Vignesh Ramakrishnan
AVP (Financial Crime Products) @ NatWest Group
Chennai
Summary
Experienced Senior Product Analyst and Associate Vice President with a strong background in risk management, internal controls, and financial crime prevention. Over 10 years of expertise in leading data-driven initiatives within financial services, particularly in AML, KYC, sanctions, and global payments. Proven ability to assess, design, and implement robust governance frameworks to enhance operational effectiveness, mitigate risks, and drive compliance. Adept at collaborating with cross-functional teams, managing stakeholder relationships, and advising senior management on regulatory compliance and risk mitigation strategies. Seeking to leverage my expertise in control frameworks and business operations to contribute to Barclays' goals.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
3
3
Certifications
3
3
Languages
Work History
Associate Vice President
NatWest Group
09.2024 - Current
- Spearheaded the implementation of a control framework within the Name Screening team, aligning with both regulatory standards and organizational objectives to ensure seamless financial crime prevention processes
- Led a cross-functional team to identify and mitigate operational risks through enhanced governance practices, significantly improving internal control effectiveness and compliance with AML, CTF, and KYC regulations
- Designed and executed risk assessments to evaluate the effectiveness of internal controls, communicating key findings to senior management, ensuring the identification and resolution of control weaknesses
- Managed key relationships with internal stakeholders across departments, advising on best practices for operational risk management and providing guidance on enhancing control systems to prevent financial and reputational risks
- Collaborated with senior leadership to design and implement risk mitigation strategies, resulting in more efficient operations and a reduced potential for regulatory breaches
- Conducted detailed assessments of the effectiveness of internal control systems against evolving regulatory requirements and industry best practices, ensuring the bank's compliance posture remained resilient
Senior Product Analyst
NatWest Group
11.2022 - 09.2024
- Collaborated with internal stakeholders to design and implement data governance frameworks, improving data integrity and ensuring compliance with AML, KYC, and financial crime prevention standards
- Led the assessment and documentation of internal controls related to customer screening algorithms, ensuring they aligned with regulatory requirements and reducing operational risks associated with false positives
- Conducted risk mitigation workshops with senior business units, analyzing current control frameworks, identifying weaknesses, and recommending corrective actions to strengthen overall controls
- Managed risk assessments for financial crime systems, focusing on evaluating the impact of any internal control gaps, providing management with actionable insights and recommendations for improving the control environment
- Developed comprehensive reports on internal control effectiveness, presenting findings and recommendations to senior leadership, influencing decisions to enhance the control framework and improve overall risk management
Business Process Specialist
NatWest Group
10.2021 - 10.2022
- Developed and standardized business processes to enhance operational controls, ensuring alignment with internal policies and external regulatory requirements
- Assessed internal controls across business processes, documenting procedures and identifying gaps, leading to the development of improved control strategies that enhanced overall risk management practices
- Led initiatives to implement process improvements based on control assessments, reducing risk and enhancing the efficiency of financial transactions across multiple departments
Filter Quality Assurance & Delivery Analyst
NatWest Group
07.2018 - 09.2021
- Worked directly with risk management teams to ensure that financial crime detection filters met regulatory standards, documenting control weaknesses and working on enhancements to mitigate risk
- Conducted quality assurance reviews of internal control systems, identifying potential vulnerabilities, and recommending corrective actions to ensure compliance with industry standards
Senior Analyst
NatWest Group
01.2016 - 06.2018
- Supported internal control frameworks by reviewing transactions for potential financial crimes, ensuring compliance with global sanctions and regulatory requirements
- Enhanced transaction filtering systems by identifying areas where control weaknesses were affecting operational efficiency, resulting in improved accuracy in detecting illicit activities
Analyst
NatWest Group
09.2014 - 12.2015
- Monitored transaction activity to ensure alignment with sanctions and AML regulations, identifying control gaps and recommending improvements to enhance the organization’s compliance processes
Education
Executive Post Graduate Program - Business Management
Loyola Institute of Business Administration
03.2016 - 05.2018
Bachelor of Commerce - General
Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College
06.2011 - 04.2014
Skills
- Governance & Control Frameworks
- Risk Management & Mitigation
- Stakeholder Management & Collaboration
- Financial Crime Prevention & AML
- Internal Control Assessment & Audit
- Operational Efficiency & Compliance
- Reporting & Communication
- Leadership & People Management
Certification
International Compliance Association (ICA) Specialist Certificate in FinCrime Risk and New Technology
Timeline
US CPA Aspirant (United States Certified Public Accountant)
12-2024
Associate Vice President
NatWest Group
09.2024 - Current
International Compliance Association (ICA) Specialist Certificate in FinCrime Risk and New Technology
06-2024
Senior Product Analyst
NatWest Group
11.2022 - 09.2024
Business Process Specialist
NatWest Group
10.2021 - 10.2022
Filter Quality Assurance & Delivery Analyst
NatWest Group
07.2018 - 09.2021
Executive Post Graduate Program - Business Management
Loyola Institute of Business Administration
03.2016 - 05.2018
Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) Certification - Indian Institute of Banking & Finance (IIBF)
01-2016
Senior Analyst
NatWest Group
01.2016 - 06.2018
Analyst
NatWest Group
09.2014 - 12.2015
Bachelor of Commerce - General
Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College
06.2011 - 04.2014
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