Alicia Hefner
New Albany,OH
Summary
Results-driven professional with extensive experience in leading teams within the Financial Crimes Compliance (FCC) industry, specializing in the management of Know Your Customer (KYC), Anti-Money Laundering (AML), and Enterprise List Screening and Sanctions (ESLS) operations. Recognized for a strong commitment to assessing and mitigating risk, consistently delivering exceptional outcomes in high-pressure environments. Proven ability to inspire and motivate high-performing teams, fostering a culture of excellence and collaboration. A dynamic leader known for integrity, effective team leadership, and superior communication skills that drive organizational success.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Manager Compliance, Bank Universal Investigations
Discover Financial Services
06.2024 - Current
- Oversee a team of up to 36 full-time employees responsible for conducting bank universal investigations, including anti-money laundering (AML), fraud investigations, suspicious activity report filings (SARs), specialized and enhanced due diligence reviews (EDD), and OFAC sanctions/list screening investigations.
- Directed and partnered with business stakeholders to design and implement a comprehensive cross-training program, expanding investigator capabilities across a diverse range of work items
- Monitor and oversee staffing needs to ensure operational continuity and adherence to Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
- Responsible for the preparation and presentation of audit and regulatory exam responses specific to KYC, AML, and OFAC sanctions.
- Ensure appropriate corrective action plans and controls are put in place to address issues stemming from risk assessments, internal audits, and regulatory findings, where gaps are identified.
- Partnered across technology and operations to support multiple automation initiatives, providing requirements and ongoing feedback for the development of an AML chatbot, Sidekick, and SAR filings.
- Oversee continuous employee training and coaching initiatives to keep teams current on evolving AML/BSA typologies, and regulatory requirements.
- Responsible for talent acquisition, talent development, coaching, and administering disciplinary action when appropriate.
Senior Manager Compliance, Know Your Customer
Discover Financial Services
11.2021 - 06.2024
- Managed a team of up to 20 full-time employees, consisting of supervisors, project managers, sanctions and KYC investigators, who conducted specialized and enhanced due diligence reviews.
- Created team structure, including role responsibilities, expectations, goals, and key performance indicators.
- Responsible for talent acquisition, talent development, coaching, and administering disciplinary action when appropriate.
- Led the preparation and presentation of audit and regulatory exam responses specific to the KYC.
- Ensured Service Level Agreements were met, and planned for staffing needs to complete work on time.
- Developed and composed procedures and job aids for KYC Enhanced Due Diligence, Politically Exposed Persons, Brokered Deposits, and Sweep Providers processes.
KYC Team Supervisor
Discover Financial Services
08.2015 - 10.2021
- Supervised a team of specialists and investigators who conducted enhanced due diligence and specialized due diligence reviews.
- Oversaw the creation and continued performance of reports designed for queue management, volume oversight, and adherence to Service Level Agreements.
- Redesigned the KYC Discover Bank Brokered Deposit Process, identifying and rectifying compliance risks, and finding time-saving opportunities, which directly led to a 62% time savings within KYC Operations.
- Actively participated as a subject matter expert in internal audit and regulatory exam preparation and responses.
- Developed procedural and job aids for the KYC Enhanced Due Diligence process, including Politically Exposed Persons, Brokered Deposits, and Sweep Providers process.
- Responsible for talent acquisition, talent development, coaching, and administering disciplinary action when appropriate.
KYC Lead Associate
Discover Financial Services
03.2015 - 07.2015
- Built a Know Your Customer program from the ground up, including process workflows, procedure and job aid creation, customer risk scoring methodology, and process controls.
- Collaborated with Business Technology to develop a risk ranking methodology to assess risk scores for all of Discover's bank client base.
- Managed a team of 30+ contractors who conducted enhanced due diligence, anti-money laundering reviews, and quality control reviews.
- Conducted quality control reviews of associates and contractors' work to ensure accuracy and identify areas of improvement.
- Responsible for all procedure creation, reviews, and refreshes.
Business Banking KYC Specialist
JPMorgan Chase
10.2014 - 03.2015
- Prepared narrative recommendations on the risk posed by the bank's business customers by conducting extensive enhanced due diligence into transactional activity, bank account types, and responses from customer account representatives.
- Operated in a pivotal capacity by utilizing the proper procedures to escalate abnormal account behaviors to AML Bank Operations.
- Certified adherence to, and compliance with, all OFAC, BSA, and USA Patriot Act guidelines over the course of my operations.
Compliance Analyst
JPMorgan Chase
09.2013 - 10.2014
- Collected and analyzed voluminous amounts of financial data to decipher higher-risk attributes and determine if accounts were being used to facilitate money laundering, fraud, or terrorist financing.
- Prepared and filed comprehensive Suspicious Activity Reports in compliance with established regulatory guidelines and timeframes.
- Facilitated anti-money laundering and procedural training for new hires and contractors.
- Certified the consistent and continuous meeting and exceeding of monthly goals in quality and productivity.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Public Affairs & Specialization in Security and Intelligence
The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio12.2012
Certification
- CAMS Certification, March 2021
- Business Analytics Certification, Harvard Business School Online, October 2023
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
Discover Financial Presidential Plate Award Winner, January 2016, Discover Financial Presidential Plate Award Winner, January 2021
Timeline
Senior Manager Compliance, Bank Universal Investigations
Discover Financial Services
06.2024 - Current
Senior Manager Compliance, Know Your Customer
Discover Financial Services
11.2021 - 06.2024
KYC Team Supervisor
Discover Financial Services
08.2015 - 10.2021
KYC Lead Associate
Discover Financial Services
03.2015 - 07.2015
Business Banking KYC Specialist
JPMorgan Chase
10.2014 - 03.2015
Compliance Analyst
JPMorgan Chase
09.2013 - 10.2014
Bachelor of Arts - Public Affairs & Specialization in Security and Intelligence
The Ohio State University