Damaris Pujols
Yonkers,NY
Summary
AML Compliance and Risk Management Professional with over a decade of progressive experience driving compliance operations for a leading global organizations. Skilled in working collaboratively with all levels of staff, vendors and both internal and external stakeholders in successful attainment of challenging objectives. Adept analyst, and problem-solver committed to excellence.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Compliance Director
Commonwealth Bank Of Australia
04.2019 - 11.2023
- Provided advisory guidance to the Institutional Banking and Markets business and Global Onboarding and Refresh teams on Financial Crime and OFAC Sanctions matters.
- Participated in the implementation of controls surrounding FinCEN's CDD Beneficial Ownership Rule.
- Responsible for the review and completion of 314(a) and 314(b) Information Sharing program.
- Responsible for internal investigations related to possible suspicious activity and and the filing of Suspicious Activity Reports.
- Completed holistic reviews of high risk customers during onboarding and refresh and providing approval on behalf of the Financial Crimes Team.
- The review and disposition of escalated negative news and ongoing negative news alerts.
- Completed quarterly oversight review of OFAC Sanctions payment alerts completed by head office teams.
- Review and approval of all escalation PEPs.
- Completed quality testing of the KYC onboarding and refresh process.
- Participated in the completion of the yearly NY Branch Risk assessment by completing topics related to SAR filings and Customer Due Diligence.
- Monthly reporting to the local Financial Crimes Oversight Committee in regard to FCC reviews and escalations.
Head of Quality Assurance
Commerzbank AG
04.2015 - 03.2019
- Responsible for the oversight and execution of Commerzbank AG Compliance Quality Assurance Program.
- Management of the Quality Assurance Team, which performed Quality Assurance reviews of the BSA/AML/Sanctions Compliance Programs.
- Proactively identified gaps and made recommendations to enhance the Quality Assurance program and methodology.
- Interaction with respective coverage areas - reporting and advising on process enhancements, policy/procedure revisions, and training needs.
- Distribution of weekly and monthly reports related to all QA reviews, as well as the escalation of all matters requiring attention to the Head of Risk Assessment and Reviews, Chief Compliance Officer, AML Director, and related process owner.
- Documentation and reporting trends in consultation with the Head of Risk Assessment and Reviews in order to further identify and report possible issues related to Quality Assurance findings.
- Management of the enhancement and expansion of the QA Program, including development in the areas of Onboarding, Sanctions, and Markets Compliance.
- Support of future QA program phases related to changes in the regulatory landscape, system enhancements or updates.
- Where appropriate, assistance in aligning QA processes to global initiatives.
Senior Compliance Officer - Compliance Monitoring and Testing
HSBC Bank USA, NA
08.2012 - 04.2015
- Completed periodic compliance testing reviews of branches and departments to ensure compliance with internal and external policies, procedures, laws and regulations.
- Assigned to the Financial Crime Compliance team which performed testing reviews on various Transaction Monitoring and KYC groups.
- Assisted with the compliance testing planning process by obtaining business unit background information, identifying the scope of review, and creating testing plans.
- Utilized standardized work papers and testing programs to document the performance of compliance testing reviews, and completed assigned reviews within established time-frames.
- Maintained and updated compliance testing procedures, as appropriate.
- Participation in special compliance reviews, risk assessment projects and any additional assignments as required by management.
- Ensured compliance and operational risk controls were in accordance with Bank and regulatory standards and policies.
- Addressed potential issues and findings issued by the internal audit function and governmental regulators.
Senior Compliance Officer - AML Quality Assurance
HSBC Bank USA NA
07.2010 - 07.2012
- Responsibilities included reviewing test samples of completed AML alerts to ensure that monitoring teams and first line Quality Assurance teams adequately documented results of analysis, and that all decisions have been appropriately reached.
- Businesses reviewed included Government and Institutional Banking, Domestic and International Private Banking, Payments and Cash Management, and Retail Banking.
- Compiled samples of AML alerts from several transaction monitoring groups for Quality Assurance review utilizing Norkom transaction monitoring system and internal metrics reports.
- Researched transaction activity and KYC information by utilizing internal systems, online databases, and Internet research.
- Compiled all findings and results into monthly and bi-annual reports issued to stakeholders, and all results and trends were tracked.
- Participation in special reviews in conjunction with the General Testing team as needed.
- Provided mentoring and training for co-workers and new hires.
AML Compliance Officer / Investigator - AML Retail Transaction Monitoring Group
HSBC BANK USA NA
03.2007 - 07.2010
- Responsibilities included monitoring alerted customer transaction activity using IBM Lotus Notes and Norkom, in order to identify possible suspicious activity for High Risk businesses such as the Domestic Private Bank, LAIC, and Middle Market.
- Researched alerted transaction activity using internal systems and the Internet in order to complete Lotus Notes and Norkom alerts.
- Escalated all potentially suspicious alerts to assigned Local Compliance Officers.
AML Compliance Officer
HSBC Private Bank
09.2005 - 03.2007
- Approved new private banking client accounts and verified all account opening documents and KYC information.
- Conducted enhanced due diligence utilizing Westlaw, Autotrack/Choicepoint, and World-Check in order to monitor customers and establish SCC Special Category Client) status.
- Monitored alerted customer transaction activity using IBM Lotus Notes and Norkom, in order to identify possible suspicious activity.
- Conducted financial investigations which determined whether Suspicious Activity Reports are filed.
- Monitored the transaction activity of high-risk clients on a quarterly basis.
- Timely filing of Suspicious Activity Reports when applicable.
BSA Specialist
The Provident Bank
08.2004 - 09.2005
- Responsibilities included analyzing possible suspicious transactions that are reported by branches and the review of cash activity and wire transfer reports.
- Conducted investigations which determined whether Suspicious Activity Reports were filed.
- Responsible for monitoring cash transaction reports for suspicious activity.
- Conducted enhanced due diligence investigations on all high risk business accounts and high-risk customers.
- Trained branch personnel on the importance of recognizing and reporting suspicious activity, and the accurate completion of the bank's Customer Information Form.
Intelligence Analyst
NY/NJ High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
07.2001 - 08.2004
- Responsibilities included providing case support for federal agents and local law enforcement in criminal investigations.
- Reviewed and researched Suspicious Activity Reports submitted by Financial Institutions in the New York City area.
- Conducted financial and investigative computer searches using various public and law enforcement databases.
- Created suspect profiles on all targets.
- Use of various computer programs to organize information and compile charts linking all suspected illegal activities.
- Telephone toll analysis using Penlink 7 to organize telephone records and subscriber information.
- Audited transactions in targeted bank accounts.
- Produced case reports, summaries, and created presentations, which detailed the outcome of all searches, audits, and investigations.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Legal Studies
JOHN JAY COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
New York, NY01.2001
Skills
- Anti-Money Laundering Compliance
- Quality Assurance
- Compliance Testing
- Financial analysis
- Transaction Monitoring Systems: Actimize, Norkom, Fidelity Financial Solutions
- Database Experience: World-Check, RDC, Lexis/Nexis
- Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook
Languages
Fluent in Spanish
Certification
ACAMS Certified
Timeline
Compliance Director
Commonwealth Bank Of Australia
04.2019 - 11.2023
Head of Quality Assurance
Commerzbank AG
04.2015 - 03.2019
Senior Compliance Officer - Compliance Monitoring and Testing
HSBC Bank USA, NA
08.2012 - 04.2015
Senior Compliance Officer - AML Quality Assurance
HSBC Bank USA NA
07.2010 - 07.2012
AML Compliance Officer / Investigator - AML Retail Transaction Monitoring Group
HSBC BANK USA NA
03.2007 - 07.2010
AML Compliance Officer
HSBC Private Bank
09.2005 - 03.2007
BSA Specialist
The Provident Bank
08.2004 - 09.2005
Intelligence Analyst
NY/NJ High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area
07.2001 - 08.2004
Bachelor of Science - Legal Studies
JOHN JAY COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
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