Umashankar Muniswamy
Financial Crimes Compliance Leader - 2LOD
Hyderabad
Summary
Strategic and results-driven Financial Crimes Compliance Leader with 21+ years of global experience across banking and financial services. Proven expertise in Transactions Screening, Customer Screening, Transaction Monitoring, PEP Screening AML, KYC, Sanctions Screening, Transfer Agency, Corporate Actions, Trade Settlements / Collateral Management and Risk Management functions. Adept at leading large cross-functional teams, driving operational excellence, and ensuring compliance with international regulatory standards. Recognized for building governance frameworks, optimizing processes,
strong decision-making, effective communication, and building high-performing teams.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President – Financial Crimes Risk Management
Wells Fargo
09.2023 - Current
- Lead a team of 78 AVPs/Senior AVPs in Global Payments Sanctions Screening responsible for Level 2 & Level 3 alert reviews.
- Increased onshore stakeholder trust by successfully migrating and stabilizing complex, time-sensitive transaction sanctions screening processes within tight timelines.
- Implemented governance reporting, inline quality reviews, and escalation protocols for high-risk alerts.
- Established and led a Global Quality Control team, setting enterprise-wide QC standards (accuracy, compliance, timeliness), and driving consistent quality outcomes across multiple international locations.
- Managed the RFI (Request for Information) response team, making critical block/reject decisions on payments in line with global sanctions frameworks, safeguarding compliance, and mitigating risk.
- Oversaw 200+ vendor staff, from onboarding and training to daily performance management, while tracking weekly and monthly KPIs to ensure operational excellence and continuous improvement.
- Designed performance management, recognition programs, and MI reporting frameworks.
- Drove strategies aligned with FCRM goals: client servicing, risk mitigation, and employee engagement.
- Led the seamless migration of the in-house payment screening system to Firco, ensuring uninterrupted operations and enhanced compliance efficiency.
- Implemented 24/5 global support coverage, improving client servicing standards, while simultaneously fostering better work-life balance for employees.
- Led strategic initiatives to enhance customer experience and drive business growth by implementing AI solutions for sourcing primary qualifiers, Chinese language translation, and standardized comments for Level 2 alerts.
- Reduced client outreach requests (RFIs) by 40% through centralized repository initiatives, significantly enhancing operational efficiency, and improving overall client experience.
Deputy Director – Transfer Agency, KYC, AML
Equiniti
08.2021 - 09.2023
- Directed 500 members across the Bangalore site, managing SLA/KPI delivery for UK and US clients. Transfer Agency Process.
- Oversaw KYC (SDD, CDD, EDD), Share Registration, Ownership Transfer, Lost Securities, Dividend Reinvestment Plan, Corporate Actions, and Investment Services.
- Established governance models, improved metrics, and introduced automation for efficiency.
- Led cross-functional projects, implemented technology-driven solutions, and optimized resource forecasting.
- Provided leadership, coaching, and recruitment support for executives and process leaders.
- Reduced attrition from 38% to 14% through various employee engagement initiatives
Head – KYC Client Onboarding
Societe Generale
08.2018 - 08.2021
- Managed a 50-member team for new client onboarding, fund onboarding, and reference data.
- Achieved 100% quality assurance scores for two consecutive years by implementing best practices, and driving continuous improvement initiatives.
- Drove a 20% increase in efficiency through automation initiatives, and the creation of centralized internal repositories.
- Upskilled teams to strengthen process resiliency across multiple locations, ensuring consistency, adaptability, and sustained operational excellence.
- Developed target operating models integrating people, processes, and technology.
- Oversaw AML/KYC KPIs, legal agreements execution, and strategic program rollouts.
- Ensured adherence to global KYC requirements across SDD, CDD, and EDD levels.
Assistant Vice President – Client Onboarding KYC
Deutsche Bank
10.2015 - 08.2018
- Supervised a 50-member team across the APAC, UK, Frankfurt, and US regions.
- Managing global client onboarding, periodic reviews, event-driven reviews, and negative news screening functions.
- Stabilized onboarding processes for the UK and APAC regions, ensuring regulatory compliance.
- Drove a 40% reduction in the Client Outreach requirements by spearheading the T0 POD model, instituting maker-checker parallel reviews to streamline the process, and deliver a single consolidated set of observations on KYC Client Documentation.
- Identified and implemented synergies that helped in achieving 20% efficiency gains.
- Boosted QA scores from 33% to 91% through various process initiatives.
- Served as a member of the Global Policy Implementation Steering Committee, responsible for reviewing upcoming policy changes and driving solutions, ensuring successful implementation across both Bangalore and Jaipur sites.
Section Manager – Securities Lending Operations
Northern Trust
10.2008 - 10.2015
- Directed 50-member team managing Corporate Actions, Trade Settlements, and Collateral Management Functions across APAC, EMEA, and Americas.
- Led migration of corporate action functions to support stock loan claims.
- Partnered with trading desks and risk teams to resolve complex exceptions.
Technical Specialist – Corporate Actions
Goldman Sachs
09.2005 - 09.2008
- Executed mandatory/voluntary corporate action events and streamlined cash processing.
- Collaborated with traders and settlement teams to resolve discrepancies.
- Migrated corporate action functions from London to India.
Senior Process Executive – Cash Managements / SWIFT Payments
Deutsche Bank
01.2004 - 09.2005
- Processed authorizations and claims for outward letter of credit payments.
- Approved transactions via Swift MT 202/103 and investigated discrepancies using MT 299/199.
Education
MBA - Finance
Symbiosis Centre For Distance Learning
Pune, India01-2007
Commerce
Bangalore University
Bengaluru, India 04.2001 -
Higher Secondary - 12th
Karnataka Board
Bengaluru, India01-2000
Secondary - 10th
Karnataka Board
01-1998
Skills
Financial Crimes Risk Management - Transactions / Payments Sanctions Screening, Customer Screening, PEP Screening Transactions Monitoring
Client Life Cycle Management - New Client Onboarding , Periodic Review , Event Driven Reviews & KYC Remediation
Transfer Agency - Share Registration, Ownership Transfer, Lost Securities, Corporate Actions, Dividend Reinvestment Plans and Investment Services
Asset Servicing Practice - Corporate Actions, Trade Settlements and Collateral Management
Accomplishments
- Increased onshore stakeholder trust by successfully migrating and stabilizing complex, time-sensitive processes within tight timelines for APAC / EMEA / UK / USA to India (Wells Fargo, Deutsche Bank, Northern Trust, Goldman Sachs).
- Identified & implemented synergies that helped in achieving 20% efficiency gains for the KYC Client Onboarding process (2015-2021)
- Boosted QA scores from 33% → 91% (2015–2018) through various process initiatives
- Served as a member of the Global Policy Implementation Steering Committee, responsible for reviewing upcoming policy changes and driving solutions, ensuring successful implementation across both Bangalore and Jaipur sites
- Achieved 100% quality assurance scores for two consecutive years through various initiatives and best practices (2018–2021)
- Reduced attrition from 38% → 14% (2021–2023) with employee engagement initiatives.
- Reduced client outreach requirements by 40% through the creation and implementation of a centralized repository initiative, enhancing efficiency and client experience (2024-2026)
- Improved alert resolution efficiency by 30% through AI-driven automation of qualifiers, translations, and standardized responses (2025-2026)
Interests
Cricket, Music, Family Time
Timeline
Vice President – Financial Crimes Risk Management
Wells Fargo
09.2023 - Current
Deputy Director – Transfer Agency, KYC, AML
Equiniti
08.2021 - 09.2023
Head – KYC Client Onboarding
Societe Generale
08.2018 - 08.2021
Assistant Vice President – Client Onboarding KYC
Deutsche Bank
10.2015 - 08.2018
Section Manager – Securities Lending Operations
Northern Trust
10.2008 - 10.2015
Technical Specialist – Corporate Actions
Goldman Sachs
09.2005 - 09.2008
Senior Process Executive – Cash Managements / SWIFT Payments
Deutsche Bank
01.2004 - 09.2005
Commerce
Bangalore University
04.2001 -
Secondary - 10th
Karnataka Board
MBA - Finance
Symbiosis Centre For Distance Learning
Higher Secondary - 12th
Karnataka Board