Meera Bhalaje
Chennai
Summary
Financial crime compliance professional with over 15 years of experience in sanctions screening, AML, trade operations, and compliance risk assessment within global banking environments. Expertise in EBS PDD alert investigation, sanctions governance, regulatory escalation, and audit-ready documentation. Proven ability to manage projects effectively, leading teams to achieve high-quality outcomes and ensuring client requirements are met with exceptional service. Committed to delivering tangible results through collaboration and proactive engagement with stakeholders.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Manager – EBS & PDD | Financial Crime Surveillance Officer (FCSO)
Standard Chartered Bank
Chennai
11.2024 - Current
- Perform end-to-end sanctions, PEP and adverse media screening for individual and corporate customers in line with Group and Local Sanctions Policies.
- Investigate and disposition screening alerts using a risk-based approach to identify true matches, false positives and sanctions exposure.
- Conduct Enhanced Background Screening (EBS) and Periodic Due Diligence (PDD) for high-risk customers, including UBOs, promoters and directors.
- Identify and escalate sanctions, reputational and compliance risks with clear, audit-ready case narratives to FCC Advisory teams.
- Ensure strong governance, regulatory compliance and documentation standards aligned with internal controls.
- Partner with Business, KYC and Compliance stakeholders to deliver outcomes within SLA and quality benchmarks.
- Provide guidance and oversight to team members and support process improvement initiatives.
- Global Business Services (GBS), Chennai
Associate Manager – Trade-Based Money Laundering (TBML)
Standard Chartered Bank
Chennai
01.2022 - 10.2024
- Performed AML risk assessments on trade transactions using defined typologies and red-flag indicators.
- Owned pre-queue analysis, transaction monitoring and post-event reviews, delivering outcomes with nil QCO observations.
- Conducted public-domain research, pricing checks and shipment validation.
- Ensured compliance with Group Money Laundering Prevention Policy and timely escalation of suspicious activity.
- Coordinated with stakeholders and mentored junior staff to maintain quality and productivity standards.
Content Writer / Quality Analyst
Pixel 3i
04.2019 - 10.2021
- Developed clear, structured written content for global clients, strengthening precision in documentation and narrative flow.
- Performed detailed quality checks, ensuring accuracy, consistency and adherence to defined standards.
- Experience directly supports case documentation, regulatory narratives and escalation writing in FCC roles.
Freelance Content Writer
Help@assignmentstore.com
05.2017 - 12.2020
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to produce articles and resources, tailoring content style and tone to suit varied subject matters and targeted audiences.
Senior Officer – AML
Scope International Pvt. Ltd.
Chennai
01.2009 - 03.2010
- Monitored AML transactions and independently managed Travelers Cheques Monitoring with strong control adherence.
Officer – Compliance
American Express Bank
Chennai
07.2007 - 12.2008
- Performed payment pattern analysis within the compliance and credit support team, reviewing TC/MO transactions for risk indicators.
- Conducted payment pattern analysis, reviewed TC/MO transactions and prepared compliance reports for FIG teams in New York.
Processor – Trade Operations
Emirates Bank
Dubai
07.2006 - 01.2007
- Processed import and export trade transactions and handled trade-related client queries within service standards.
Assistant Manager – Trade Operations (Intl Deputation)
American Express Bank
Chennai / Seoul
07.2002 - 07.2003
- Authorised trade transactions and supported the migration of Korea Trade operations during deputation to Seoul.
Senior Executive – Trade Services
Scope International Pvt. Ltd.
Chennai
03.2001 - 06.2002
- Handled LC advising, confirmations and reimbursements and earned Single Deal Release Authority within six months.
Education
Post Graduate Certification - Banking and Finance
IIM, Trichy
Trichy, Tamilnadu01-2027
Bachelor of Science - Microbiology
SRM College of Arts & Science
Chennai, IndiaCertified Anti-Money Laundering Expert -
India Forensic
Pune, IndiaSkills
- Sanctions Screening
- Data analysis
- Written communication
- Name Screening
- Surveillance & Investigations
- Compliance Risk Assessment
- AML & FCC Policies
- Group Sanctions Policy
- Governance & Regulatory Compliance
- Case Narrative Writing
- Stakeholder Management
- People Guidance
- EBS
- PDD
Languages
English
Tamil
Custom Section
- Pixel 3i, Content Writer / Quality Analyst (01-04-2019 - 31-10-2021) - Developed clear, structured written content for global clients, strengthening precision in documentation and narrative flow., Performed detailed quality checks, ensuring accuracy, consistency and adherence to defined standards., Experience directly supports case documentation, regulatory narratives and escalation writing in FCC roles.
- Help@assignmentstore.com, Freelance Content Writer (01-05-2017 -31 12 2020) - Developed clear, structured written content for global clients, strengthening precision in documentation and narrative flow., Performed detailed quality checks, ensuring accuracy, consistency and adherence to defined standards.
Interests
- Interior Designing, Music and Gardening
Timeline
Manager – EBS & PDD | Financial Crime Surveillance Officer (FCSO)
Standard Chartered Bank
11.2024 - Current
Associate Manager – Trade-Based Money Laundering (TBML)
Standard Chartered Bank
01.2022 - 10.2024
Content Writer / Quality Analyst
Pixel 3i
04.2019 - 10.2021
Freelance Content Writer
Help@assignmentstore.com
05.2017 - 12.2020
Senior Officer – AML
Scope International Pvt. Ltd.
01.2009 - 03.2010
Officer – Compliance
American Express Bank
07.2007 - 12.2008
Processor – Trade Operations
Emirates Bank
07.2006 - 01.2007
Assistant Manager – Trade Operations (Intl Deputation)
American Express Bank
07.2002 - 07.2003
Senior Executive – Trade Services
Scope International Pvt. Ltd.
03.2001 - 06.2002
Post Graduate Certification - Banking and Finance
IIM, Trichy
Bachelor of Science - Microbiology
SRM College of Arts & Science
Certified Anti-Money Laundering Expert -
India Forensic