Benjamin Bereket Kroone

• Led remediation project including Transaction Monitoring & ECDD from initial scoping to execution.
• Played a key role in uplifting existing policies and procedures and development of new ones to reduce risk with focus on operational viability.
• Undertook review and assessment of current AML/CTF program along with recommendations for better risk based decision making.
• Assessed compliance with applicable laws, regulations, guidelines, industry standards.
• Prepared detailed reports for Senior Management including Chief Risk Officer and the Board on findings related to remediation.
• Analysed financial transactions for any irregularities or potential criminal activity.

• Reviewed and assisted with updating of procedures, processes and new AML/CTF initiatives.
• Monitored AML/CTF alerts through transaction monitoring (TM) and escalated when necessary.
• Completed thorough investigations on complex unusual activity reports (UAR) from all business units.
• Submitted high quality Suspicious Matter Reports (SMRs) within regulatory timeframes.
• Provided advisory & SME services to frontline staff and other business units on all AML/CTF issues.
• Conducted AML/CTF & sanctions due diligence for the business on prospective vendors & contractors, including employees.
• Conducted high quality & thorough reports for Senior Management approval on High Risk onboarding, ECDD & IFTIs.
• Assisted and reviewed change transformation and uplift from risk assessments to vendor outreach.

• Worked in new client onboarding and conducting due diligence checks for sanctions and adverse media on prospective clients.
• Reviewed and onboarded high risk clients, complex institutions & conducted ECDD inline with AML/CTF regulatory requirements.
• Worked with compliance and legal counsel in decision making and risk based assessments in accordance with company AUP and risk appetite.
• Assisted in answering and advising business developers and Philippines based team in onboarding & financial crime risk related matters

Responsible for analysing and researching the patterns, trends and anomalies in complex transactional and customer data to detect, prevent, mitigate and report suspicious activity related to money laundering, terrorist financing and other economic crimes.

• Used transactional and customer records, external data, and publicly available information, to build profile of client and identify suspicious or unusual activity.
• Performed detailed analysis to detect patterns, trends, and anomalies in transactions and relationships across multiple businesses/products.
• Prepared reports to compliance of matters that are escalated and further investigated.
• Participated in and provided technical support for projects and initiatives with moderate to high risk.

• Interpret and action notices from regulators and orders from State and Federal courts effectively and produce information within SLAs.

• Punctually process orders and notices requiring freezing or garnishing accounts in accordance with relevant notice or court order.

• Assess and determine risk of non-compliance in these matters while coordinating with regulators to minimise exposure to risk and maintain lines of communication.

• Engage with internal financial crime units, solicitors and the courts to maintain compliance with regulatory requirements.