Ambika Krishnamurthy

Results-driven AML/KYC Operations Manager with 14+ years of experience leading KYC, Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), and transaction monitoring functions for global banks including State Street, JP Morgan, ANZ, Bank of America, and RBS. Proven record of reducing KYC processing time by 20% and onboarding time by up to 50% through automation (OCR, AI-based risk scoring, API bots), while maintaining 100% audit readiness across FATF, FinCEN, EU AMLD, PMLA, and OFAC/sanctions requirements. Skilled at building and mentoring high-performing teams of 15+, improving quality scores by 98% and employee satisfaction by 20%.

Strong background in regulatory compliance, data-driven decision-making, stakeholder management, and process re-engineering across onboarding, periodic review, and remediation programs.

Manager – KYC / QA Operations - State Street Corporate Services Mumbai Pvt. Ltd. - Bengaluru, India

(2025-09)

• Lead KYC/QA operations covering New-to-Bank onboarding, periodic reviews, and event-driven reviews, ensuring processes meet regulatory expectations and industry best practice.
• Manage stakeholder relationships across Leadership and Operational Forums to communicate money laundering risk and drive risk-excellence culture.
• Ensure quality and skill levels of KYC/QA resources remain "best in class," and deliver BU/RM training to embed AML behaviors across teams.
• Own status reporting and commentary for management and committee review; complete due diligence requirements on time in line with AML risk standards.
• Maintain current knowledge of AML and financial crime risk through annual AML Academy and related training; drive a culture of change, ownership, and performance differentiation.

Team Leader / Manager - JP Morgan India Pvt. Ltd. - Bengaluru, India

(2018-09 - 2025-05)

Managed a team of 15 employees, providing mentorship and support that improved productivity by 8% and reduced operational risk by 12% through new team processes. Conducted regular performance reviews, set clear KPI/KRI-aligned objectives, and delivered training that raised team competency by 15% and quality/accuracy by 98%. Resolved conflicts and fostered a positive work environment, improving employee satisfaction scores by 20%; recognized team accomplishments to sustain engagement.

Partnered with senior management to design and execute strategies improving team efficiency and achieving business targets; analyzed metrics to identify improvement opportunities.

• KYC Process Optimization & Automation: Implemented automated KYC tools (OCR document extraction, AI-based risk scoring) and integrated platforms such as Refinitiv, LexisNexis, and Dow Jones, standardizing checklists to reduce manual errors and cut KYC processing time by 20%.
• Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD): Built risk-based EDD frameworks for PEPs, high-risk jurisdictions, and complex ownership structures; led OSINT and adverse media investigations and trained analysts to identify red flags such as shell companies and sanctions exposure.
• AML Transaction Monitoring Tuning: Collaborated with IT/Compliance to adjust alert thresholds and analyzed transaction patterns to reduce false positives and improve suspicious activity detection, documenting findings for regulatory audits.
• Regulatory Compliance & Audit Readiness: Led internal audits and prepared for external regulatory exams under FATF, FinCEN, and EU AMLD; updated AML/KYC policies for Beneficial Ownership rules and conducted gap assessments, achieving 100% audit readiness.
• Team Training & QA: Developed AML/KYC training programs (sanctions screening, fraud detection) and QA scorecards; tracked case closure rate and accuracy KPIs, training 15 analysts and improving accuracy by 98%.
• Customer Risk Rating Enhancement: Redesigned risk scoring methodology across geography, business nature, and transaction behavior, integrating new data sources for stronger risk segmentation.
• Remediation & Backlog Clearance: Led a remediation squad to clear backlogged KYC cases, coordinating with Legal and Business teams on client outreach.
• Onboarding Process Improvement: Introduced digital KYC solutions (e-signatures, biometric verification), reducing client onboarding time by 30–50% through process re-engineering.
• Cross-Border AML Compliance: Aligned local AML policies with global standards and conducted cross-regional AML workshops for global teams.
• Fraud Detection & Link Analysis: Used network analysis tools (Palantir, SAS AML) to identify suspicious money-laundering networks, collaborating with law enforcement on fraud investigations.
• Key Achievements: Reduced KYC processing time by 20% through automation (API bot); achieved 100% audit readiness for regulatory exams; trained 15 analysts, improving team accuracy by 98%; led a high-risk client review that uncovered multiple suspicious cases.

Senior Credit Assessment Officer – Mortgage Fulfillment - Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) - Bengaluru, India

(2014-06 - 2017-04)

• Processed and screened Australian home loan applications, conducting risk-based assessment and approval of loan documents against bank guidelines.
• Reviewed loan documents against multiple parameters prior to escalation for full and final loan approval, and communicated decisions to bank brokers.
• Managed team operations, escalations, mergers, and reworks during peak and crisis periods, ensuring continuity of end-to-end processing as a tenured process owner.
• Handled lock-rate fee charges and documentation involving corporate guarantors, applying accurate and timely data-driven recommendations to optimize decision-making.

Senior Operations Representative – Remittance Department - Bank of America - Chennai, India

(2013-10 - 2014-04)

• Processed Chennai and Bengaluru branch INR payments, draft/cheque printing, and NEFT/RTGS transactions via SWIFT messages MT103 and MT202.
• Processed Non-STP-compliant payments for both branches and resolved draft/cheque issuance, cancellation, reissuance, and credit-back queries.
• Prepared and consolidated monthly statements of account for clients, coordinating with the Chennai team on Non-STP tax payment processing end to end.

Operations Representative – Payments & SWIFT Processing - Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) - Chennai, India

(2011-06 - 2013-06)

• Processed SWIFT messages MT103 and MT202 and international clearings/routings across 27 Euro-area countries via SEPA, BACS, CHAPS, CHIPS, and RTGS, maintaining 100% accuracy against TAT targets.
• Performed single-eye release (checker) of payments to EBA Clearing and SEPA for 28 EU member states plus EFTA members, Monaco, and San Marino, investigating country-specific transaction issues.
• Authorized high-volume daily transactions (200–225), extracted and analyzed MI reports, and led error-analysis huddles and business team talks.
• Managed team coverage during crisis periods (staff shortages, system issues) and prepared monthly SLA, volume, and rejection reports; performed quality checks on trade collection documents.
• Supported the National Australia Bank static data operations account, maintaining client reference data across Business, Wholesale, and Private Financial Services via Global Reference Data (GRD) management.

MBA - Velammal Institute of Technology (2009-09 - 2011-06)

Bachelor's Degree - M.O.P. Vaishnav College (2006-01 - 2009-01)

Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) (2004-01)

Senior Secondary Certificate (SSC) (2006-01)