Verafin
Monique Cecil
Financial Crimes Analyst
Houston,Texas
Summary
Motivated Fraud Analyst touting five years of expertise investigating suspicious activity for multiple large banking institutions. Knowledgeable resource committed to finding answers and working with clients and interdepartmental personnel. Promoting exemplary skills in project management, analytics and fraud pattern detection.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work History
Fraud Analyst/ Consultant
Stellar Bank
10.2023 - Current
- Review and disposition all assigned cases, or fraud alerts that may be generated by the Bank’s transaction monitoring and/or screening systems(s)
- Identifying and mitigating various types of banking fraud, such as account takeovers, money laundering, and elder abuse.
- Proactively interface with customer servicing officers and other Bank employees regarding customer transactions on a daily basis to determine if items are authentic or fraudulent to return within the timeframe to avoid the Bank taking a loss
- Identify and track current fraud trends by reviewing transaction and account patterns
- Research suspicious activity in accordance with applicable procedures and escalate when necessary
- Perform negative news searches
- Review and appropriately act on new, revised or proposed laws, policies and procedures
- Work reports and databases using established policies and procedures
- Test and provide feedback on process and system improvements that are based on changing fraud trends and patterns
- Monitor consumer transaction and account activity for potential fraudulent activity, including identity theft, kiting, account take-over, friendly fraud, and other identified risks.
- Conducted thorough investigations on suspicious cases, ensuring timely resolution and minimizing financial impact.
- Reduced fraud losses by implementing effective fraud prevention strategies and monitoring systems.
- Conducted thorough due diligence on high-risk clients, mitigating potential exposure to illicit activities.
- Identified potential fraud cases through meticulous analysis of transactional data, protecting company assets.
Private Investigator
Gemini Private Investigations
10.2020 - Current
- Trained junior investigators on proper techniques, promoting consistent quality across all agency services.
- Developed strong working relationships with key stakeholders such as regulators, auditors, and law enforcement agencies to facilitate information sharing and cooperation efforts effectively.
- Assisted legal counsel with the preparation of evidentiary materials for court proceedings related to financial crimes cases investigated by the team.
- Reviewed and updated internal policies to ensure alignment with evolving regulatory requirements, keeping the organization compliant in a dynamic environment.
- Analyzed financial statements, bank records, and government databases to identify fraud and other instances of financial crimes.
- Researched criminal cases and led investigations to determine appropriate course of proceedings.
- Collected, analyzed and interpreted information, documentation, and physical evidence associated with investigations.
- Minimized the impact of fraud on client businesses through diligent financial investigations that identified discrepancies or suspicious transactions quickly and accurately.
- Built a solid reputation as a reliable and trustworthy investigator through adherence to ethical practices and maintaining confidentiality in all assignments.
- Improved security measures at client sites by conducting comprehensive risk assessments and recommending appropriate countermeasures based on individual needs.
- Identified patterns of behavior in subjects under investigation, enabling the development of tailored surveillance strategies that yielded successful results.
- Optimized results from asset searches by leveraging diverse investigative tools and resources such as public records databases and online search platforms.
- Maintained strict confidentiality regarding sensitive client information and ongoing investigations, upholding ethical standards within the profession.
- Furthered criminal investigations by taking active interest on behalf of loved ones, businesses and other interested parties to uncover truth of unlawful activities.
Reg CC Investigator II
Woodforest National Bank
12.2022 - 10.2023
- Microsoft Office; Excel, Word
- Financial Crime Investigations
- Maintains department performance levels and subject- matter-expertise of the bank's policies and procedures for efficient and professional case resolution
- Analyze and investigate exception hold and fraud trends using existing resources and tools to recommend and deploy measures to control and reduce misuse of holds and fraud losses
- Analyze accounts that have been flagged for suspicious activity and judge whether the activity seems normal or possibly fraudulent
- Support department strategies to achieve business goals and minimize exposure to regulatory violations Monitor fraud prevention activity as related to holds, assist with customers, use judgment on unusual trends and report findings to management.
Legal Case Management
Gemini Legal Pros
12.2018 - 01.2024
- Civil and Family Mediation Perform Internet and Social Media Research Facilitate communication between disputants to guide parties toward mutual agreement
- Clarify issues, concerns, needs, and interests of all parties involved
- Conduct initial meetings with disputants to outline the arbitration process
- Interview and Depositions Chain Of Evidence Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws and regulations Examining Public Filing Use of Evidence
- Drafted persuasive legal documents, including pleadings, motions, and briefs, contributing to positive case outcomes.
- Enhanced case management by developing and maintaining well-organized legal files.
- Streamlined investigation processes by developing efficient case management techniques, reducing time spent on each case without sacrificing accuracy or effectiveness.
- Managed high caseloads efficiently by prioritizing tasks based on urgency and maintaining strong attention to detail in all aspects of case management.
Online Banking and Tech Support
PNC Bank
05.2018 - 11.2019
- Customer Financial Management Account troubleshooting and technical support
- Navigated multiple internal systems simultaneously while assisting customers, demonstrating strong multitasking capabilities.
- Password and account access maintenance Filed Debit Card Customer Disputes and KYC Verification Ability to learn and work within multiple banking systems.
- Managed high call volumes while maintaining professionalism and efficiency during peak periods.
- Assisted clients in navigating the online banking platform, leading to increased usage and efficiency.
- Aided in the successful onboarding of new online banking users through clear guidance and personalized support.
- Stayed up-to-date with industry trends and security best practices to provide informed advice to customers on safeguarding their accounts.
Banking Customer Service & Sales
US Bank
05.2012 - 08.2015
- Assisting US bank customers with ACH, Debit Cards, and Deposit Accounts Knowledge of Lending Products Quick to learn and adapt
- Contributed to a positive work environment by actively participating in team meetings and offering constructive feedback on ways to enhance performance levels within the department.
- Worked closely with various internal departments such as lending or investments, ensuring seamless communication between teams for optimal client outcomes.
- Resolved complex customer situations by utilizing problem-solving skills and escalating issues when necessary.
- Assisted in fraud prevention efforts by closely monitoring customer accounts and reporting suspicious activity as required.
- Reduced wait times for customers by efficiently handling high volumes of calls and resolving issues quickly.
- Streamlined account opening processes for new clients, resulting in a more efficient and user-friendly experience.
- Delivered exceptional customer service to every customer by leveraging extensive knowledge of products and services and creating welcoming, positive experiences.
Office Manager
Waiter Taxi
06.2006 - 08.2008
- Daily customer and restaurant owner interactions via phone and in person Managing programs, activities, and general operations Consistent use of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Monitoring and managing finances and accounting Assisting with program and policy development Marketing and Promoting
- Facilitated smooth communication between departments, addressing concerns promptly to maintain harmonious work relationships.
- Oversaw facility maintenance requests, coordinating with building management to address repairs or improvements efficiently.
- Maintained accurate financial records by reconciling accounts payable/receivable transactions regularly to ensure balanced budgets.
- Provided exceptional customer service when addressing client inquiries or concerns via phone calls or email correspondence.
Teller
Bank of America
06.2006 - 08.2008
- Building and maintaining business relationships, up-selling additional banking products, and closing the sale in person Self-motivating and able to handle interruptions and time constraints
- Direct customer contact and communication Operating 10 key and strong math skills Problem-solving and extensive cash handling.
- Enhanced branch security through vigilant monitoring of suspicious activities and timely reporting to supervisors.
- Maintained cash drawer accuracy by conducting regular audits and implementing effective cash handling practices.
- Balanced cash drawers daily, identifying discrepancies and taking corrective actions as needed.
Education
Ph.D. - Forensic Clinical Psychology
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN 08.2023 - Current
Master of Science - Criminal Justice
Colorado Technical University
Colorado Springs, CO 01.2021 - 05.2022
Bachelor of Science - Cybercrime And Security
Colorado Technical University
Denver, Colorado 12.2018 - 05.2020
Business Office Management - undefined
Miami Jacobs Career College
Dayton, OHHigh School Diploma -
Beavercreek High School
Beavercreek, OHSkills
Fraud Detection
Telephone and email etiquette
Effective Communication
Proficient in Verafin
Procedure review
Fraud prevention
Transaction review
Trained in IBM SPSS
Regulatory knowledge
Case Management
Licenses Certificates Training
- 10/2020, Licensed Private Investigator, Texas
- 08/2020, Mediator, MDR
- 03/2016, Paralegal Cert, Penn Foster
- 02/2010, Life Coaching Cert, Southwest Institute of Healing Arts
Accomplishments
- Achieved [Result] by introducing [Software] for [Type] tasks.
- Documented and resolved [Issue] which led to [Results].
- Introduced robust volunteer program to improve organizational efficiency without adding costs.
- City of Houston Complete Communities University
Software
IBM SPSS
Excel
Clear
IRB Search
Certification
CFE - Certified Fraud Examiner
Licensed Private Investigator 2020
Company and Individual License
Timeline
CFE - Certified Fraud Examiner
09-2024
Fraud Analyst/ Consultant
Stellar Bank
10.2023 - Current
Ph.D. - Forensic Clinical Psychology
Walden University
08.2023 - Current
Reg CC Investigator II
Woodforest National Bank
12.2022 - 10.2023
Master of Science - Criminal Justice
Colorado Technical University
01.2021 - 05.2022
Private Investigator
Gemini Private Investigations
10.2020 - Current
Bachelor of Science - Cybercrime And Security
Colorado Technical University
12.2018 - 05.2020
Legal Case Management
Gemini Legal Pros
12.2018 - 01.2024
Online Banking and Tech Support
PNC Bank
05.2018 - 11.2019
Banking Customer Service & Sales
US Bank
05.2012 - 08.2015
Office Manager
Waiter Taxi
06.2006 - 08.2008
Teller
Bank of America
06.2006 - 08.2008
Business Office Management - undefined
Miami Jacobs Career College
High School Diploma -
Beavercreek High School
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