Chinedu Aligekwe
Red Oak
Summary
Managed remediation, regulatory, and transformation projects in banking and FinTech with over eight years of experience. Proven track record in managing portfolios, processes, and AML/KYC compliance projects, engagement at the executive level, and leading teams in high-pressure, cross-functional environments. Excellent at designing and operating large projects, enhancing project governance for better business outcomes. Certified in AML and project management; proficient in the usage of MS Project, presentation to executives, and government reporting.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior AML Project Manager & KYC Risk Lead
Lofty Plus LLC / Opay US
Dallas
01.2024 - Current
- Managed and delivered high-value remediation projects within the AML portfolio, leading cross-functional teams to develop, implement, and optimize innovative fraud detection and investigation schemes.
- Oversaw project lifecycle from requirements gathering and risk assessment through solution design, stakeholder engagement, and post-implementation review. Successfully coordinated with compliance, technology, and business units to ensure alignment with regulatory standards and organizational objectives, resulting in enhanced detection capabilities, improved investigative workflows, and measurable reduction in financial crime risk.
- Leveraged data analytics to enhance AML processes by identifying root causes of fraud detection inefficiencies. Led initiatives to redesign workflows and implement targeted process improvements, resulting in a 35% reduction in fraud false positives. Collaborated with data science, compliance, and technology teams to ensure robust data-driven decision-making and continuous optimization of detection algorithms.
- Prepared and delivered comprehensive project reports and executive summaries, communicating key outcomes, risk assessments, and recommendations to senior stakeholders. Presented project findings and progress updates to executive leadership, ensuring timely and informed decision-making throughout the project lifecycle.
- Facilitated alignment between project objectives and organizational strategy through clear, data-driven presentations and regular stakeholder engagement.
- Designed and delivered comprehensive training programs for over 50 staff members, focusing on AML best practices, fraud risk indicators, and newly implemented business procedures. Developed training materials and conducted interactive workshops to ensure thorough understanding and adoption of compliance standards across operational teams. This initiative significantly improved compliance adherence, strengthened fraud prevention efforts, and supported seamless integration of new processes within business operations.
Fraud Remediation Project Lead
Tech Mahindra (Standard Chartered Bank)
New York City
04.2022 - 01.2024
- Lead a team of more than 15 people in Portfolio-level remediation projects to make all Business Units better able to perform their jobs while improving AML controls.
- As a portfolio oversight duty, I had an assignment to fix the KYC records and support ongoing CDD on customers. Ensured that the portfolio had a complete risk assessment and the customer profiles remained updated at all times. Collaboration with diverse departments in identifying and addressing AML risks was carried out. Prioritized the high-risk accounts for action and undertook measures to rectify the issues that complied with the company policy requirements and regulatory necessities.
- Provided full-cycle management of planning, execution, and completion of projects on AML compliance, including but not limited to fixing regulatory gaps and enhancing CDD and EDD processes. Ensuring that all requirements of compliance were met, coordinating teams across various functions, and coming up with process improvements to make the organization's AML framework stronger were all contributory factors toward ensuring timely completion of projects.
- Made presentations to executives, regular reports to senior management, and regulatory bodies that clearly revealed how portfolio projects were going, what the biggest risks were, and what needed to be done. Provided people with clear, accurate, and timely updates regarding the status of AML initiatives and compliance across the portfolio to inform smart decisions.
- Instituted new governance protocols to align portfolio project delivery with organizational standards and regulatory requirements, including BSA/AML and OFAC. Enhanced oversight and compliance by implementing robust controls and ensuring consistent adherence across all AML initiatives.
- Drove stakeholder engagement and facilitated cross-departmental collaboration with product, onboarding, and sanctions teams to support transformational change across AML initiatives. Ensured alignment of objectives, streamlined communication, and enhanced the effectiveness of portfolio-wide compliance efforts.
Risk and AML Remediation Project Manager
BB&T Bank / Truist Financial
Baltimore
07.2020 - 02.2022
- Directed enterprise-wide remediation and transformation projects to address systemic issues and drive operational improvements, with a focus on process automation and AML system enhancements.
- Led cross-functional teams in the successful upgrade and optimization of key AML platforms, including Actimize and Oracle Mantas, by streamlining workflows, integrating advanced automation solutions, and ensuring system compliance with evolving regulatory requirements. These initiatives resulted in increased efficiency, reduced manual intervention, and strengthened the organization’s overall AML capabilities.
- Collaborated within a cross-functional team of ten to analyze and optimize KYC (Know Your Customer) business processes, identifying bottlenecks and implementing targeted process improvements.
- Spearheaded initiatives to streamline documentation workflows, enhance data quality, and leverage automation tools, resulting in a 25% reduction in KYC processing time. These enhancements improved customer onboarding efficiency and strengthened regulatory compliance across the organization.
- Managed audit and regulatory exam responses by overseeing the preparation and submission of comprehensive project documentation and supporting evidence.
- Ensured all materials met stringent standards and requirements established by regulatory bodies such as OCC and FinCEN. Coordinated with internal teams to gather, review, and validate documentation, facilitating successful audit outcomes and maintaining ongoing compliance with regulatory expectations.
AML/KYC Remediation Analyst
SECU Bank
Baltimore
07.2017 - 06.2020
- Supported large-scale KYC remediation projects by systematically reviewing and cleansing customer records to ensure data accuracy and integrity.
- Actively participated in ongoing customer due diligence initiatives, enhancing the quality of customer information and ensuring continuous adherence to regulatory requirements.
- Collaborated with compliance and operations teams to implement process improvements, strengthen data governance, and maintain up-to-date due diligence practices in line with evolving AML standards.
- Authored Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) reports as part of targeted risk assessment projects, thoroughly analyzing high-risk customer profiles and transactional activity.
- Delivered clear, actionable findings to management, significantly improving the quality of risk reporting and supporting more informed decision-making.
- Collaborated with investigative teams to ensure comprehensive documentation and timely escalation of potential risks, contributing to a strengthened risk management framework across the organization.
Risk and Compliance Project
01.1999 - 12.2017
- Led the design and implementation of robust AML/KYC compliance frameworks for multiple banks and financial institutions, ensuring alignment with FATF (Financial Action Task Force) and CBN (Central Bank of Nigeria) regulatory requirements.
- Managed end-to-end project delivery, including conducting compliance gap assessments, developing policies and procedures, and coordinating training for relevant staff. These initiatives strengthened institutional compliance postures, enhanced risk mitigation, and facilitated regulatory readiness across diverse financial entities.
- Directed critical transaction monitoring projects aimed at identifying and remediating compliance gaps across the organization.
- Implemented corrective action plans and process improvements that strengthened the company’s compliance posture, reduced regulatory and financial risks, and supported a culture of continuous improvement and organizational transformation.
Education
B.Sc. - Electronics and Industrial Physics
Federal University of Technology
Owerri, NigeriaSkills
- AML/KYC regulations
- Portfolio management
- Delivery management
- PMO
- Project management
- Business process improvement
- SQL
- Tableau
- Power BI
- Team management
- Cross-department collaboration
- Risk management
- MS Project
- Excel
- Presentation skills
- Attention to detail
- Communication
- Relationship management
- Stress management
- Leadership
- Strategic thinking
- AML laws knowledge
Certification
- Data Analysis
- Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS)
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
References
Available upon request.
Timeline
Senior AML Project Manager & KYC Risk Lead
Lofty Plus LLC / Opay US
01.2024 - Current
Fraud Remediation Project Lead
Tech Mahindra (Standard Chartered Bank)
04.2022 - 01.2024
Risk and AML Remediation Project Manager
BB&T Bank / Truist Financial
07.2020 - 02.2022
AML/KYC Remediation Analyst
SECU Bank
07.2017 - 06.2020
Risk and Compliance Project
01.1999 - 12.2017
B.Sc. - Electronics and Industrial Physics
Federal University of Technology