Open To Work
Hi, I’m
NICHOLAS KAPPOS
Financial Crimes Specialist
Charlotte,NC
There is a powerful driving force inside every human being that, once unleashed, can make any vision, dream, or desire a reality.
Tony Robbins
Work Preference
Summary
Financial Crimes Specialist with expertise in Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) filing and investigative support. Proven ability to handle sensitive information while maintaining confidentiality. Seeking to contribute critical-thinking skills in an Anti Money Laundering (AML) or Fraud Analyst role within a dynamic compliance team.
Overview
2
years of professional experience
Work History
Wells Fargo - Dexian ContractorCharlotte
Financial Crimes Specialist
09.2025 - Current
Job overview
- Prepared SAR narratives aligned with FinCEN guidance, ensuring clarity, accuracy, and regulatory compliance.
- Monitored transactions for suspicious patterns and potential money laundering activities.
- Utilize internal Wells Fargo platforms to review transaction histories, account profiles, customer due diligence records, and risk indicators.
- Managed a high-volume weekly caseload, completing over 100 cases with consistent on-time delivery, clear investigative narratives, and compliance with BSA/AML guidelines.
- Collaborated with AML, fraud operations, legal, and risk teams to resolve complex cases and reduce financial losses.
BelkCharlotte
Asset Protection Associate
06.2025 - 10.2025
Job overview
- Educated new associates on shrink awareness, safety policies, and suspicious behavior indicators, reinforcing the company's security culture, and reducing onboarding-related incidents.
- Responded to emergency situations, including theft, medical incidents, and disruptive behavior, following de-escalation protocols and coordinating with emergency responders when necessary.
- Utilized CCTV systems, inventory tools, and digital reports to detect suspicious activity, deter internal and external theft, and support investigations.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams and store leadership to ensure compliance with corporate security policies and risk management standards.
NordstromCharlotte
Asset Protection Agent
04.2024 - 06.2025
Job overview
- Selected for Nordstrom's Organized Retail Crime (ORC) Captain and High Potential Agent programs. Honored as a Nordstrom All-Star and a two-time External Investigator of the Year for outstanding performance in theft prevention and investigative support.
- Leveraged inventory and risk management, inventory tracking systems (RFID), and CCTV systems to increase store revenue by 8% and reduce shrink by 0.5%.
- Designed and delivered investigative PowerPoint presentations as an ORC Captain for ORC Investigations, using data analytics and incident reports, increasing the ORC prosecution rate in the region by 10%.
- Maintained detailed and accurate incident reports for use in court hearings, documenting events in a clear, chronological, and legally admissible format.
Education
University of North Carolina At CharlotteCharlotte, NC
Bachelor of Arts from Criminal Justice
12.2022
Skills
- Fraud detection & prevention strategies
- Narrative-building and summarizing investigative findings
- Check, ACH, debit/credit, and wire fraud analysis
- Behavioral and transaction pattern analysis
- Understanding of money movement patterns
- Detecting structuring, layering, and placement indicators
- Case queue management
- Database and public-records searches (LexisNexis)
- Microsoft Excel
- Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) narrative writing
- Comprehensive case documentation
- Knowledge of BSA, AML, USA PATRIOT Act, and finCEN guidelines
- Clear, concise written reports (SAR narratives, case notes)
- Efficient workflow organization
- Critical thinking during investigations and problem-solving
- Confidentiality & handling sensitive information
- Time management in high-volume case queues
- Ability to identify red flags and patterns
- Ability to work under regulatory time constraints
- Ability to research and validate information
- Detecting suspicious patterns such as structuring, mule activity, high-volume cash transactions, rapid movement between accounts, etc
Accomplishments
2x External Investigator of the Year
Nordstrom All-Star
ORC Captain
Deans List - UNC Charlotte
Timeline
Financial Crimes Specialist
Wells Fargo - Dexian Contractor
09.2025 - Current
Asset Protection Associate
Belk
06.2025 - 10.2025
Asset Protection Agent
Nordstrom
04.2024 - 06.2025
University of North Carolina At Charlotte
Bachelor of Arts from Criminal Justice