AML & Compliance Manager

• Mar 2023 - Present

Compliance Manager

• Apr 2022 - Feb 2023

• Support the company in its business expansion plan and obtained licenses in the jurisdictions of Pakistan, Bahrain, Egypt, and UAE; • Support the Fintech business in the adoption of enterprise risk and compliance framework of policies, testing, training, and reporting; • Support the execution of financial crime risk assessments for business and product areas, analyze gaps identified and recommend remediation actions for risk gaps; • Developed the Compliance Monitoring Program for the company; • Designed the Corporate Governance Structure for the company; • Designed compliance policies and procedures for the company in line with regulatory requirements; • Facilitate and provide oversight over the development of Fintech compliance policies and the development and developed compliance training program; • Support the identification of issues (including those identified internally or through third-party audits/exams and reviews) and track the remediation of those issues; • Evaluate new and existing product releases and enhancements to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations; • Liaise with DFSA on regulatory requirements and performs DFSA filing/reporting on a timely basis; • Conduct thorough due diligence on prospective and existing users; • Implement the latest AML regulations and laws within the company; • Perform reviews of high-risk customers and prepare review/EDD reports for management and regulator’s review; • Handle all compliance-related inquiries from internal and external parties; • Train and educate staff on policies according to the compliance guidelines; • Keep abreast of regulatory developments within or outside of the company as well as evolving best practices in compliance control;

Senior Compliance Officer & MLRO

• Jul 2021 - Apr 2022

• Formulation, designing as well as periodic update of AML/CFT policies & procedures of the company in line with recent regulations and regulatory developments made by CBUAE • Undertaking enhanced due diligences for periodic and trigger reviews and risk-based Compliance Monitoring to ensure the company policies and procedures are being complied • Maintains the reporting MIS for the team and ensures that cases are assigned and tracked for review and conclusion • Conducts risk assessments and helps the management to make informed decision on investigations conducted • Escalates to management significant noncompliance and report breaches issues and concerns • Support the Compliance Department in timely review of new special risk accounts being onboarded • Ensure timely and accurately submission of STR or SAR reports under GOAML portal based on investigations/reviews and its further submission in the form of report to Senior Management • Ensure prompt submission of Transaction monitoring and customer screening records to the Senior Management for their review • Assist the Compliance Department in the approval and ongoing review of new special risk accounts to ensure that regulatory and Group requirements are met • Checking CDD profiles for completeness and verification to determine plausibility based on the information provided or any inconsistency detected • Apply a risk based approach while conducting account reviews conduct necessary due diligence to be in line with the company policies, procedures and guidelines • With regards to PEP accounts preparation of submission packs for senior management approvals • Evaluate reviews of all triggers red flags EDD requests referred from various sources with the agreed turnaround times submitting recommendations for further review of BU stakeholders • Ensure procedures are adhered to during AML Audit reviews and rationale of concluding the reviews as satisfactory or unsatisfactory

Compliance Supervisor - AML & Sanctions

• Mar 2020 - Jun 2021

• Work independently on end-to-end KYC due diligence processes, providing expert advice to relevant businesses. • Collect, analyze, verify and archive legal and Know Your Customer (KYC) documentation, identify Ultimate Beneficial Owners (UBOs) and Foreign Politically Exposed Persons (FPEPs). • Mitigate integrity risks for the bank by contributing to the risk assessment of potential business relationships based on CBUAE regulations & international standards against money laundering and terrorist financing, financial sanctions, and embargoes. • Review and check potential clients on international financial sanctions lists. • Comply with and follow up on international regulatory requirements, such as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and Common Reporting Standards (CRS) • Responsible for AML compliance across the Bank by ensuring adherence to internal and external laid down guidelines. • Advise Business units on AML / KYC requirements and perform AML risk assessment when required • Respond to notices/requests from Police, Central Bank and other statutory authorities, & correspondent banks • Ensure all functions are in compliance with Anti Money Laundering regulations and statutory requirements • Undertake a wide range of data gathering and identify any AML related risks, deviations or deficiencies in the KYC or customer information/ suspicious transaction and highlight to senior management for further investigations • Contribute to the implementation and controls for daily processes and assist with the update of procedures. • Support anti money laundering activities and actively participate in different Client Management related projects • Conduct trainings to the new staffs of organization on AML/CFT & KYC/CDD

Compliance Analyst – (EDD & STR/SAR Team Leader)

• Sep 2018 - Mar 2020

• Supervise and manage a team who is responsible for raising STR/SAR • Support team in preparing response to all Central Bank Inquiries • Responsible for conducting enhance customer due diligence (ECDD) on complex and highly suspicious cases as and when referred by AML & Sanction Team • Responsible for handling all type of notices (Search/Freeze/Unfreeze/ECDD) received from FIU/Central Bank and takes timely action within the given TAT. • Communicate all type of instructions of FIU/Central Bank to the relevant stakeholders/Units/Departments received via goAML and Integrated Enquiry Management System (IEMS) • Provide compliance advice and support on AML matters to all business and operation units • Perform transactions / alerts analysis and review • Provide guidance and advise on Payment and Sanctions Screening alerts investigation process, highlight requirements and methodologies to follow. • Responsible for the managing the financial crime risk posed to the bank while conducting day to day business • Develop and implement compliance policies, procedures and program on monitoring AML related activities • Working on multiple ad-hoc projects in order to enhance the AML/ Sanctions Screening Systems functionalities • Perform stress testing on the existing AML System scenarios to propose new scenarios in accordance with the observed suspicious transactions trends in the industry • Handle regulatory inspections on AML related matters • Liaise with regulators and law enforcement agencies on all AML related issues • Handling of suspicious transaction reporting • Perform ongoing AML surveillance on client account activities and other ad hoc compliance reviews • Keep track on regulatory development and changes on AML related matters • Update of AML related procedures, manuals and control documents • Conduct compliance reviews, risk assessments and control testing • Monitor and track AML training to all relevant staff

Compliance Officer & DMLRO

• Aug 2017 - Aug 2018

• Review adequacy of Customer Due Diligence (CDD), Know Your Customer (KYC), Know Your Business (KYB), source of funds, client information, client profiling and suitability during the transactions processing • Responsible for advising, developing and maintaining all aspects of AML/Anti-Terrorist Financing (CFT) compliance for the company • Detailed risk assessment and assist with any other Compliance related matters or projects as identified and assigned • Conduct suspicious activity and fraud investigations and onward reporting to Central Bank • Review monthly/quarterly submissions to ensure information is reported concisely in accordance with internal guidelines and processes • Real Time Transaction Monitoring using iDETECT® • Real-time monitoring of SWIFT transaction messages and blocking of potential matches through EastNets SafeWatch • Perform Sanctions Screening check of new and existing individual and corporate customers through World-Check at the time of client onboarding • Developing and maintaining a solid framework of oversight and maintenance of effective policies and procedures by using expert knowledge of AML laws and regulations, AML best practices as well as of emerging AML industry risks. • Prepare reports for the MLRO which will include executive level reporting, which identify and escalate AML/CFT issues and events, initiatives, trends, and assess the effectiveness of business units’ systems controls of money laundering, terrorist financing and sanctions. • Providing AML/CFT awareness training to staff, monitoring AML/CFT industry developments and maintains advanced knowledge of new and amended laws and regulations impacting the AML/CFT Program and Risk Assessment.

Compliance Officer & MLRO

• Mar 2017 - Jul 2017

• Design AML/CFT Compliance program compliant with UAE AML/CFT Laws, Regulations, Standards and international best practice; • Establish and maintain appropriate AML/CFT policies, procedures, processes and controls; • Ensure day-to-day compliance of the business against own AML/CFT policies and procedures; • Act as a key contact point regarding all AML/CFT related matters/ queries from the Central Bank; • Cooperate with and provide the AMLSCU with the data it requires • Receive suspicious transaction alerts and analyze them for the onward reporting to the AMLSCU; • On-going real-time monitoring of transactions to identify high-risk, unusual and suspicious customers/transactions; • Submit Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) to the AMLSCU in a timely manner; • Develop and execute AML/CFT training programs regarding all relevant risks of ML/FT and financing illicit organizations including the ways/means for addressing them; • Report to the Senior Management on all AML/CFT issues; • Maintain all necessary supporting documents for transactions, Due Diligence, monitoring, suspicious transaction reporting and AML training material; • Review AML/CFT/ Sanctions (OFAC, EU, UN, HM Treasury UK) regulations and procedures and conduct a gap analysis to determine the extent of the compliance with their implementation, propose actions required to address gaps and prepare Bi-Annual reports

Compliance Officer

• Jan 2013 - Nov 2016

• Specialized in KYC /AML/ CFT & sanction compliance • Monitor transactions using Oracle Mantas • Real-time blocking of potential violations as well as batch screening using SafeWatch • Review Suspicious Transaction Reports (STR) received from branches and further investigate • Getting KYC / CDD / EDD Forms updated through branches • Detail review of high risk accounts such as NGO/Associations • Handle inquiries of Central Bank and Law enforcement agencies (NAB, SBP, FBR, FIA etc.) • Ensure Compliance of AML Laws and Regulations • Review monthly/quarterly submissions to ensure information is reported concisely in accordance with internal guidelines and processes

Operation Executive Special Project

• Jul 2012 - Jan 2013

Main Responsibilities: • Ensure timely & accurate logistical reporting to Project Manager. • Monitor logistic assets through GPRS network throughout Pakistan • Supervise engineers at the time of unit installation on particular asset or container • Coordinating logistical reports and other issues of assets through correspondence to clients • Make daily reports of cargo in transit • Preparation of Trip Completion Reports of assets traveled on assigned route • Responsible for timely reporting of driver disability, equipment damage or breakdown • Maintain database of services

Paralegal

• 2008 - 2011

Worked as Paralegal with Advocate of High Court. Main responsibilities included: - assisting the advocate in documentation, management and record keeping of client information - preparation of legal suits, cases, petitions, affidavits, power of attorney - Legal documentation of all types of agreements and contracts. Worked as Paralegal with Advocate of High Court. Main responsibilities included: - assisting the advocate in documentation, management and record keeping of client information - preparation of legal suits, cases, petitions, affidavits, power of attorney - Legal documentation of all types of agreements and contracts.