Abhilash B N
KYC Compliance Associate
Bengaluru,KA
Summary
KYC/AML Associate with around 10 years of expertise in comprehensive KYC, CDD, and EDD processes, along with sanctions, PEP, and adverse media screening. Proven leadership in managing two internal specialist teams focused on new business onboarding and renewals, emphasizing compliance with EMEA and APAC regulatory frameworks. Recognized as a subject matter expert in global onboarding and renewal strategies, successfully spearheading initiatives that leverage AI-enhanced tools to minimize false positives and enhance risk-scoring accuracy. Committed to maintaining rigorous governance standards and ensuring audit readiness through meticulous oversight of KYC documentation accuracy.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
KYC Associate
JPMorgan Chase & Co
10.2021 - Current
- Application Transformation – KYC Intelligence App: Spearheaded the rollout of a KYC Intelligence application to minimize human errors in profile creation, ensuring higher data quality, and compliance adherence. I was part of developing and implementing an artificial intelligence tool that helped the KYC makers identify their errors in the KYC due diligence before the QC submission by developing the KYC rules and testing the rules in the UAT and PROD environments, after which it increased the quality rate and FTP rate of the team.
- Application Transformation – PEGA Tool Integration: Implemented PEGA-based case allocation, automating workflow distribution, and reducing manual dependencies, resulting in a 30% improvement in case handling time based on the audit report issued.
- Process Integration – AMLOC Approval Time Reduction: Collaborated with Compliance and AMLOC teams to integrate a fast-track approval mechanism, reducing turnaround time by 20% for low-risk client reviews.
- Process Transition – Global Investment Banking (GIB) KYC Setup: Transitioned and stabilized the GIB KYC onboarding function, aligning regional due diligence protocols with global standards, and enabling a smooth service delivery model.
- Risk & Compliance Transformation – Enhanced Screening Framework: Upgraded client screening controls by strengthening PEP, sanctions, and negative media checks via enhanced usage of Bridger and Quick Name Check tools.
- Knowledge Management – KYC Pilot Training Program: Developed and led training programs for new hires, embedding procedural best practices, and significantly reducing profile rejection rates.
- Leadership – Case Lead Team oversight directed a team of case leads, coached and upskilled team members, addressed quality gaps, and ensured policy adherence across onboarding activities.
- Operational Governance – SLA & KPI Tracking: Defined and monitored performance KPIs using dashboards and weekly reports, allowing real-time visibility into productivity and compliance status.
- Client Experience Enhancement – Banker Engagement Model instituted a front-office coordination model to pre-empt documentation delays, improve banker satisfaction, and speed up KYC cycle time.
- Source of Wealth Expert: Expert in the accumulation and corroboration of sources of wealth using external sources, and minimized the to-and-from between the bank and the client.
- End-to-end KYC for investment banking clients, such as NBFIs, banks, and publicly traded companies, where we directly deal with the client along with the front office desk in the onboarding and renewal of clients with their risk-based approach by using all internal and external sources, such as Lexis Nexis, Eikon, Orbis, and D&B.
- Routine monitoring of clients' transactions to identify irrational behavior and reviewing customer accounts to detect delinquencies and fraudulent characters, providing protective measures for the company.
- Evaluated policies and procedures to determine compliance, and recommend improvements to processes.
- Well-versed in EDD, CDD, and SDD for all types of customers.
- Internal QC of clients, along with maker managers.
- Suspicious Matter Reporting to the Global Financial Crimes Reporting Team.
- Client and stakeholder relationship.
- Subject matter expert in EMEA, Local Regulatory Due Diligences.
Team Lead-L4
Amazon India Development Centre
10.2020 - 10.2021
- Global E-Commerce and Cloud Computing Company.
- Reviewed the profile of institutional clients who are dealing through the e-commerce platform by observing their behavior patterns.
- Filing the suspicious behavior report with the respective regulatory authorities if any irrational behavior is noted.
- Reviewed the bulk orders and payments of institutional clients, and their source of origin, as part of compliance checks to make the e-commerce platform safe from illicit fund transfers.
KYC Specialist/Senior Analyst
Accenture Solution India Pvt LTD
09.2019 - 09.2020
- Multinational Professional Services Company.
- Reviewed the profile of institutional clients as part of Facebook's due diligence process to view the clients' payment modes via social media platforms and to comply with the respective regulatory authority guidelines.
- Reported to local financial regulatory authorities if any suspected irrational payment behavior is noted.
- Institutional clients, charities, and grant-making foundations were being reviewed, as they pose much risk of illicit fund transfers.
KYC Specialist/Team Member
JP Morgan & Chase
07.2016 - 09.2019
- Risk & Compliance Transformation – Global Client Due Diligence: Reviewed Customer Due Diligence (CDD) and Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) processes for onboarding complex global corporate clients in the EMRA region with their trades in multiple regions, and ensuring adherence to regulatory frameworks and internal policies.
- Stakeholder Coordination – Liaised with onshore stakeholders regarding KYC documentation management, coordinating directly with clients to collect and validate required KYC documents, significantly reducing back-and-forth cycles, and improving profile completion rates.
- Stakeholder Engagement – Banker Communication Model: Collaborated closely with front-office bankers to proactively communicate KYC document requirements, ensuring efficient handoffs, and minimizing onboarding delays.
- Performed end-to-end KYC for investment bank clients, worked for the EMEA/APAC KYC team, and dealt mainly with corporate, NBFI, and banks.
- I looked up client information from AML Compliance-approved websites and others.
- Worked on the regulatory control breaks and new business for existing customers booking to multiple jurisdictions.
- Proactively lead, participate, and develop a strong partnership with the business through regular communication and engagement with key senior management.
- Part of the change review team to test the systems and procedures before go-live time.
- Assess areas for process and system improvements, and provide potential solutions for senior management.
- Conducted training and supported the team with timely updates and resolving the queries of the new joiners as a subject matter expert.
Education
MBA in Finance -
Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering
06.2016
Bachelor of Business Management - undefined
Alva's College, Moodbidri
05.2014
Skills
Anti-money laundering expertise
Due diligence analysis
Advanced search techniques
Artificial intelligence expertise
Client relationship management
Comprehensive due diligence
KYC regulatory knowledge
Lexis Nexis
Integration of third-party data sources
Source of Wealth sourcing specialist
Comprehensive application evaluation
UAT and production testing expert
Accomplishments
- Best Employee Award in 2018 & 2025: Recognized for exceptional performance, quality of delivery, and consistent contribution to KYC operations excellence.
- Star Performer Award in 2023: Honored for exceeding performance benchmarks, driving automation initiatives, and leading successful process improvements.
- Fast-Track Career Growth: Promoted within first 2 years from Team Lead to Associate Manager, reflecting consistent leadership, domain expertise, and delivery impact.
- Process Innovation Champion: Proposed and implemented multiple KYC process improvement ideas, significantly improving efficiency and reducing manual efforts.
- Automation Initiative – Rule Validation & Data Reusability: Took initiative to validate CDD rules and identified fields for automation by enabling data reuse across CDD sections, leading to smoother and faster KYC onboarding processes.
- Tech & Policy Collaboration: Actively engaged as a tester for new procedural and tech enhancements; identified key functionality gaps and collaborated with the tech and policy teams to resolve issues Pre-Deployment.
- Policy Compliance & Gap Identification: Identified and escalated several procedural inconsistencies to the policy team e.g., highlighted incorrect mandatory regarding collection and verification for Ireland bookings and helping rectify compliance misalignments.
MY TIME
- Client/Stakeholder Call
- Case allocation to Analysts
- Updates on in-progress case and quality check call to management
- Quality check calibration call
- Latest regulatory and procedural updates call to analysts
- EOD Client/Stakeholder updates call
Timeline
KYC Associate
JPMorgan Chase & Co
10.2021 - Current
Team Lead-L4
Amazon India Development Centre
10.2020 - 10.2021
KYC Specialist/Senior Analyst
Accenture Solution India Pvt LTD
09.2019 - 09.2020
KYC Specialist/Team Member
JP Morgan & Chase
07.2016 - 09.2019
Bachelor of Business Management - undefined
Alva's College, Moodbidri
MBA in Finance -
Dayananda Sagar College of Engineering