MARIA ASSUMPTA ABIODUN
Summary
High-performing Financial Crime professional with over one year of experience within Lloyds Banking Group's Fraud & Financial Crime function, specialising in complex financial crime investigations, suspicious activity identification, transaction monitoring and customer protection. Experienced in investigating Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud, impersonation scams, account takeover, mule activity, debit card fraud, romance scams, investment scams and phishing attacks. Demonstrated ability to manage high investigation volumes whilst maintaining exceptional quality standards, consistently achieving quality scores of 88–90%. Experienced in reviewing Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs), conducting customer relationship reviews, freezing and restricting accounts, escalating high-risk cases and producing regulator-ready investigation documentation. Recognised for strong investigative judgement, maintaining a record of zero confirmed catch-and-release incidents. Confident communicator with knack for problem-solving and collaboration. Proven track record in adapting to new challenges and learning quickly. Strong organisational skills and ability to manage multiple tasks efficiently. Enthusiastic about contributing to team success and delivering impactful results.
Overview
1
1
Certification
3
3
years of professional experience
Work History
Fraud & Financial Crime Specialist
Lloyds Banking Group
08.2025 - Current
- Conduct complex fraud and financial crime investigations in a highly regulated banking environment.
- Manage 50–80 investigations weekly whilst consistently meeting quality and productivity targets.
- Review approximately 5–10 Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) each week and determine appropriate investigative and escalation actions.
- Investigate system-generated transaction monitoring alerts to identify suspicious activity, unusual spending patterns and potential financial crime.
- Conduct investigations relating to APP fraud, impersonation scams, account takeover, mule activity, debit card fraud, romance scams, investment scams and phishing attacks.
- Analyse customer transactional behaviour, account activity and intelligence indicators using a robust risk-based approach.
- Investigate high-value and unusual transactions to identify customer coercion, manipulation, account compromise and financial crime risks.
- Contact customers directly to obtain additional evidence and support investigative outcomes where appropriate.
- Freeze and restrict customer accounts to mitigate financial crime risks and protect customers.
- Escalate high-risk and high-value cases and make referrals to external authorities, including the police, where required.
- Produce detailed, accurate and regulator-ready case documentation and investigation reports.
- Consistently achieve quality scores of 88–90%, exceeding departmental expectations.
- Maintain an excellent fraud detection record with zero confirmed catch-and-release incidents.
- Utilise specialist investigative systems including Outseer, DRE, COBRA, PEGA, Fraud Portal and IBC.
- Collaborate effectively with colleagues across Fraud, Financial Crime, Risk, Operations and stakeholder teams.
- Complete ongoing internal financial crime, fraud prevention and regulatory compliance training programmes.
No7 Beauty Advisor
Boots UK
01.2024 - 08.2025
- Delivered exceptional customer service and consistently exceeded commercial performance targets.
- Developed strong communication, analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Worked effectively in a high-performance environment requiring accuracy and stakeholder engagement.
- Contributed to team success and customer satisfaction outcomes.
- Used excellent upselling and cross-selling techniques to sell add ons, such as lotions, serums and primers, to increase customer order value.
- Assisted clients in selecting suitable beauty products for purchase, boosting retail sales.
- Maintained a high level of product knowledge through regular training, ensuring expert advice is provided.
- Developed and maintained strong relationships with clients, resulting in repeat business and enhanced loyalty.
- Communicated with customers to obtain an extensive understanding of requirements and recommend products best suited to their needs.
- Took stock of products and updated inventory records with new totals.
- Boosted sales by providing exceptional service and maintaining positive, energetic attitude.
- Tailored recommendations to individual customer needs, enhancing personalisation of service.
- Conducted regular visual merchandising on beauty shop shelves, making stands look desirable, attractive and visually pleasing.
- Managed appointment bookings and client records, ensuring a smooth and efficient scheduling process.
- Applied a range of beauty products, such as serums and moisturisers, tailored to client skin types for optimal results.
Human Resources Generalist
ECLAT
02.2023 - 12.2023
- Supported recruitment, onboarding and employee relations activities.
- Conducted investigations relating to employee matters and policy compliance.
- Produced reports and maintained confidential records.
- Managed competing priorities while maintaining high levels of accuracy.
- Maintained up-to-date employee records and documentation in compliance with legal requirements.
- Developed and implemented HR policies and procedures to support organisational goals.
- Managed recruitment processes from advertising vacancies to interviewing and selecting candidates.
- Coordinated with senior management to identify staffing needs and workforce planning strategies.
- Streamlined HR processes through the introduction of HR software systems, improving efficiency.
- Coordinated training and development programmes to enhance employee skills and performance.
- Administered payroll and pension schemes, ensuring accurate and timely processing.
- Oversaw redundancy processes, providing support and guidance to both managers and affected staff.
Education
MSc - Business with Strategic Risk Management
Robert Gordon University
BSc - International Relations and Diplomacy
Skills
- Financial Crime Investigations
- Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs)
- AML
- KYC
- CDD
- Transaction Monitoring
- APP Fraud
- Account Takeover
- Mule Accounts
- Fraud Prevention
- Customer Protection
- Risk-Based Decision Making
- Regulatory Compliance
- Escalations
- Stakeholder Management
- Intelligence Gathering
- Case Management
- Regulator-Ready Documentation
- Data Analysis
- Microsoft Office
- Advanced Excel
- Power BI
- Fraud investigation
- Risk assessment
- Customer relationship management
- Data analysis
- Transaction monitoring
- Case documentation
Languages
French
Intermediate
B1
English
Advanced
C1
Custom
Intermediate French, Internal Financial Crime Training Completed, Eligible to work in the UK
Certification
- ICA [ongoing]
Timeline
Fraud & Financial Crime Specialist
Lloyds Banking Group
08.2025 - Current
No7 Beauty Advisor
Boots UK
01.2024 - 08.2025
Human Resources Generalist
ECLAT
02.2023 - 12.2023
MSc - Business with Strategic Risk Management
Robert Gordon University