Thomas Nieto
Englewood,USA
Summary
Dynamic AML Compliance Senior Specialist with extensive experience at Western Union, excelling in compliance management and risk analysis. Proven track record in leading cross-functional teams and enhancing compliance programs, resulting in significant operational improvements. Adept at fostering partnerships and integrating processes to ensure adherence to financial regulations and mitigate risks effectively.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
AML COMPLIANCE SENIOR SPECIALIST-FIU
SoFi
Englewood, USA
01.2024 - 07.2025
- Responsible for investigating customer alerts generated by Transaction Monitoring System to ensure all customers adhere to financial laws and regulations preventing money laundering and terrorist financing, including the analysis of transactional activity through to the generation and submission of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) to FinCEN.
MANAGER/AML COMPLIANCE CARIBBEAN REGION
Western Union
Englewood, USA
01.2018 - 01.2024
- The first five years in this role was providing AML Compliance guidance and AML compliance program reviews for Western Union master agents in the Caribbean and Latin American regions.
- Initiated communications and built strong professional relationships with our agent partners to set them up for success as they established and maintained solid compliance programs within their respective countries.
- Managed open and transparent relationships with our Western Union business units, operations teams, internal compliance departments and Western Union leadership that engaged with us in the day-to-day duties we perform.
- From January 1, 2024 through March 31, 2024, I was moved to the U.S. Southwest Border region management to manage a team of compliance officers that performed compliance reviews for our U.S. Independent and Network level agents in the region.
RCA CONSULTANT/ENTERPRISE FINANCIAL CRIMES COMPLIANCE
U.S. Bank
Denver, USA
01.2016 - 01.2018
- This role was responsible for engaging U.S. Bank’s merchant acquiring business line, Elavon Merchant Services, to provide guidance to ensure the business was following U.S. Bank policies and U.S. regulations.
- Tasked with the business team on gap analysis documentation which was used in documenting requirements for issue resolution of defects in the AML Program.
- I was responsible for authoring the BSA/AML and Economic Sanctions risk assessments which were updated on a quarterly basis and interacted with remote U.S. Bank compliance leadership and staff and our business partners every day.
PRODUCT MANAGER/COMPLIANCE PRODUCT SUPPORT
Western Union
Englewood, USA
01.2012 - 01.2015
- This role was responsible for representing the AML Compliance Department for all Western Union business expansion in all phases of a project/program to ensure compliance was involved from the initiation of all business projects through to the completion of the project plan.
- I was involved in the business staff meetings and responsible for reporting to senior level management on AML compliance issues and tasks supporting regional operations and compliance projects for the expansion of products globally.
- I was heavily involved in providing requirements for rules, system impacts, process/procedure changes, and the testing of compliance requirements during UAT and post implementation verification as the compliance department’s stakeholder in projects.
- Produced risk assessment documentation outlining inherent and residual risk on all new and existing product proposals and provided documented requirements to mitigate these risks for the product to be compliant to international and U.S. regulations, and Western Union compliance policies and standards.
manager, project manager
Western Union
Englewood, USA
01.2005 - 01.2012
- Led key AML compliance related projects. Focused teams on compliance and business objectives, and tracked progress to ensure project milestones were delivered on time, within budget, and with desired results.
- Project managed technology projects for the AML Compliance Department. Projects/programs completed are: Money Order Image Retrieval (Money Order Monitoring), AML Compliance Reporting for Western Union (WU.com) Web Site, VIGO/Orlandi Valuta integration projects (Money Transfer Business Acquisitions), and International Regulatory Compliance initiatives (Mexico, Australia, Canada).
- Project managed the development and launch of the Compliance Monitoring & Reporting (CMR) website which provided reporting and functionality to allow Western Union agents a tool to analyze their transactional data to determine if any suspicious or unusual behavior was apparent for reporting to regulators.
project manager
Citigroup
Englewood, USA
01.2000 - 01.2005
- I managed technology projects to remain compliant with the MasterCard & Visa associations’ regulations for the Citigroup merchant acquiring portfolio. Followed all established PMO best practices and delivered all required documentation for projects I managed.
- Partnered with third party companies on projects and worked with other groups across entire Citigroup IT organization.
- Directed technology projects for the Citigroup Merchant Services IES (International Establishment System) web-based credit card acquiring system. Managed large programs as bi-annual associations’ releases for VISA and MC since 2003.
- Managed the Citigroup project and resources for the Home Depot Co-Brand Card project.
GENERAL manager International Operations/Mexico & Colombia
Information Handling Services
Englewood, USA
01.1995 - 01.2000
- I managed the operations and sales for Information Handling Services’ Mexico City, Mexico and Bogota, Colombia businesses. I managed 35 people in Mexico and 13 people in Colombia.
- Spearheaded the execution of the company’s strategic business plans for international subsidiaries, which resulted in revenue growth from $360,000.00 to more than $3.1 million over a three-year period in Mexico.
PRODUCT manager
Information Handling Services
Englewood, USA
01.1995 - 01.2000
- Managed the design, development and production of electronic components database products delivered in both CD-ROM and Web based platforms.
Education
Some College (No Degree) - Business Administration
Metropolitan State University of Denver
Denver, COSkills
- Process integration
- Compliance management
- Risk analysis
- Team leadership
- Partnership development
Military Service
U.S. Navy, Honorably Discharged, Promontory, AML Compliance Investigator/Analyst, 2015, Charles Schwab, AML Compliance Investigator/Analyst, 2015
Timeline
AML COMPLIANCE SENIOR SPECIALIST-FIU
SoFi
01.2024 - 07.2025
MANAGER/AML COMPLIANCE CARIBBEAN REGION
Western Union
01.2018 - 01.2024
RCA CONSULTANT/ENTERPRISE FINANCIAL CRIMES COMPLIANCE
U.S. Bank
01.2016 - 01.2018
PRODUCT MANAGER/COMPLIANCE PRODUCT SUPPORT
Western Union
01.2012 - 01.2015
manager, project manager
Western Union
01.2005 - 01.2012
project manager
Citigroup
01.2000 - 01.2005
GENERAL manager International Operations/Mexico & Colombia
Information Handling Services
01.1995 - 01.2000
PRODUCT manager
Information Handling Services
01.1995 - 01.2000
Some College (No Degree) - Business Administration
Metropolitan State University of Denver
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