeholders to escalate and agree on any risk tolerance and
develop strategy and framework to manage risks
* Reviewing Corporate Banking client files in line with CDD requirements, AML, and sanctions
standards.
* Provide guidance, input, and showcase a detailed plan of what is required to bring the
onboarding processes in line with market standards.
* Manage the implementation of financial crime in compliance with the banks UK policy and
applicable external laws and regulations, to prevent money laundering, breaches of sanctions and
terrorism financing and bribery and corruption within the aligned business unit
* Experience of the full account opening and, or KYC refresh, life cycle including form filling,
direct client liaison, gathering information and documentary evidence to satisfy KYC, due
diligence and other regulatory requirements, data entry and full application submission, through
to the issuance of account details once opened
CAREER & ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE
01/2021
-
12/2021
FINANCIAL CRIME QUALITY ASSURANCE MANAGER
TSB
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
* Acting as the supporting subject matter expert in the 2nd line of defence and a point of
contact for the 1st line of defence functions on all financial crime matters (AML; CTF; ABC;
Sanctions and Tax Evasion), including advising the business on how to interpret and implement
Financial Crime Policies and Procedures and submitting exceptions to policy to the second line
Compliance and Legal Department.
* Experience in providing guidance as part of the wider financial crime plan, providing timely
assurance opinions over the Financial Crime Risk Management Systems and Controls, including their
adequacy and effectiveness both at a framework and individual control level
* The identification and assessment of compliance risk, and the development and oversight of an
appropriate framework to ensure the management of compliance risk.
* Framework will include assessing the adequacy of the measures adopted by the business to
prevent non-compliance including monitoring to ensure these procedures are being adhered to.
* Ensure that the firm's Compliance Strategy is in line with its broader strategic objectives.
Working with the business to assess new opportunities and ensuring appropriate control frameworks
are established;
key part of Compliance Strategy will be to oversee the company's Conduct Risk framework and
associated policies and procedure in conjunction with management and the business;
* Work with business owners and management, or support Senior Assurance Manager to agree on
appropriate action plans, ensure that they understand the issues and their ownership of
compliance
* Write reports which include presentation of results, the rationale for findings, risks posed,
and action required to address the risks. These should be presented in a timely manner.
* Apply strong analytical reasoning skills to risk-rate outcomes and determine the level of
impact of issues identified.
* Examine policies, procedures, and practices to ensure compliance with laws and regulations and
implement any needed changes.
* Evaluate the scope and testing approach of key controls to ensure they are fit for purpose and
in accordance with established department standards
* Acting as the supporting subject matter expert in the 2nd line of defence and a point of
contact for the 1st line of defence functions on all financial crime matters (AML; CTF; ABC;
Sanctions and Tax Evasion), including advising the business on how to interpret and implement
Financial Crime Policies and Procedures and submitting exceptions to policy to the second line
Compliance and Legal Department.
* Experience in providing guidance as part of the wider financial crime plan, providing timely
assurance opinions over the Financial Crime Risk Management Systems and Controls, including their
adequacy and effectiveness both at a framework and individual control level
* The identification and assessment of compliance risk, and the development and oversight of an
appropriate framework to ensure the management of compliance risk.
* Framework will include assessing the adequacy of the measures adopted by the business to
prevent non-compliance including monitoring to ensure these procedures are being adhered to.
* Ensure that the firm's Compliance Strategy is in line with its broader strategic objectives.
Working with the business to assess new opportunities and ensuring appropriate control frameworks
are established;
key part of Compliance Strategy will be to oversee the company's Conduct Risk framework and
associated policies and procedure in conjunction with management and the business;
* Work with business owners and management, or support Senior Assurance Manager to agree on
appropriate action plans, ensure that they understand the issues and their ownership of
compliance
* Write reports which include presentation of results, the rationale for findings, risks posed,
and action required to address the risks. These should be presented in a timely manner.
* Apply strong analytical reasoning skills to risk-rate outcomes and determine the level of
impact of issues identified.
* Examine policies, procedures, and practices to ensure compliance with laws and regulations and
implement any needed changes.
* Evaluate the scope and testing approach of key controls to ensure they are fit for purpose and
in accordance with established department standards
07/2019
-
01/2021
FINANCIAL CRIME ASSURANCE MANAGER
LLOYDS BANKING GROUP (BLACK HORSE, LEX AUTOLEASE, HALIFAX, BOS, TMB)
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
* Building end to end files risk framework, assessing key risks, and conducting plausibility
analysis of customer KYC information. Provide input on process improvements and backlog
exercises. Identifying and assessing ultimate beneficial owners within complex ownership
structures.
* Extensive Transaction Monitoring and investigations and knowledge of assessing and discounting
alerts where not financial crime risk has been identified, experience in obtaining and collating
information required to raise a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR)
* Good understanding of Customer Risk Assessments (CRA) and NS Screening outcomes, with the
ability to apply to a CDD file. experience in obtaining and collating information required to
raise a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR)
* Reviewing customer files in line with CDD requirements, AML and sanctions standards. Performing
KYC reviews whilst applying a risk-based approach to assess financial crime risks. Analysing
transactional information to identify risks, trends and suspicious activity.
* Experience of the full account opening and, or KYC refresh, life cycle including form filling,
direct client liaison, gathering information and documentary evidence to satisfy KYC, due
diligence and other regulatory requirements, data entry and full application submission, through
to the issuance of account details once opened
* Establish an open and constructive relationship with regulators (and supervisory bodies).
Co-ordinating and managing this relationship
* Provide advice to the governing bodies on compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and
providing advice to the business, for example in the form of policies and procedures or written
updates, in relation to applicable laws and regulations.
* Assess the possible impact of any regulatory development on the operations of the business and
working with the business with regard to compliance.
* Strong working knowledge of wealth managements customers and ensuring a strong relationship is
maintained with wealth managers to have a efficient customer journey when completing outreach.
* Building end to end files risk framework, assessing key risks, and conducting plausibility
analysis of customer KYC information. Provide input on process improvements and backlog
exercises. Identifying and assessing ultimate beneficial owners within complex ownership
structures.
* Extensive Transaction Monitoring and investigations and knowledge of assessing and discounting
alerts where not financial crime risk has been identified, experience in obtaining and collating
information required to raise a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR)
* Good understanding of Customer Risk Assessments (CRA) and NS Screening outcomes, with the
ability to apply to a CDD file. experience in obtaining and collating information required to
raise a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR)
* Reviewing customer files in line with CDD requirements, AML and sanctions standards. Performing
KYC reviews whilst applying a risk-based approach to assess financial crime risks. Analysing
transactional information to identify risks, trends and suspicious activity.
* Experience of the full account opening and, or KYC refresh, life cycle including form filling,
direct client liaison, gathering information and documentary evidence to satisfy KYC, due
diligence and other regulatory requirements, data entry and full application submission, through
to the issuance of account details once opened
* Establish an open and constructive relationship with regulators (and supervisory bodies).
Co-ordinating and managing this relationship
* Provide advice to the governing bodies on compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and
providing advice to the business, for example in the form of policies and procedures or written
updates, in relation to applicable laws and regulations.
* Assess the possible impact of any regulatory development on the operations of the business and
working with the business with regard to compliance.
* Strong working knowledge of wealth managements customers and ensuring a strong relationship is
maintained with wealth managers to have a efficient customer journey when completing outreach.
06/2018
-
06/2019
FINANCIAL CRIME ASSURANCE MANAGER
TSB
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
* Organise and manage own workload to meet targets and strict deadlines -handling an active
caseload of work which includes simultaneously dealing with several cases
* Sanctions/PEP/Enforcement Screening - Managing the escalated alerts resulting of the screening
new and existing clients against Financial Sanctions, PEP and Enforcement lists ensuring that all
potential matches are promptly investigated and escalated when required
* Provide guidance on enquiries about non-standard Due Diligence verification issues, including
industry guidance. Review and approve EDD for higher-risk potential clients, escalating concerns
to the Financial Crime Manager, Associate Director or Deputy MLRO/MLRO as appropriate. Provide
advice and assistance in respect of the application of the Professional Services AML requirements
to client-specific scenarios
* Ongoing Enhanced Due Diligence - Enhanced ongoing monitoring of higher-risk clients (i.e.,
clients residing in jurisdictions outside of the approved low risk list, PEPs and any other
clients that have been deemed higher risk by Financial Crime).
* Eliciting and specifying business change needs and impact of new solutions, taking ownership of
resolving uncertainty and ambiguity in requirements.
* Supporting centre of excellence development, drawing on understanding of business and
technology considerations.
* Supporting the quality assurance aspects of delivery projects to ensure technology deliverables
meet the business needs originally specified.
* Maintenance of all financial crime registers and logs to ensure accurate record keeping.
* Provide regular feedback and coaching to Relationship Managers and relevant business heads to
ensure key issues are raised and resolved
* Assist with providing appropriate, consistent advice on financial crime matters to line
management and staff, escalating issues as necessary.
CAREER & ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE
* Organise and manage own workload to meet targets and strict deadlines -handling an active
caseload of work which includes simultaneously dealing with several cases
* Sanctions/PEP/Enforcement Screening - Managing the escalated alerts resulting of the screening
new and existing clients against Financial Sanctions, PEP and Enforcement lists ensuring that all
potential matches are promptly investigated and escalated when required
* Provide guidance on enquiries about non-standard Due Diligence verification issues, including
industry guidance. Review and approve EDD for higher-risk potential clients, escalating concerns
to the Financial Crime Manager, Associate Director or Deputy MLRO/MLRO as appropriate. Provide
advice and assistance in respect of the application of the Professional Services AML requirements
to client-specific scenarios
* Ongoing Enhanced Due Diligence - Enhanced ongoing monitoring of higher-risk clients (i.e.,
clients residing in jurisdictions outside of the approved low risk list, PEPs and any other
clients that have been deemed higher risk by Financial Crime).
* Eliciting and specifying business change needs and impact of new solutions, taking ownership of
resolving uncertainty and ambiguity in requirements.
* Supporting centre of excellence development, drawing on understanding of business and
technology considerations.
* Supporting the quality assurance aspects of delivery projects to ensure technology deliverables
meet the business needs originally specified.
* Maintenance of all financial crime registers and logs to ensure accurate record keeping.
* Provide regular feedback and coaching to Relationship Managers and relevant business heads to
ensure key issues are raised and resolved
* Assist with providing appropriate, consistent advice on financial crime matters to line
management and staff, escalating issues as necessary.
CAREER & ACHIEVEMENTS TO DATE
06/2016
-
04/2018
FINANCIAL CRIME COMPLIANCE MANAGER
HSBC
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
* Undertaking regular Quality Assurance reviews of the CDD files for Wholesale and Retail
customers and submitting the findings and recommendations.
* Completing periodic reviews for peps and high-risk peps in high-risk jurisdictions and high net
worth individuals and companies
* Responsible for the accurate completion of the Customer Due Diligence profile including
Financial Crime Risk Review (FCRR) and Know Your Customer (KYC) before submitting the case to
Customer Due Diligence Operations for review and approval
* Manage new to bank client on boarding and existing client Customer Due Diligence process's to
defined SLAs, ensuring any risks to the timescales are escalated to Stakeholders and senior
Managers Requesting the country involved to provide relevant documentations of accounts for
customers to ensure AML rules and regulation are being implemented for cross boarder
jurisdictions
* Review and investigation of adverse media alters generated from the banks CDD systems and issue
trigger events to the CDD Department
* Maintaining an exceptional awareness of current Financial Crime regulations and legislation and
ensuring that changes are reflected in the Bank's policy and procedures.
* procedures to ensure all the correct footsteps are followed when exiting peps and high-risk
peps, by informing the exit team and the upward channel
* Conduct Sanctions, PEP and Adverse Media screening as appropriate on clients and related
parties
* Work closely with the Head of Financial Crime and the compliance team to identify any major
issues in relation to compliance.
* Undertaking regular Quality Assurance reviews of the CDD files for Wholesale and Retail
customers and submitting the findings and recommendations.
* Completing periodic reviews for peps and high-risk peps in high-risk jurisdictions and high net
worth individuals and companies
* Responsible for the accurate completion of the Customer Due Diligence profile including
Financial Crime Risk Review (FCRR) and Know Your Customer (KYC) before submitting the case to
Customer Due Diligence Operations for review and approval
* Manage new to bank client on boarding and existing client Customer Due Diligence process's to
defined SLAs, ensuring any risks to the timescales are escalated to Stakeholders and senior
Managers Requesting the country involved to provide relevant documentations of accounts for
customers to ensure AML rules and regulation are being implemented for cross boarder
jurisdictions
* Review and investigation of adverse media alters generated from the banks CDD systems and issue
trigger events to the CDD Department
* Maintaining an exceptional awareness of current Financial Crime regulations and legislation and
ensuring that changes are reflected in the Bank's policy and procedures.
* procedures to ensure all the correct footsteps are followed when exiting peps and high-risk
peps, by informing the exit team and the upward channel
* Conduct Sanctions, PEP and Adverse Media screening as appropriate on clients and related
parties
* Work closely with the Head of Financial Crime and the compliance team to identify any major
issues in relation to compliance.
09/2013
-
08/2015
COMPLIANCE MANAGER
NATWEST PERRY BARR/ WASH WOOD HEATH BRANCH
NATWEST PERRY BARR/ WASH WOOD HEATH BRANCH
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
* Responsible for reviewing transactions to identify any Money Laundering or Terrorist Financing
cautionary flags and rapidly dispositioning them after review and annotating adequate comments
* required to look at Sanction screening system and daily alerts from time to time. This will
means extensively checking the information of the listed sanctions entity with the information
of the system. Wherever required escalating the review to the next level.
* Ensure Compliance with bank's AML and CTF policy, process and procedures and ensure that the
processes and procedures are embedded in the day to day working of the business and the staff is
aware of the contents
* Ensuring customers have the correct forms of I.D when opening new accounts, to enable KYC is
met. Also treating existing customer's fairly ensuring KYC is met for existing customers and KYC
is met when applying for loans and mortgages.
* Tracking of Monitoring findings and follow up on agreed action points for completion of
remedial actions.
* Responsible for performing risk-based reviews on; enhanced due diligence cases, Suspicion
activity cases and transaction monitoring cases, to analyse trends and mitigate ML/TF risks with
clear and concise narrative.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
* Responsible for reviewing transactions to identify any Money Laundering or Terrorist Financing
cautionary flags and rapidly dispositioning them after review and annotating adequate comments
* required to look at Sanction screening system and daily alerts from time to time. This will
means extensively checking the information of the listed sanctions entity with the information
of the system. Wherever required escalating the review to the next level.
* Ensure Compliance with bank's AML and CTF policy, process and procedures and ensure that the
processes and procedures are embedded in the day to day working of the business and the staff is
aware of the contents
* Ensuring customers have the correct forms of I.D when opening new accounts, to enable KYC is
met. Also treating existing customer's fairly ensuring KYC is met for existing customers and KYC
is met when applying for loans and mortgages.
* Tracking of Monitoring findings and follow up on agreed action points for completion of
remedial actions.
* Responsible for performing risk-based reviews on; enhanced due diligence cases, Suspicion
activity cases and transaction monitoring cases, to analyse trends and mitigate ML/TF risks with
clear and concise narrative.
09/2010
-
09/2013
CUSTOMER SERVICE ADVISOR
RBS
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
* Process inbound calls, in accordance with agreed SLA's and documented guidelines
* Treat all callers professionally and within legislation and codes of practice and negotiate
and set up payment arrangements, in line with client criteria.
* Carry out such duties as directed by a Team Leader or Manager, which may from time to time, be
reasonably required.
* Ability to work within tight timescales and meet deadlines and respond to changing and
emerging priorities
* Acknowledged for being a compliant Customer Adviser within Customer Contact and challenging
process effectively to help engagement and increase productivity.
* Created strong relationships within other business areas to help deliver a world class service
for our customers.
* Being renowned as a "Top Adviser" in all aspects of the set business targets and KPI's and
truly putting the customer at the heart of everything I do.
* Process inbound calls, in accordance with agreed SLA's and documented guidelines
* Treat all callers professionally and within legislation and codes of practice and negotiate
and set up payment arrangements, in line with client criteria.
* Carry out such duties as directed by a Team Leader or Manager, which may from time to time, be
reasonably required.
* Ability to work within tight timescales and meet deadlines and respond to changing and
emerging priorities
* Acknowledged for being a compliant Customer Adviser within Customer Contact and challenging
process effectively to help engagement and increase productivity.
* Created strong relationships within other business areas to help deliver a world class service
for our customers.
* Being renowned as a "Top Adviser" in all aspects of the set business targets and KPI's and
truly putting the customer at the heart of everything I do.
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