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Summary
Overview
Work history
Skills
Certification
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Timeline
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JULIAN KAREMERA

London,UK

Work preference

Job search status

Open to work

Desired job title

Global Financial Crimes InvestigatorAML Investigations AnalystSenior AML AnalystAML/KYC AnalystAML Compliance Investigator

Work Type

Full timeConsulting

Location preference

HybridRemoteOn-site
Location: London, UK
Open to relocation: Yes

Important to me

Career advancementWork-life balanceCompany cultureFlexible work hoursPersonal development programmesHealthcare benefitsWorking remotely optionPaid time offPaid sick leaveStock options / equity / profit sharing4-day work week

Summary

Financial Crime Specialist with 7+ years’ experience in AML/CTF transaction monitoring, fraud prevention, CDD/EDD and sanctions/PEP screening within UK retail banking. Skilled in handling high-volume alert queues, analysing complex cross-border payment activity, and conducting intelligence-led investigations. ICA-qualified with strong knowledge of UK regulatory frameworks and experience operating within the First Line of Defence (1LOD). Proven ability to deliver clear investigative rationales, high-quality SARs, MI reporting, and strengthen internal controls across emerging markets and high-risk jurisdictions.

Overview

4
4
Certification
9
9
years of professional experience

Work history

Financial Crime Specialist (AML/CTF)

Metro Bank
London
2022.03 - 2026.09
  • Conduct transaction monitoring alert reviews across multiple AML/CTF scenarios, identifying suspicious and non-suspicious activity in line with regulatory requirements. (averaging 90 customers weekly)
  • Analyse customer activity against KYC/KYB profiles to identify financial crime risks, unusual behaviour, and potential money laundering concerns.
  • Prepare clear and evidence-based investigation rationales to support alert closure decisions and escalation outcomes.
  • Escalate suspicious activity through Unusual Activity Reports (UARs) for further AML investigations where financial crime concerns are identified. 89% of escalations result in SAR disclosures to NCA with some also resulting to account closures.
  • Raise and manage triage referrals to Financial Crime Risk & Control (FCRC) teams for KYC/KYB discrepancies, undisclosed jurisdictions, high account turnover, and business misuse of personal accounts.
  • Apply risk-based approach to transaction analysis, ensuring compliance with AML regulations, internal policies, and financial crime controls.
  • Lead training sessions for staff skill improvement.

Customer Due Diligence Specialist (Secondment)

Metro Bank
London
2024.07 - 2024.11
  • Conducted onboarding and periodic CDD/EDD reviews for digitally onboarded business clients, applying risk-based, first-line-of-defence approach.
  • Completed 480 KYB reviews in a focused EDD remediation programme, reducing onboarding risk and improving data quality across high-risk jurisdictions.
  • Validated company and ownership data via Experian, Companies House and open-source intelligence, identifying complex ownership risk and jurisdictional exposure.
  • Reconciled 12 months of customer financial statements against declared turnover, escalating discrepancies with clear rationales.
  • Performed identity verification (ID&V, proof of address, visa checks) and made informed risk decisions for enhanced due diligence.
  • Carried out adverse media / regulatory change checks to detect reputational risk or recent sanctions in emerging markets.
  • Managed high-volume caseloads independently, consistently meeting SLAs while delivering first-line defence reviews.
  • Liaised closely with MLRO and FCRC teams on high-risk cases, providing detailed investigative rationale and remediation recommendations.

Fraud Operations Specialist

Metro Bank
London
2020.04 - 2022.03
  • Managed on daily over 60 customer end-to-end investigations into card fraud, payment fraud, and APP scams, conducting alert triage, decisioning, and reimbursement assessments in line with internal and regulatory frameworks.
  • Detected complex fraud patterns by interrogating internal alerts and external intelligence (CIFAS, SIRA, Equifax) and utilising fraud-detection platforms (WSI, ThreatMetrix, Xceptor, Pindrop).
  • Performed payment screening for fraud-related SWIFT and cross-border transactions, escalating high-risk cases and providing detailed rationale for actions.
  • Escalated complex fraud typologies to control owners and senior stakeholders, contributing to improvements in fraud policy.
  • Trained junior specialist on alert handling, fraud platform usage, and case-management workflows to strengthen first-line fraud response capability.

Customer Service Representative

Metro Bank
London
2017.11 - 2020.04
  • Delivered excellent service to diverse clients including high-net-worth and commercial customers, ensuring satisfaction while complying with regulatory risk requirements.
  • Opened complex business accounts requiring rigorous due diligence, verifying documentation in coordination with AML and Compliance teams.
  • Processed domestic and international payments (BACS, CHAPS, SEPA, SWIFT) securely and accurately, applying payment-screening awareness in operations.
  • Collaborated proactively with AML, Fraud, MLRO, Lending and Commercial Banking teams to resolve high-risk inquiries and escalate potential risk.
  • Trained new staff on systems, processes, risk-aware customer handling, and alert-escalation procedures.

Skills

  • AML / CTF Investigations & Transaction Monitoring
  • Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR/UAR)
  • KYC / KYB Reviews & Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD)
  • Financial Crime Risk Analysis & Alert Decisioning
  • Sanctions, PEP & Adverse Media Screening
  • Source of Funds (SoF) & Source of Wealth (SoW) Analysis
  • Cross-Border Payments & SWIFT Transaction Review
  • Regulatory Compliance & Risk-Based Approach (RBA)
  • Information analysis
  • Employee training
  • Critical evaluation
  • Compliance awareness
  • Professional integrity
  • Communication proficiency
  • Customer due diligence
  • Forensic analysis proficiency
  • Terrorist financing detection
  • Financial services policies understanding
  • Suspicious activity recognition
  • Money laundering typologies understanding
  • Regulatory analysis
  • Transaction monitoring acumen
  • Transaction monitoring systems
  • Sanctions screening systems
  • Regulatory compliance awareness
  • AML law familiarity
  • Ethical judgement
  • KYC principles knowledge
  • Confidentiality management
  • AML software operation
  • Anti-Bribery and corruption measures
  • Financial record examination
  • Fraud detection aptitude
  • Intuitive reasoning
  • Advanced analytical thinking
  • Investigation procedures
  • Advanced data analysis
  • Sanction screening
  • Excel proficiency

Certification

  • ICA Advanced Certificate in AML — Distinction (2025)
  • ICA Certificate in AML — Distinction (2022)
  • Fraud Detection Certificate — Distinction
  • Professional Banker Certificate — Chartered Banker Institute
  • University of Kent - Master of Science in Forensic Science - Upper Second Class Honours

Work availability

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline

Customer Due Diligence Specialist (Secondment)

Metro Bank
2024.07 - 2024.11

Financial Crime Specialist (AML/CTF)

Metro Bank
2022.03 - 2026.09

Fraud Operations Specialist

Metro Bank
2020.04 - 2022.03

Customer Service Representative

Metro Bank
2017.11 - 2020.04

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JULIAN KAREMERA