Headline

Financial Crime Compliance | KYC & AML QA | Ex-Barclays | CDD/EDD, UBO, Trusts & Funds

About

Financial Crime Compliance professional with 8 years of experience protecting global banks and Big Four clients from money laundering, sanctions, and financial crime risk. Most recently at Barclays in Glasgow, I led post-production KYC quality assurance for Corporate Banking clients — testing analyst decisions against AML policy, the Enterprise Risk Management Framework (ERMF), and the Financial Crime Key Risk Framework. My day-to-day involved unpicking complex ownership structures (trusts, funds, SPVs, layered corporates), validating UBO conclusions, and recommending remediation where standards weren't met. Before Barclays, I built my foundation at EY and Northern Trust on PEP and sanctions screening, Source of Wealth / Source of Funds analysis, and high-risk client reviews — and led teams of up to 12 analysts on AML due-diligence projects at Conway and Capgemini. 🔹 What I bring: • KYC & AML QA across onboarding, periodic refresh, and Enhanced Due Diligence • Deep knowledge of UBO, trusts, funds, SPVs, and complex IB client structures • Regulatory fluency: FATF, Wolfsberg, US Patriot Act, UK MLR 2017, EU AMLDs (4–6), JMLSG, NZ AML/CFT Act 2009 • PEP & sanctions screening, negative news review, SAR escalation • Team leadership, training, QA framework design, and process improvement • Tools: Confluence, Orbis (Bureau van Dijk), Equifax, internal bank KYC platforms 🔹 What I'm looking for: I'm actively seeking my next Financial Crime Compliance role in the United Kingdom, EU, or New Zealand — and I'm open to KYC QA, AML Analyst, EDD Specialist, Compliance Officer, or Financial Crime Investigator positions. I'm available for relocation at short notice and will require visa sponsorship (UK Skilled Worker / EU equivalents / NZ AEWV or Skilled Migrant). 📩 Open to a conversation: akashgopakumar21@gmail.com

Location

India

AI stack

claude

gemini

grok

Bubble AI

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Work experience

QA KYC Senior Analyst at Barclays, Jul 2022 - Jul 2025 · 3 yrs 1 mo, Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom, • Conducted post-production QA testing across onboarding, KYC refresh, account servicing, US Patriot , and EDD cases. • Assessed analyst decisions to confirm policy adherence and the application of sound AML judgement. • Identified risk gaps in KYC files and proposed targeted remediation to strengthen compliance quality. • Analysed complex KYC profiles for global investment banking clients, including high-risk and specialised sectors. • Served as Business Analyst for gathering business requirements and refining procedural standards. • Independently reviewed files end-to-end, documented findings, and articulated risk-based conclusions. • Applied expertise in ownership structures (Trusts, Funds, layered entities, UBOs). • Delivered specialist KYC support throughout the case lifecycle to enhance E2E compliance. • Collaborated with QA Analysts, KYC Ops, and Financial Crime teams to improve accuracy and operational efficiency. • Strengthened adherence to ERMF and Financial Crime Key Risk Framework through continuous process validation.

Quality Control Lead at Capgemini, Apr 2021 - Apr 2022 · 1 yr 1 mo, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, • Supervised quality control on due diligence cases, ensuring high accuracy and compliance alignment. • Coordinated daily with the onshore team on case updates, priorities, and workflow challenges. • Ensured compliance standards by validating SOPs, process charts, and updates with the internal QC team. • Performed case vetting and delivered weekly sign-offs to clients. • Utilised Confluence, Orbis, and Equifax for investigative checks and case verification.

Operations Manager at Conway Info Solutions, Jun 2019 - Jan 2021 · 1 yr 8 mos, Greater Bengaluru Area, • Managed and supervised a team of 8–12 analysts delivering KYC/AML processes across multiple projects. • Trained new joiners on compliance standards, documentation, and workflow procedures. • Oversaw workload distribution, performance tracking, and daily operational targets. • Built, monitored, and maintained operational projects through systematic tracking tools. • Maintained strong external client relationships while ensuring consistent due diligence checks. • Led communication between internal teams and managed escalations to ensure resolution and compliance.

Associate at Ernst & Young, Jul 2018 - Feb 2019 · 8 mos, • Managed and reviewed high-risk client records, escalating suspicious activities as needed. • Ensured compliance with internal AML policies through detailed case analysis and documentation. • Performed PEP checks, sanctions screening, and negative news investigations. • Maintained updated KYC records in line with CDD standards. • Supported SMEs in process improvement initiatives and risk-control enhancements. • Delivered daily case management tasks with strict quality and risk adherence.

Consultant at Ernst & Young, Jun 2017 - Jul 2018 · 1 yr 2 mos, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, • Executed end-to-end KYC reviews in accordance with EY quality standards. • Conducted periodic client evaluations and updated CDD documentation. • Performed detailed reviews of sanctions hits, PEPs, and risk alerts. • Conducted UBO identification, background checks, and source of funds analysis. • Maintained accurate client records and collaborated with tax and advisory teams for review. • Managed KYC cases involving sanctioned geographies and high-risk jurisdictions.

Analyst at Northern Trust, Oct 2016 - Mar 2017 · 6 mos, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India, • Conducted mandatory KYC and compliance checks for client accounts. • Maintained process trackers and handled daily client and team updates. • Monitored transactions and ensured accurate documentation in shared systems. • Identified discrepancies in balances and coordinated corrections with relevant teams. • Ensured all client data was updated in accordance with regulatory and internal standards.

Education

MBA Finance & Banking, Banking and Financial Support Services, bangalore university

Bachelor of Business Administration, Accounting, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala