Pooja Maharana
Hyderabad
Summary
Experienced Operations Manager with 14 years in AML, compliance, and risk operations. Proven expertise in transaction monitoring, sanction screening, fraud detection, and due diligence. Adept at leading large teams, driving performance management, and aligning operations with business strategy. Seeking to leverage expertise to strengthen compliance frameworks and operational resilience in a reputable organization.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
CAREER BREAK
TRAVEL & UPSKILLING
VIZAG
12.2025 - 08.2026
- Took a planned career break for travel, reset, and retreat.
- Obtained certification as program manager
- Interned with Zostel at diverse properties for community service
- Focusing on enhancing skills in GenAI and process management
Operations Manager – AML & Risk Operations
ECLERX
Pune & Mumbai
11.2022 - 11.2025
- Led AML operations in transaction monitoring and sanction screening.
- Managed 30+ team members, aligning KPIs and KRAs with organizational goals.
- Conducted risk and control checks, closing gaps, and prepared SOP's
- Served as pilot project lead for building Transaction Monitoring & Sanction Screening process delivering Level 1 operations for UK & US based clients, consistently meeting SLA, productivity, and quality benchmarks.
- Served as a Quality Checker for the team, ensuring the accuracy of investigations, adherence to compliance standards, and consistency in case handling.
- Championed people development, providing coaching, mentoring, and structured feedback.
- Presented Weekly & Monthly Business Reviews to clients and senior management.
- Served as the SPOC for Information Security (InfoSec) and Business Continuity Planning (BCP), ensuring team members followed compliance and integrity standards. Monitored confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information, preventing misuse or unauthorized access.
- Worked with HR to review under‑performance cases and monitor Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs).
- Shared monthly review feedback and scorecard discussions to track team members’ performance metrics.
- Groomed and mentored team members for career growth and promotions.
- Conducted yearly and mid‑year performance appraisals as the Operations Manager for the process.
Senior Analyst – ECDD/KYC
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)
Bangalore
01.2021 - 01.2022
- Conducted Enhanced Due Diligence (ECDD) for individuals.
- Verified, validated and analyzed transactions, Source of Funds (SOF) and Source of Wealth (SOW) to mitigate financial crime risks.
- Ensured compliance with AUSTRAC regulations and internal AML policies.
Specialist
Standard Chartered GBS
Bangalore
01.2017 - 01.2021
- Delivered AML surveillance support for Correspondent Banking, identifying, investigating, and escalating suspicious activities related to money laundering, terrorist financing, and structuring.
- Analyzed complex transactional and customer data to detect patterns, trends, and anomalies, creating and escalating manual cases for higher-risk activities.
- Performed Level 2 reviews of alerts cleared by Level 1 analysts, exercising judgment on escalation, mitigation, and closure in line with Group policies and local regulations.
- Drafted clear and detailed investigative narratives, including Requests for Information (RFIs) to understand customer business profiles and transaction purposes.
- Supported quality assurance activities, identifying process gaps, control weaknesses, and error trends, and providing structured feedback to improve investigation quality.
- Performed investigations and adverse media screening using tools such as LexisNexis, RDC and internal systems.
Transaction Processing Analyst / SME
Accenture
Bangalore
01.2016 - 01.2017
- Conducted AML risk detection using Actimize transaction monitoring system.
- Identified fraud trends including refund fraud, account takeover, and chargeback fraud, elderly abuse.
- Performed Enhanced Due Diligence with Lexis Nexis for high-risk accounts.
- Trained new analysts on fraud typologies and AML investigation techniques.
- Acted as SME, providing guidance on case handling and process improvements.
Senior AML Executive
HSBC
Visakhapatnam
01.2013 - 01.2016
- Investigated alerts generated through Norkom AML monitoring system.
- Analyzed wire transactions for money laundering and sanctions exposure.
- Conducted manual monitoring to detect emerging risk patterns.
- Escalated high-risk cases to compliance for further review.
- Supported regulatory audits by providing detailed case documentation.
- Mentored junior analysts, improving case quality and turnaround times.
- (AML Unit)
Customer Service Executive
IBM Daksh
Visakhapatnam
01.2012 - 01.2013
- Delivered customer support for HDFC Life Insurance policies.
- Handled inbound queries, policy servicing, and customer complaints.
- Ensured positive customer experience and satisfaction through effective communication.
- Maintained compliance with data privacy and customer service standards.
Education
M.A. - English
Khallikote College
BerhampurB.A. - English Honours
Khallikote College
BerhampurSkills
- Transaction Monitoring & Sanction Screening
- Fraud Detection & Due Diligence
- Risk & Control Management
- Team Leadership & Mentoring
- Performance Management & Coaching
- Training & Development
- Information Security & Compliance
- Process Reengineering & Stakeholder Engagement
Accomplishments
- Directed teams to win Best Team of the Year award at eClerx.
- Received Top Performer Awards at HSBC, Standard Chartered, and Accenture.
- Mentored and managed 30+ members, improving productivity and engagement.
- Championed people development, reducing attrition and strengthening compliance culture.
- Served as SPOC for Information Security, ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data.
Tools And Platforms
- Actimize – Transaction Monitoring
- Lexis Nexis – Due Diligence & Screening
- WorldCheck – Sanction Screening & PEP Checks
- Norkom – AML Alert Monitoring
- RDC – Risk Intelligence & Compliance Screening
- Entity Case Management (ECM) – Case Workflow & Investigation Management
- Mantas – AML Transaction Monitoring
- Open Source Research – Adverse Media & Risk Analysis
- Social Media Analysis – Fraud Detection & Customer Risk Profiling
Affiliations
Volunteer for Born to Help and Hands for Society, love cooking, traveling, storytelling.
Timeline
CAREER BREAK
TRAVEL & UPSKILLING
12.2025 - 08.2026
Operations Manager – AML & Risk Operations
ECLERX
11.2022 - 11.2025
Senior Analyst – ECDD/KYC
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)
01.2021 - 01.2022
Specialist
Standard Chartered GBS
01.2017 - 01.2021
Transaction Processing Analyst / SME
Accenture
01.2016 - 01.2017
Senior AML Executive
HSBC
01.2013 - 01.2016
Customer Service Executive
IBM Daksh
01.2012 - 01.2013
M.A. - English
Khallikote College
B.A. - English Honours
Khallikote College