Chris Tavares
New York,NY
Summary
Dynamic Operational Risk Director with over 21 years of experience, driving comprehensive risk management and compliance strategies across global financial institutions. Expertise in leading teams to develop and implement robust regulatory frameworks, enhancing operational resilience, and ensuring adherence to financial crime prevention measures. Proven ability to collaborate with executive leadership and regulators, leveraging data analytics and technology to optimize compliance processes. Skilled in risk analysis, regulatory compliance, and team management, with a strong commitment to fostering a culture of excellence and accountability. Ready to deliver impactful solutions in a challenging and evolving regulatory landscape.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Operational Risk Director
BANK OF CHINA
04.2019 - Current
- Proactive Manager leading a Team that successfully conducted an end-to-end review of the BSA/AML & OFAC Risk Assessment Processes (RCSA), measuring controls and residual risk ratings
- Rebuilt risk framework and policies
- Direct report to Chief Compliance Officer and voting member of 3 executive committees with Financial Crimes Compliance exposure
- Currently serving as interim head of payments risk and custody operations
- Responsible for KRIs on Sanctions, KYC, AML, Liquidity, Clearing, and Settlement
Director of Global Practices & Standards, Financial Crimes Controls
MUFG, MITSUBISHI UFJ FINANCIAL GROUP
02.2018 - Current
- Responsible for leading a large team of VPs and consultants to build out testing & reporting of surveillance policies/procedures for a comprehensive risk and controls-based compliance program aligned to a 3 lines of defense model
- Deployed Financial Crime testing methodology, templates, reporting standards across the U.S., Europe and Asia
- Developed a global training program covering sampling and work paper documentation and worked with regulators and internal audit concerning MRAs and MRIAs
- Established a Q/A program to align AML & Sanctions tests conducted by each global MUFG office
- Wrote a compliance controls library assigning FinCEN obligations to processes and data maps
- Deployed standard global testing scripts for BSA/AML, KYC/CDD/CIP, OFAC, Correspondent Banking, Transaction Monitoring, Anti-Bribery & Corruption
- Hired and conducted periodic performance evaluations of VP level+ staff
- Wrote, deployed and trained global teams on internal Sampling policies, how to statistically choose a number of samples, proper documentation, evidence gathering and build high standard workpapers
SVP, Regional Head of Regulatory & Financial Crimes Assurance
HSBC NORTH AMERICA
02.2013 - Current
- Joined HSBC to partner with business heads and build a robust compliance program leveraging technology, data sciences and analytics for Regulatory Compliance and Financial Crimes Assurance
- Supervised compliance control tests for all lines of businesses in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Latin America
- Responsible for final sign-off on sampling, data sciences, analytics and remediation plans concerning risks with OCC and FRB compliance requirements
- Liaised with OCC and FRB personnel to explain HSBC sampling methodologies and technical aspects of client monitoring and transactions within the 3 lines of defense
- Hired and led our U.S
- Financial Crimes Risk & Assurance technical team comprised of VP and AVP level reports
- Led the procurement and global implementation of Risk and Compliance tools: Archer, MetricStream, ACL
- Built the statistical sampling methodology for HSBC U.S
- Subsequently approved by HSBC's board of directors and rolled out globally
- Authorized by HSBC media to represent Bank's compliance methodologies at industry conferences
- Directed reviews of risk models in AML & Sanctions screening, detection, escalation and reporting
- Expert knowledge in correspondent banking, SWIFT, and transaction monitoring and reporting
- Excellent understanding of Cross-Matrix Risk Mgmt frameworks, FATF, OFAC and Wolfsburg principles
COO Head of Technology & Operations, Private Banking Brazil
JP MORGAN PRIVATE BANKING
04.2008 - Current
- Assigned to Private Bank and Asset Management Brazil office to implement our Geneva client onboarding and enhanced due diligence system with built-in KYC/CIP controls
- Promoted to head of technology and served as a member of the in-country risk committee to approve new products within our growing Private Banking business
- Led the implementation of a new service level agreement with our Funds Administrator ITAU
- Verified NAVs from 3rd party Administrator for early opening of front office trading operations
- Deep understanding of Private Banking, Equity & Fixed Income Funds, FoF, Structured products, institutional asset management operations, custody obligations and compliance
- M&A oversight of operations & IT costs during the acquisition of Gavea Investimentos
- 1st Line executive responding to audits on KYC, EDD, Fraud and anti-bribery controls
- Responsible for issue management and remediation strategies
Equities Trading Middle Office Project Manager
JP MORGAN PRIVATE BANKING
05.2004 - Current
- Built & tested trading algorithms for Longview platform
- Covered regulatory risk, trading pools, and P&L analysis
Education
Master of Business Administration - MBA - Business Management
PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
06-2008
certification -
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
B.B.A. -
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, BARUCH COLLEGE
Skills
- Risk Analysis
- Office of Foreign Assets Controls OFAC
- Regulatory Compliance
- Wholesale Payments & ACH
- Liquidity risk
- Operational Risk Management
- Team ManagemenT
- Auditing and report writing
- Banking products
- Transaction lifecycles
- Banking Services
- Knowledge of Statistics
- Risk Management
- Private Equity
- Structured Product
- Private Equity
- Asset Management
- Due Diligence
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Portfolio Management
- Operations Management
- Service-Level Agreement
- Client Onboarding
- Front Office
- Problem Solving
- Strategic Thinking
- Accounting
- Financial Crimes Enforcement Networks
- Microsoft Project
- Algorithms
- Remote Monitoring
- Criminal Justice
- Financial Securities
- Performance Management
- Test Methods
- Testing Skills
- Certified Information Systems Auditor
- Chlorofluorocarbons
- Information Systems
Languages
- English, Native
- Portuguese, Fluent
- Spanish, Fluent
Timeline
Operational Risk Director
BANK OF CHINA
04.2019 - Current
Director of Global Practices & Standards, Financial Crimes Controls
MUFG, MITSUBISHI UFJ FINANCIAL GROUP
02.2018 - Current
SVP, Regional Head of Regulatory & Financial Crimes Assurance
HSBC NORTH AMERICA
02.2013 - Current
COO Head of Technology & Operations, Private Banking Brazil
JP MORGAN PRIVATE BANKING
04.2008 - Current
Equities Trading Middle Office Project Manager
JP MORGAN PRIVATE BANKING
05.2004 - Current
Master of Business Administration - MBA - Business Management
PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
certification -
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
B.B.A. -
THE CITY UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, BARUCH COLLEGE