Peter Awonusi

AML/BSA compliance professional experienced in preparing, reviewing, and filing Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) for accuracy and completeness prior to submission, ensuring consistency with FinCEN SAR filing protocols and industry best practices. Skilled at submitting and processing customer exit recommendations, conducting KYC/CDD/EDD due diligence, and applying AML/KYC platforms and tools, ACTIMIZE, PATRIOT-OFFICER, PRECISION, and Lexis-Nexis for investigations, reporting, and case management. Strong analytical and critical-thinking abilities with exceptional attention to detail and organizational skills, able to interpret and analyze complex financial transactions and data sets across BSA/AML/OFAC regulatory frameworks.

Stays current with evolving AML regulations, FinCEN guidance, SAR filing requirements, and KYC standards, applying up-to-date knowledge to daily compliance activities and recommending adjustments to procedures when needed.

AML/Fraud Investigator - Kairos Technologies - Dallas, TX

(2024-01)

• Prepared and reviewed Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) for accuracy and completeness prior to submission, filing consistent with BSA/AML/OFAC requirements and FinCEN SAR filing protocols.
• Submitted and processed customer exit recommendations when warranted, including account termination, non-issuance, or removal from the closing process, based on investigation findings.
• Ensured data quality and completeness across intake records and case documentation to support downstream fraud analytics, KRI reporting, and regulatory review, in adherence to internal compliance policies.
• Utilized AML/KYC platforms and tools -ACTIMIZE, PATRIOT-OFFICER, and PRECISION, for investigations, transaction monitoring alert review, CDD/EDD account activity analysis, and case management.
• Led and participated in Post-Incident Reviews to analyze root causes and document findings; recommended adjustments to procedures and detection logic, applying up-to-date regulatory knowledge to daily compliance activities.
• Coordinated intake triage and routing of high-risk cases to FIU, compliance, and operations teams, maintaining defined service-level standards and adherence to internal compliance policies.
• Applied consistent fraud taxonomies (first-party fraud, structuring, identity theft, wire fraud) to support regulatory reporting, staying current with evolving AML regulations and SAR filing requirements.
• Delivered case volume summaries and incident updates to leadership; contributed to the Annual Compliance Risk Assessment by identifying risk concentrations and recommending process improvements.

AML Fraud Investigator Analyst - Technovert Outsourcing and Solutions Ltd. - Waxahachie, TX

(2021-03 - 2023-12)

• Performed vigilant due diligence and quality assurance reviews on SARs and SIRs, documenting findings with supporting evidence to ensure accuracy and completeness prior to filing, in compliance with BSA/AML/OFAC policy.
• Independently investigated, analyzed, and resolved queued fraud and financial risk issues, maintaining accurate case records and disposition rationale consistent with internal compliance policies.
• Analyzed OFAC/SDN, PEP screening, and negative-media alerts to determine match status and escalate confirmed hits per defined protocols, applying in-depth knowledge of AML regulations and KYC requirements.
• Supervised training of new-hire analysts and provided SME feedback during case reviews, mentoring team members on KYC policy adherence, SAR documentation standards, and quality expectations.
• Utilized advanced Excel tools (Pivot Tables, VLOOKUP) to interpret and analyze complex financial transactions and data sets, supporting fraud reporting and root-cause investigations.
• Identified workflow inefficiencies in intake and disposition processes and implemented improvements that reduced case-handling time and improved routing accuracy.
• Completed special projects involving high-risk clients and watch-list accounts; drafted comprehensive EDD investigation narratives for compliance review.

KYC Specialist - United Bank for Africa - Lagos, Nigeria

(2015-01 - 2018-02)

• Conducted ad hoc escalations, KYC remediation, and Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) reviews to classify clients in line with the bank's risk methodology, onboarding policies, and internal compliance requirements.
• Reviewed and documented customer KYC records, banking files, and loan documentation for accuracy and completeness, ensuring analyst conclusions were clear, concise, and policy-compliant.
• Served as subject-matter expert for KYC, CDD, EDD, and CIP processes; managed front-office relationships and maintained the compliance tracker for escalated cases.

Bachelor of Science - Town and Regional Planning - Federal Polytechnic Ilaro, Nigeria (2007)