Enterprise AML & Payments, Director - Questrade Financial Group
(2024-04)
- Directed the Enterprise AML Compliance function for Questrade Financial Group, leading a high-performing team of 23 accredited AML professionals across all reporting entities.
- Maintained subject matter expertise in evolving regulatory landscapes and industry best practices across diverse sectors, including securities, MSBs, trust/loan companies, real estate, and mortgage brokerage.
- Spearheaded the design and launch of comprehensive AML compliance programs for new business lines in the real estate, mortgage, and financial services sectors.
- Orchestrated the deployment of mission-critical FinCrime technologies, including NICE Actimize, TransUnion, Equifax, and Mitek, to enhance detection and verification capabilities.
- Facilitated high-stakes regulatory examinations and internal audits, serving as the primary point of contact for inquiries and remediation efforts.
- Represented the organization in elite industry forums, including the CIRO CCLS AML Sub-Committee and the Advisory Committee on Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing (ACMLTF).
Enterprise AML & Payments, Senior Manager - Questrade Financial Group
(2023-02 - 2024-04)
Enterprise AML & Payments, Manager - Questrade Financial Group
(2021-02 - 2023-02)
- Standardized the Enterprise AML/ATF Program across Questrade Financial Group, ensuring a consistent and robust compliance framework for all business units.
- Directed multi-sector compliance operations for diverse financial products, including securities trading, managed portfolios, mortgages, and Money Services Business (MSB) activities.
- Led and mentored a high-performing team of AML/ATF subject matter experts, fostering professional growth and ensuring operational excellence.
- Served as the definitive SME on PCMLTFA and FINTRAC regulations, translating complex legislative requirements into actionable business processes.
- Proactively monitored the global regulatory landscape, integrating evolving best practices and emerging AML trends into the corporate compliance strategy.
- Orchestrated the audit lifecycle, playing a key role in the preparation and successful execution of internal reviews and external regulatory examinations.
- Engineered enterprise-wide standards for systems and policies, optimizing productivity while maintaining strict adherence to AML/ATF objectives.
Enterprise AML & Payments, Supervisor - Questrade Financial Group
(2021-10 - 2021-02)
- Directed the investigative process for AML case reviews, providing final oversight on the determination of suspicious activity and the filing of high-priority reports.
- Chaired and managed AML Committees on behalf of the Chief Anti-Money Laundering Officer (CAMLO), driving executive-level consensus on risk appetite and compliance strategy.
- Oversaw multi-channel surveillance operations, including the monitoring of large international EFTs, Sanctions/PEPs/HIOs, and the continuous ongoing monitoring of all business lines to mitigate cross-border risk.
AML Compliance, Analyst - Questrade Financial Group
(2018-04 - 2021-09)
- Executed end-to-end investigations of unusual activity, ensuring the timely identification and reporting of potential money laundering and terrorist financing (ML/TF) risks.
- Analyzed complex ML/TF typologies across a diverse product suite, including brokerage trading, investment portfolios, foreign exchange, and mortgage lending.
- Conducted high-level Due Diligence and KYC assessments, providing deep-dive analysis into the risk profiles of high-risk clients and their impact on the organization.
- Managed rigorous name-screening protocols, cross-referencing global sanctions lists and adverse media to mitigate reputational and regulatory exposure.
- Authored and filed Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) with FINTRAC, providing detailed internal briefings to senior compliance leadership on all filings.
- Architected compliance training modules and internal policies, standardizing due diligence procedures and fostering a culture of regulatory awareness.
- Acted as a primary liaison for external audits, managing the delivery of evidence and formal responses to independent auditors and regulatory bodies.
Fraud Detection and Investigation Analyst - BMO Bank of Montreal
(2016-12 - 2018-04)
- Conducted root-cause analysis on fraudulent behaviors and transactions to identify systemic vulnerabilities and mitigate financial loss.
- Performed forensic account reviews to detect sophisticated fraudulent patterns and unauthorized operations, protecting both client assets and bank integrity.
- Authored comprehensive fraud incident reports, documenting emerging typologies and trends for distribution across BMO's enterprise-wide platforms.
- Optimized fraud detection systems, providing strategic input for the enhancement of Counterfeit, Kiting, Application Fraud, and Interac e-Transfer (EMT) detection modules.
- Collaborated cross-functionally with Corporate Security, Recovery Teams, and branch networks to streamline investigations and asset recovery efforts.
- Developed risk-mitigation recommendations for senior management, balancing the reduction of fraud exposure with the maintenance of a seamless customer experience.
MasterCard Chargeback Agent - BMO Bank of Montreal
(2015-09 - 2016-12)
- Ensured safeguarding of BMO assets by maintaining strict adherence to multi-sector regulatory requirements, including personal/commercial banking and investment lending guidelines.
- Mitigated consumer risk by proactively identifying and preventing Account Takeovers (ATOs) and diverse fraud typologies within the retail market.
- Managed the end-to-end dispute resolution process, evaluating fraudulent credit transactions and executing complex chargeback procedures to recover client funds.
- Delivered high-performance service in high-volume environments, consistently meeting rigorous quality and productivity benchmarks while managing sensitive risk-related inquiries.
Customer Service Representative/Bank Teller - BMO Bank of Montreal
(2014-01 - 2015-09)
- Provided strategic financial counseling, aligning banking and investment products with client-specific financial goals and risk profiles.
- Drove business growth through the targeted sale and referral of bank products while maintaining strict adherence to internal compliance standards.
- Applied comprehensive knowledge of banking policies, ensuring all client interactions met AML, regulatory, and audit requirements.
- Identified and escalated potential risks by filing Unusual Activity Reports (UARs) based on forensic analysis of transactional patterns and Source of Wealth (SoW).
- Enhanced portfolio integrity by conducting thorough KYC updates and reassessing client risk ratings to ensure data accuracy and compliance.
- Delivered premium face-to-face client service, managing complex inquiries with a focus on relationship building and operational excellence.
