Muthu Kumaran Sankaran
Associate Operations Manager
Chennai
Summary
Dynamic and results-driven Assistant Operations Manager with 16+ years of progressive experience in Banking Operations, specializing in KYC, AML, Sanctions screening, Client Onboarding, and Risk Review. Proven expertise in people leadership, compliance operations, and process optimization. Adept at managing high-performing teams, driving efficiency, and ensuring adherence to global regulatory frameworks (OFAC, EU, UN, DFAT, MFAT, BIS, OFSI). Recognized for managing complex transitions, and delivering excellence under pressure.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certificate
Work History
Asst Ops Manager
Accenture Solutions Pvt Ltd.
07.2021 - Current
- Lead and manage a team of 30–45 analysts handling KYC operations, sanctions payments, and PEP screening for a private bank in New Zealand.
- Implemented change management frameworks to streamline transitions, reducing project risks by 30%.
- Partner with NZ-based stakeholders to align regulatory and business objectives, ensuring smooth and compliant operations.
- Conduct risk assessments, process gap analysis, and SOP enhancements to drive quality and compliance consistency.
- Designed and facilitated training programs for new hires, ensuring readiness for sanction and KYC processes.
- Monitored productivity and quality metrics, achieving a 15% improvement in SLA adherence and throughput.
- Provided strong people leadership by resolving conflicts, managing attrition, and supporting mental well-being initiatives.
- Prepared monthly performance dashboards, process update reports, and audit-readiness documentation.
Team Lead
Standard Chartered GBS Pvt Ltd.
01.2017 - 07.2021
- Managed a team of five members responsible for conducting due diligence for NTB, ETB clients (CBR, PLC, BFI, NGO, SOE, NBFI, and Govt.).
- Led daily country calls and weekly progress meetings to ensure process alignment and operational smoothness.
- Conducted end-to-end onboarding, quality checks, and risk assessments for NTB/ETB clients.
- Analyzed shareholding structures, PEP exposure, and adverse media findings, ensuring the escalation of high-risk cases.
- Performed holistic reviews of high-risk and sanctioned entities, aligning outcomes with global AML standards.
- Enhanced overall team performance by providing regular coaching, feedback, and skill development opportunities.
- Promoted a positive work environment by fostering teamwork, open communication, and employee recognition initiatives.
Relationship Officer
Innovation Direct Employment Services.
02.2016 - 07.2016
- Providing detailed information and value of the loans to the customers during sales.
- Generate new business through cold calling, telephone calls, email, SMS, and reference.
- Persuading customers with polite words and encouraging them to get loans from a private finance company.
- Answering the questions in a humble way to their queries about loans.
- Maintaining the records of the customers daily. Analyzing customer needs and ensuring customer satisfaction.
- To ensure that applications are error-free, and turnaround times are maintained.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
Process Advisor
Barclays Shared Services Pvt Ltd.
02.2010 - 09.2015
- Skilled in working on applications like "ALACRA," "EQUIFAX," and "WORLD CHECK" for performing searches to pull the negative and relevant information of the client and uploading the data into the "DM&W" (Doc Management & Workflow).
- To ensure adequate KYC and Customer Due Diligence are conducted on all new clients. Also, to ensure that all the necessary verification processes are done with the right data insights on a global scale.
- Conduct an initial review of customer due diligence, and validate KYC profile data consistency as per the reference file.
- To scrutinize the source of funds, source of wealth, nature of business, and products, and identify the risk associated with accepting new clients into the bank.
- Assessing the client risk based on key parameters (client location, products, PEPs, sanctions, etc.).
- Conducted regular audits to ensure compliance with industry regulations and best practices.
Process Associate
Gem Software Solutions Ltd.
02.2009 - 11.2009
- Doing all KYC checks through the Toscana application. Responsible for completing the KYC process and Experian search before account opening for individual customers.
- Scrutinizing the data elements, sources of funds, and ID documents.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
Education
MBA -
Manonmaniam Sundaranar University
04.2001 -
Bachelor of Science -
Madras University
04.2001 -
Skills
Project management
Risk analysis expertise
Operational efficiency management
SLA/TAT/AHT/Quality Management
Collaborative stakeholder relations
Analytical problem-solving
Experienced with MS Office applications
Collaborative decision-making
Data-driven KPI evaluation
Accomplishments
- Emerging Team Lead Award (Q2 & Q3, FY22)
- Retention Rockstar Team Lead Award (Q3, FY22)
- Core Value Champion Award (Q2, FY24)
- A Team Award (Q2, FY24)
- Co-Pilot Award (H1, FY25)
- Six direct reports have been promoted under mentorship.
Certification
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
Timeline
Asst Ops Manager
Accenture Solutions Pvt Ltd.
07.2021 - Current
Team Lead
Standard Chartered GBS Pvt Ltd.
01.2017 - 07.2021
Relationship Officer
Innovation Direct Employment Services.
02.2016 - 07.2016
Process Advisor
Barclays Shared Services Pvt Ltd.
02.2010 - 09.2015
Process Associate
Gem Software Solutions Ltd.
02.2009 - 11.2009
MBA -
Manonmaniam Sundaranar University
04.2001 -
Bachelor of Science -
Madras University
04.2001 -
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
swipe to browse
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
- Reduced sanction screening error rates by 22% through process automation.
- Reduced the AHT from 90 mins to 44 mins, which results in FTE reduction.
- Consistently archived SLA timeliness for two consecutive years.
- Improved CDD turnaround time by 15% through workflow redesign.
- Recognized for consistent adherence to zero audit findings for two consecutive years.
CORE COMPETENCIES
- Banking Compliance: KYC, AML, SDD, OCDD, ECDD, Sanctions, Name & PEP Screening
- Leadership & Management: Team Development, SLA Governance, Performance Coaching
- Process Excellence: Lean Six Sigma, Risk Mitigation, Workflow Optimization
- Stakeholder Engagement: Cross-Functional Coordination, Regulatory Liaison
- Technical Expertise: Firco, FCL, PEGA, World Check, ALACRA, EQUIFAX, DM&W, MS Office
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
- Reduced sanction screening error rates by 22% through process automation.
- Reduced the AHT from 90 mins to 44 mins, which results in FTE reduction.
- Consistently archived SLA timeliness for two consecutive years.
- Improved CDD turnaround time by 15% through workflow redesign.
- Recognized for consistent adherence to zero audit findings for two consecutive years.