Senior AML Manager
Dubai Islamic Bank
Total years of experience :19 years, 5 Months
Implementing an effective Financial Crime Compliance programme (FCC programme) covering AML, KYC, CTF and Sanctions.
• Reviewing the existing compliance policies, process, procedures and controls pertaining to customer onboarding, remittance reviews, AML transaction monitoring and suspicious transaction reporting to identify any gaps and address these to meet regulatory and best practice requirements.
• Identifying, developing and maintaining policies and procedures as may be required for strengthening the FCC framework.
• Reviewing the AML, KYC, CTF and Sanctions systems in place, identifying areas for improvement and assisting with any system changes required, including identifying and implementing new systems where applicable.
• Providing guidance and advice to the bank’s management and staff on AML, KYC, CTF and Sanctions requirements.
• Ensuring the necessary level of understanding and awareness of AML, KYC, CTF and Sanctions amongst management and staff by ensuring training on AML, KYC, CTF and Sanctions.
• Providing guidance and support to compliance staff around regulatory requirements and best practice associated with customer onboarding, remittance reviews, AML transaction monitoring and suspicious transaction reporting to ensure that compliance risks are properly identified, mitigated and reported.
• Assisting with regulatory queries, inspections and requests to ensure these are managed effectively and professionally to maintain strong and healthy regulatory relationships.
• Developing FCC Management Information, Reports, Trends Analysis and Typologies to identify and anticipate areas of concern in AML, KYC, CTF and Sanctions as well as to keep management informed to ensure effective decision-making to properly address the risks.
• Developing, coaching and mentoring compliance staff on AML, KYC, CTF and Sanctions matters to ensure that personnel are properly trained and equipped to undertake their jobs.
Implementing an effective Financial Crime Compliance programme (FCC programme) covering AML, KYC, CTF and Sanctions.
• Reviewing the existing compliance policies, process, procedures and controls pertaining to customer onboarding, remittance reviews, AML transaction monitoring and suspicious transaction reporting to identify any gaps and address these to meet regulatory and best practice requirements.
• Identifying, developing and maintaining policies and procedures as may be required for strengthening the FCC framework.
• Reviewing the AML, KYC, CTF and Sanctions systems in place, identifying areas for improvement and assisting with any system changes required, including identifying and implementing new systems where applicable.
• Providing guidance and advice to the bank’s management and staff on AML, KYC, CTF and Sanctions requirements.
• Ensuring the necessary level of understanding and awareness of AML, KYC, CTF and Sanctions amongst management and staff by ensuring training on AML, KYC, CTF and Sanctions.
• Providing guidance and support to compliance staff around regulatory requirements and best practice associated with customer onboarding, remittance reviews, AML transaction monitoring and suspicious transaction reporting to ensure that compliance risks are properly identified, mitigated and reported.
• Assisting with regulatory queries, inspections and requests to ensure these are managed effectively and professionally to maintain strong and healthy regulatory relationships.
• Developing FCC Management Information, Reports, Trends Analysis and Typologies to identify and anticipate areas of concern in AML, KYC, CTF and Sanctions as well as to keep management informed to ensure effective decision-making to properly address the risks.
• Developing, coaching and mentoring compliance staff on AML, KYC, CTF and Sanctions matters to ensure that personnel are properly trained and equipped to undertake their jobs.
Financial Crime/ Anti Money Laundering and Sanctions
⦁ Act as main point of contact between the bank and the AMLSCU for AML/Financial Crimes matters and investigations and advise business units of proposed changes in federal law, regulations and regulatory expectations.
⦁ Responsible for managing the bank’s AML Monitoring system.
⦁ Assess FinCrime/AML/Sanctions training needs and deliver training Programs.
⦁ Submit reports to the Board Audit and Risk Committee (BARC) and the General Management Risk Committee (GMRC).
⦁ Acting as Subject Matter Expertise to the business and responding to queries from staff and being a point of reference on all AML/CTF/Sanctions matters.
⦁ Evaluate reports of Suspicious / unusual transactions from bank staff and Reporting Suspicious Transactions to Central Bank of UAE and maintain STR file.
⦁ Assist the Local Law Enforcement Agencies in their investigations whenever required.
⦁ Write policies, procedures and other notices to ensure that the Bank meets Federal Law, Regulatory requirements and regulatory expectation in respect of AML/CTF and Financial Crime.
Regulatory Reporting, Advisory and Assurance
⦁ Maintain a very close relationship with the Central bank relationship manager and examination team.
⦁ Responsible for managing the bank’s Conduct of Business programme (breaches management, financial promotions, Central Bank complaints handling, etc)
⦁ Maintain the Compliance Charter, Compliance Manual and Complaints Handling Policy of the Bank.
⦁ Write policies, procedures and other notices to ensure that the Bank meets Federal Law, Regulatory requirements and regulatory expectation in respect of Sanctions.
⦁ Organize, plan, develop tests for, select samples and otherwise execute the Annual Compliance Monitoring Plan.
⦁ Support departmental management by developing and maintaining a Management Information System & Knowledge base for the Compliance Department.
• Anticipates and assesses key regulatory risks in the business for management consideration and drives the development and implementation of appropriate mitigation control measures.
• Development and implementation of Risk based KYC Policy.
• Works collaboratively with the business to ensure that appropriate control standards and assurance procedures are developed and followed so that the business is meeting the Bank’s and the relevant Regulators’ expectations.
• Provide technical, regulatory and transactional advice to the business on a timely basis on product development and anticipate the regulatory impact of such development the business.
• Analytical skills with respect to AML, CTF & other Financial Crimes.
• Ensuring that adequate monitoring and controls exist within the branches to detect / prevent money laundering attempts. Conduct Customer Due Diligence and investigations of account activity based on the referrals from various Financial Institutions, The Central Bank, Marketing Intelligence and from Bank’s AML System.
• Liaise with regulatory authorities on matter regarding AML, KYC and STRs.
• Analyze, enhance and implement AML monitoring system and conduct UAT on critical system enhancements.
• Well versed with local and international regulations, such as, Patriot ACT, OFAC, UN and EU sanctions, various Central Bank AML / KYC guidelines, etc.
• Ensure that transaction filtering system is always updated with the latest editions of internal and external Blacklists to enable the customer screening.
• Design AML/Compliance Training programs to raise awareness and ensure all understands their responsibilities/obligations with regard to Corporate/AML/CTF Policies and statutory requirements
• Trainer on Sanctions, Trade Embargoes and International Best Practices on AML/CFT and KYC
Anti Money laundering
Ensured that there was timely/Quality Dispositions and resolutions of AML Alerts
Ensured a good understanding and effected implementation of AML red flags and related activities
Provided AML training in line with business assessments and needs
Provided consultation and guidance to business and operating Units and suggested recommendation on AML related matters.
Liaised and followed up with Business units on AML/Compliance matters.
Independent Filing of STR/SAR reports to the FIU (Central Bank )
Identified gaps in existing AML reports and resolved the same.
Setting up of AML parameters in the new banking solution which was migrated to AML-SAS 4.2
Regulatory Reporting
Identifying and resolving gaps in our reporting procedures vis a vis the Central bank of UAE and resolved the same.
Handling of all regulatory Correspondences with central bank including but not limited to reporting on returned cheques, Saudi Arabian remittances, Resolution of customer complaints, POA requests.
Ensured timely responses to central bank queries regarding court notices, Commercial building finance, Customer information reports and AML reports.
Sanctions Policy
Samba Financial group adheres to US and EU sanctions. Automated filters are in place to filter out transactions that might potentially be sanction related or potential hits from an AML perspective.
Took quick decisions on all transactions which emanated from a potential sanctioned country.
Ensured procedures for checking customer names against the sanctioned list and the CBUAE blacklist is understood and implemented.
Constantly kept abreast on the latest in sanction related issues.
" Conceptualization, planning & implementation of the navigational routes between countries.
" Developing and planning programs for cadets and junior officers and helping in their assimilation into the company work culture
" In charge of liaising with officials of different hierarchies including coast guard officials and immigration to ensure safe passage.
" Designing and developing new methodologies to increase the quality of work.
" Project planning and preparing / controlling cost estimates for various projects.
" Interfacing between the sea port teams and ensuring the delivery of goods to its respective destination.