Saurabh Saini

Result focused management professional offering over 13 years of experience in the field of financial crime, audit and compliance 

Professional Overview 

Results-focused management professional offering over 13 years of experience in the field of financial crime risk management and progressive leadership experience. Self-motivated, competitive and consistent team-player resource with extensive knowledge of Anti Money Laundering and Anti-Terrorist Financing programs. Developing high potential individuals into outstanding leaders who demonstrate confidence & creativity that is critical to continuous improvement, financial and operational success.  

Summary of Skills

• Time management under high pressure coupled with Problem solving and Strong organizational skills.
• Proficiency in reporting and submission of electronic funds transfers (EFTs) and Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs).   
• Exceptional complaint and escalation handling skills, presentation skills, Staff Management, training and development
• Experience in interpreting and applying legislation, policies, and procedures
• Motivated, adaptable and multi-task with high energy level, strong work ethics, continuously striving for improvement.
• Proficient in office technologies, advanced MS office suite skills and exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent quality assurance coupled with creative, innovative and analytical thinking. 

 Professional Experience

Compliance and Reporting officer – Gigadatsolutions Inc.                                                     Apr-2023 – Present

• Develop and implement company policies and regulations. Oversee all business operations relating to compliance, Fraud, Due Diligence and Anti-Money Laundering including policies, investments, and procedures. 
• Design and monitor control systems to deal with violations of regulatory rules and internal policies. Regularly assess the efficiency of control systems and recommend effective improvements.
• Review of Casino/Racing Entertainment Centre (REC) operation and payment processes/ settlements. 
• Coordinate with different department managers to review all departmental compliance policies, also closely work with law enforcement and peace officer for fraud activities.
• Reviewing and assessing, suspicious transactions, potential fraud activity and developing fraud detection tools
• Establishing self-audit and compliance monitoring programs. Coordinating rollout and training of new or updated policies and directives when required

Senior Investigator – AML Right Source                                                                      Jul-2021 – Mar-2023            

• Manage and drives the transaction monitoring programs, suggest value additions, system enhancements and also help in testing of various transaction rules/scenarios.
• Reviews risk and compliance issues with management for product development and stay up to date with regulatory regulations to mitigate financial crime.
• Work independently on compliance projects, stay highly motivated and submit deliverables with complete accountability.   
• Conduct daily morning huddles, track and report daily numbers, update team members with updated trends and developments, ensure achievement of KPI’s on weekly basis. 
• Participated in departmental and cross function projects, identified process improvement opportunities to enhance ongoing monitoring and risk management. 
• Monitor and maintain team quality standards by reviewing alert dispositions prior submitting the case for filing approval. 
• Worked on special FINTRAC projects and production orders, also worked with peace officer and regulators. 

Senior AML Investigator- Scotia Bank                                                                                   Jun 2018 – July 2021

• Reviewing and evaluating alerts/cases/logs/ production orders consisting of anomalous or potentially suspicious activity identified by the bank’s system databases   
• Conducting thorough due diligence research using client systems and other information resources to determine whether terrorist financing risk exists further ensuring that investigation and Fintrac reports abide by all regulatory deadlines.
• Drafting of reports various regulatory reports to OFSI and ensuring timely submission of reports through Regulatory Reporting System (RRS). 
• Organising and data analysis to write comprehensive support investigative narratives and filling Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) to Fintrac and adhering to PCMLTFA legislation and regulations.
• Acting as subject matter expert on Anti-Money Laundering, identifying improvement opportunities to improve internal controls coupled with providing trainings to fellow team members.  

AML Investigator- Promontory Financial Group                                                                      Apr 2018- Jun 2018

• Conduct risk based investigations using the Scotia Bank’s various, internal and external data systems identifying and gathering evidence supporting a reasonable suspicion of money laundering and organized crime,.
• Review and investigate generated cases and alerts generated by the AML transaction monitoring system, look for suspicious activity and reaching a decision through critical thinking also filing suspicious transactions to Fintrac.
• Report significant risk exposures and control issues, red flags, AML risks, and other matters needed as per applicable policy guidelines to high risk review group for their final risk assessment for the client.
• Monitor customer transactions for any potentially suspicious activities, also insured systematic regulatory reporting to FINTRAC of Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) and electronic funds transfers (EFTs)
• Collect collaborative and analyse a wide variety of information and intelligence related to system or manually generated alerts to identify persons and entities that may be laundering money or funding terrorism.

Internal Auditor- Manager - HDFC Bank Ltd- India                                                                  Oct 2011- Dec 2017

• The audit areas include: - Retail branch operations and Wholesale Banking (Clearing, Trade and Forex), SOX’s Audits, AML Audits, Fraud Investigations, Enhanced Due Diligence of High Risk Clients (PEPs, MSBs, NGOs, etc.), 
• Finalizing the audit report with quality recommendation for mitigating operational risk, credit risk, controlling cost, plugging revenue leakage and enhancing operational efficiency of the area audited, 
• Ensure timely, efficient preparation and submission of STR & UTR report to AML Compliance Officer and the FIU. 
• Ensuring effective controls on compliance with all AML KYC policies, laws, regulations, guidelines, customer/transaction monitoring.  
• Build and maintain schedules for the team, provided training on Risk, quality controls and ensure adherence of regulatory requirements. 

Assistant Manager - Axis Bank Ltd- India                                                                                 Jun 2009- Oct 2011   

• Implementing competent strategies with a view to penetrate new accounts and expand existing ones for meeting pre-determined business objectives and targets also promote banks initiative. 
• Responsible for Daily Voucher Verification, Reconciling bank accounts, assisting office inspection, attention to detail in daily operations like posting journal entries.
• Handled complaint escalations and ensured unique customer experience to every customer.   .
• Responsible for mandatory reporting like regulatory compliance reporting, Fortnightly Cash Reporting, Sundry & Suspense Accounts & STR (suspicious Transaction reporting) in professional manner. 

Accomplishments

• Developed and implemented a streamlined process of KYC and AML data collection for illiterate customer & SME accounts at Zonal Office North-India. This innovation was then rolled out nationwide. 
• Promoted from entry-level investigator to senior investigator, in less than 11 months
• Created highly efficient case investigation template that significantly impact efficiency and improved operations. 

• Master in Business Administration - Finance,
• Preparing for CAMS certification