Humza Ahmad
London
Summary
Experienced AML Compliance and KYC professional specializing in Financial Crime prevention. Expertise includes EDD and Sanctions escalations, Quality Control development, and advisory investigations across Banking, Accountancy, and Real Estate sectors. Successfully enhanced compliance frameworks for a global real estate services provider and managed onboarding processes for a leading bank, ensuring regulatory adherence and risk mitigation. Proven ability to adapt quickly and thrive under pressure while mentoring teams and delivering training programs.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior AML Compliance Analyst
Savills PLC
08.2022 - Current
- Designed, tested and refined advanced AI command prompts as part of an internal AI Taskforce Project, evaluating the controlled use of AI tools (Microsoft Copilot, Google AI / Gemini) within AML & EDD workflows and processes for adverse media, sanctions and Source of Wealth analysis, and presenting risk-based recommendations to senior management on efficiency, accuracy and governance.
- Acting as an SME, consulting on Quality Control development, maintaining strict oversight control regime and aiding the transformative change projects in enhancing existing review processes and AML control framework, for Real Estate transactions, Accountancy services & Capital Advisory lines.
- Performed Quality Control review checks for adequacy and completeness of files, including key documents, risk assessments & Source of Wealth financial data, for complex and High-Risk EDD files and sanction escalation forms.
- Presented tailored compliance training sessions for UK regional front offices (York, Nottingham, Stamford). Advised and increased awareness on Financial Crime Risks, internal procedures, local regulations and global standards, including HMRC, JMLSG and FATF guidelines.
- Conducted thorough investigations and reviews on EDD Sanction escalations, involving transactions with sanctions risk, suspicious activities, and potential cases of fraud and financial crime. Assessed relevancy and materiality of key findings and diligently escalated concise recommendations to the Head of Compliance & MLRO; ensured final escalation summary reports were comprehensive to aid in the decision-making process in maintaining or closing business relationships, and accurate submission to bodies such as OFSI & NCA.
- Led the strategic development and revision of the internal policy and control framework, conducting thorough policy gap analyses and producing comprehensive guidance on Unit Trusts. Emphasized Horizon Scanning, monitoring emerging risks and regulatory changes.
- Played a key role in pilot programme for testing effectiveness and integration of new risk management platform (Orbis), providing recommendations for improvement to stakeholders, on tool’s functionality, data and risk accuracy, screening and usability; conducted reviews on ongoing monitoring alerts from Orbis, assessed data changes in beneficial owners, PEPs and sanction hits.
- Provided strong expertise, in training and guiding team members on risk evaluation of various types of legal structures including Private and Public listed companies, Subsidiaries, Foundations, Funds, Offshore Trusts, SPVs, Limited Partnerships and Family Groups.
- Confirmed and discounted adverse news and PEP hits on Legal Entities, and Key Managers. Utilized screening search tools, (WorldCheck, Google & Lexis Nexus) to identify presence of PEPs, sanction hits or adverse news; verified whether entities and individuals were not on any list of money launderers and terrorists, such as the OFAC Specially Designated Nationals list and HM Treasury Sanctions.
- Led and managed a team of 3, including AML Analysts and Administrators, providing guidance, support and mentorship to ensure efficient and accurate handling of AML Investigations, fostering a cohesive high performing unit. Managed the performance and professional development of staff members, ensuring alignment with team objectives.
Team Leader – Client Onboarding & KYC
BNP Paribas Real Estate
01.2022 - 08.2022
- Contributed to compliance project by monitoring ongoing relationships, involving Russia nexus and sanctions risk. Performed sample audit check on 50 KYC records and reported on key findings, identifying prohibited relationships and remediation exercises.
- Managed prioritization and case allocation tracker; monitored progress and reported on Key Performance Indicators via excel tracker, which enhanced decision-making.
- Performed Quality Assurance spot checks on sample Legal Entities & Wealth Structure files, identified knowledge gaps and process improvement sessions.
- Enhanced control framework for EDD Escalation reports by developing comprehensive training materials and best practice guidance documents for Source of Wealth analysis, which helped reduce escalation quality errors and review times.
- Supported Senior Management in stakeholder meetings, presenting progress reports, discussing updates and providing guidance on compliance queries and concerns to internal business and operational units.
- Conducted a KYC Legal Entity training session for new hires. Strengthened in-house expertise & knowledge.
- Seconded to high-risk EDD team: led the development of robust quality control function for EDD escalation forms.
- Liaising with and providing guidance to Onboarding Analysts, Relationship Managers and Local Administrators across the UK (London, Edinburgh & Cambridge), on queries relating to onboarding policy, Prohibited Relationships, HMRC Regulation and KYC Tool procedures. Fostered strong networking and relationships within internal group affiliates.
KYC Onboarding Specialist - EDD
BNP Paribas Real Estate
02.2020 - 01.2022
- Developed technical support user guide on KYC Tool Reliance process and trained new hires. Strengthened tool system procedure and onboarding efficiency, for new transactions on existing clients with valid KYC Records.
- Provided Qualitative and Quantitative Risk Assessment on Clients and Counterparties requiring EDD, in particularly paying greater emphasis on complex ownership layers and hierarchy structures, Offshore Trusts incorporated in Tax Havens, Country & Sector Sensitivity, Foreign PEPs and Source of Wealth.
- Provided clear and concise financial crime and reputational risk assessments for Business and Compliance sign off. Undertook specialized research on triggers, PEPs, Origin of Wealth and Adverse Media. Ensured final escalation summary reports were comprehensive to aid in the decision-making process in maintaining or closing business relationships.
- Identified suspicious incidents and internal breaches, reported SAR’s to financial crime prevention team.
KYC Onboarding Analyst
BNP Paribas Real Estate
08.2019 - 02.2020
- Initiated register and documentation verification process for international companies. Promoted within 6 months of joining.
- Obtained and ensured all KYC and CDD documentation met the internal group policy standards and regulatory requirements.
- Investigated Source of Wealth and Source of Funds. Analysed financial data, confirming whether balance and funds were correct in light of nature of business and career profile of individuals.
- Researched via sources including Bloomberg, regulatory websites, Companies House, Annual Reports, Land Registry, Mint Global, Dun and Bradstreet and foreign registry extracts.
Due Diligence Officer
BNP Paribas (CIB)
05.2018 - 08.2019
- Significantly contributed to the KYC remediation project by completing case files in an efficient and compliant manner, whilst performing gap analysis to identify key process roadblocks, which dramatically improved operational efficiency.
- Managed and remediated a portfolio of Low, Medium and High Risk rated clients, ranging from Corporates, major Financial Institutions, Funds and Central Banks. Ensured all documentation met the internal CIB policy standards and regulatory requirements.
- Key player for off-boarding remediation taskforce; cleared 25% of total backlog in less than 2 weeks.
- Confirmed and discounted adverse news and PEP hits and completed PEP relationship forms for business sign off.
- Managed and completed High Risk EDD assignments, ranging from clients operating in the arms industry and foreign banks operating in High Risk jurisdictions. Responsible for ensuring client was allocated appropriate risk score, by forming judgments on a risk based approach to increase risk level due to adverse news found, sector sensitivity towards corruption, bribery risk and correspondent banking usage.
- On-boarded omnibus accounts and provided suggestions for process improvements to reduce operational risk. Trained and provided guidance to team members on adverse news hits; provided training input for KYC Robot programme.
- Liaised with and provided guidance to Relationship Managers and front offices globally (New York, Lisbon, Mumbai, & Indonesia) on KYC requirements and queries.
- Reviewed MiFiD II and FATCA classifications for clients; reviewed completed AML and Wolfsberg Questionnaire.
Operations Clerk
Harrods Bank Limited
10.2017 - 03.2018
- Aided the completion of account closure project, managing the off-boarding lifecycle operations of more than 700 accounts. Contributed in attainment of £30 million savings campaign target.
- Administered the closure and fund transfer of existing balances, prepared customer due diligence, verified information whilst providing quality customer experience for High-Net-Worth clients. Received training on AML and fraud prevention.
Intern
Al Tamimi and CO
Dubai
07.2016
- Delivered temporary services to the largest commercial law firm in the Middle East, successfully and satisfactorily completing training program, and acquiring skills in legal due diligence & commercial agreements.
- Conducted buy-side due diligence and prepared comprehensive summary reports on 4 UAE healthcare sector acquisitions.
- Largest commercial law firm in the Middle East
Education
BA - History
SOAS University of London
01.2016
A levels - History, Biology, Business studies
Valentines High School
London, Essex01.2013
Skills
- Investigative skills
- Analytical skills
- Quality Control development
- EDD Sanctions escalations oversight
- Organisation skills
- Planning skills
- Relationship building
- Stakeholder management
- Exposure to high-risk clients
- PEPs
- Sanctions
- Legal structures
- Adaptability
- Leadership
- Project management
- Target-oriented environment
- AI implementation
- Risk framework development
- Policy development
- Training delivery
- Advisory skills
- Decision-making skills
- Quality control
- Regulatory compliance
- Adverse media screening
- Risk assessment proficiency
- KYC & AML
- Customer due diligence
Other Skills
EDX: Project Management Life Cycle, ICA: Financial Crime Risk in Global Banking & Markets, ICA: Advanced Certificate in AML, Fluent in English, Urdu, Punjabi, Intermediate level Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Adobe PDF, Bloomberg Terminal, Dow Jones Factiva, Orbis, D&B, Markit, Reapit, Thirdfort, Google AI & Gemini, Microsoft Co-pilot, Open AI
Timeline
Senior AML Compliance Analyst
Savills PLC
08.2022 - Current
Team Leader – Client Onboarding & KYC
BNP Paribas Real Estate
01.2022 - 08.2022
KYC Onboarding Specialist - EDD
BNP Paribas Real Estate
02.2020 - 01.2022
KYC Onboarding Analyst
BNP Paribas Real Estate
08.2019 - 02.2020
Due Diligence Officer
BNP Paribas (CIB)
05.2018 - 08.2019
Operations Clerk
Harrods Bank Limited
10.2017 - 03.2018
Intern
Al Tamimi and CO
07.2016
BA - History
SOAS University of London
A levels - History, Biology, Business studies
Valentines High School