KAREN WINNIE
Buffalo
Summary
Accomplished risk and compliance specialist with over 12 years’ experience in commercial client onboarding, KYC/CDD quality assurance, and regulatory documentation governance within a global banking context. Demonstrates expertise in mitigating onboarding risks, providing advisory support to stakeholders, and ensuring service-level delivery in line with AML and financial crime compliance requirements. Recognized for leading process transitions, training international teams, and upholding robust onboarding controls amidst evolving regulatory landscapes.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Client Onboarding Manager
HSBC
10.2012 - 03.2026
- Manage end-to-end onboarding case progression for new and existing commercial banking clients, ensuring completion of required KYC/CDD documentation prior to account opening.
- Serve as central escalation point for Relationship Managers and internal partners to resolve onboarding bottlenecks, documentation gaps, and risk-based approval issues.
- Coordinate onboarding activities to meet service level expectations, regulatory compliance standards, and internal control requirements.
- Support operational consistency across onboarding portfolios through adherence to HSBC documentation governance and control frameworks.
Client Onboarding Quality Control Officer
HSBC
10.2012 - 03.2026
- Effectively conducted quality control reviews of onboarding packages to ensure adherence to internal onboarding policies and evolving AML/KYC regulatory expectations.
- Validated client documentation, due diligence records, and onboarding data integrity prior to final activation.
- Seamlessly led the transition of QC onboarding functions to an offshore team in Mexico, developing and delivering training to ensure alignment with HSBC global onboarding standards, documentation controls, and escalation protocols; remains an ongoing SME resource for complex case support.
- Consistently served as escalation point for onboarding discrepancies and remediation needs, maintaining consistent risk control execution across client onboarding workflows.
- Partnered with compliance and operational stakeholders to improve onboarding procedures and ensure audit-ready documentation quality.
Education
Master of Education - School Counseling
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York Graduate School of Education
05.2012
Bachelor of Social Work - undefined
Buffalo State College, The State University of New York
05.2011
Skills
- Client Onboarding (Commercial Banking)
- KYC / CDD Documentation Review
- AML Compliance & Risk Controls
- Onboarding Quality Assurance
- Stakeholder & Relationship Manager Support
- Escalation & Case Issue Remediation
- Experienced in high-volume onboarding environments with strong attention to regulatory detail
- Trusted resource for onboarding policy interpretation and documentation best practices
Timeline
Client Onboarding Manager
HSBC
10.2012 - 03.2026
Client Onboarding Quality Control Officer
HSBC
10.2012 - 03.2026
Bachelor of Social Work - undefined
Buffalo State College, The State University of New York
Master of Education - School Counseling
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York Graduate School of Education