Authentic, collaborative, inclusive leader
"Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization."
~ Mahatma Gandhi
About me
Professional Summary
- Inclusive Team Leadership: Collaborative individual with over 5 years of experience in leading a global team, with the mandate of conducting customer due diligence to mitigate the risk of financial crime, and ensure compliance with BSA / AML, and OFAC / Sanctions regulations, while maintaining a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment.
- Training: An effective leader with over 8 years of experience in developing and delivering AML and compliance related training materials globally, both in person and virtually.
- Change Management & Innovation: Over 10 years of experience in the Financial Services Industry, 6 of which involved strategically leading a team through change and automation, while applying an innovative approach to deliver sustainable and meaningful solutions.
- Project Management: Results oriented individual, with a versatile skillset that includes the management and execution of AML and compliance related projects, and other changes impacting financial services clients. Some examples are:
o The implementation of a KYC QC matrix to track KPIs and training needs.
o Leading a PEP Materiality project that required the development, training and implementation of a new adjudication process to align with regulatory requirements.
o The implementation of the FinCEN CDD Rule, including technology and policy changes.
Experience
WELLS FARGO BANK N.A. 2020 - Present
Financial Controls & Oversight Sr. Consultant – Charlotte, NC
- Provide meaningful assessments of financial, risk, and regulatory reporting control environment.
- Oversee compliance with Well Fargo & Company’s COSO based policies for internal controls over financial reporting (SEC and Regulatory Reporting).
- Monitor new and emerging internal control related guidance and issues and assist with facilitation of group-wide training to interested and impacted stakeholders.
- Provide consultation and subject matter expertise for process and control related matters including evaluation of severity of control deficiencies and related remediation efforts.
- Provide process and control support and thought leadership for projects.
- Interface with external auditors, regulators and others on control related matters.
- Oversee and providing guidance to a team of COSO testing consultants.
- Assess capacity and resource planning, as well as yearly testing planning and scoping.
- Initiate and assist with developing and presenting training materials.
BMO FINANCIAL GROUP 2011 - 2020
Vice President, AML Business Controls Testing – BMO Capital Markets - Chicago, IL (2017 – 2020)
· Successfully led and provided oversight to a team of global AML testers in the first line of defense.
· Effectively oversaw risk-based reviews of AML controls within the bank, while conducting the necessary root cause analysis.
· Professionally communicated with stakeholders to discuss processes and enhancement opportunities to address control deficiencies.
· Diligently reviewed Management Action Plans and testing related operational design and effectiveness of newly implemented processes.
· Effectively drafted concise and accurate working papers, memos, reports, and regularly communicated those to stakeholders and senior management.
· Efficiently collaborated with subject matter experts on the identification of risks and integration of legal/ regulatory AML compliance requirements.
AML Team Lead - BMO Capital Markets - Toronto, ON (2015 – 2017)
· Oversaw a team of AML professionals with the mandate of conducting customer due diligence to manage financial crime risk.
· Collaborated with various LOBs to design, maintain, improve, and monitor execution of AML risk and control processes within the bank.
· Led a variety of day-to-day tasks related to AML/ATF governance and risk-control, Customer Due Diligence (“CDD”), Enhanced Due Diligence (“EDD”), and Customer Identification Program (“CIP”).
· Acted as the LOB escalation point for compliance matters while working closely with local AML Compliance Officer/ Enterprise AML office to provide risk oversight.
· Led global projects related to AML/ATF changes, participated in creation of project documentation and requirements, planning and tracking, and liaising with project stakeholders.
· Developed and delivered risk-based training in consultation with the global AML Compliance Officer.
KYC Analyst – BMO Capital Markets - Toronto, ON (2013 – 2015)
· Collected and analyzed a wide variety of information related to system or manually generated alerts to identify persons and entities that may be laundering money or funding terrorism.
· Conducted comprehensive reviews of high-risk clients and assessed risks posed to BMO; provided a final recommendation to maintain/demarket clients based on assessment and risk tolerance.
· Identified unusual activities and behaviors across multiple products, analyzed and assessed information and referred all transactions that may relate to money laundering or terrorist financing for further investigation or reporting.
· Acted as a subject matter expert on AML/ATF issues as they relate to onboarding and maintaining customer due diligence and adjudicating alerts for BMO Financial Group operating groups.
· Supported effective utilization of AML systems, tools and reports to detect and manage AML by participating in ongoing training to develop and maintain knowledge, skills and capabilities.
Senior Tax Representative - BMO Nesbitt Burns – Toronto, ON (2011 – 2013)
· Conducted quality control and production of tax slips and summaries for non-registered accounts.
· Worked with vendors and internal departments to implement system changes; performed extensive testing prior to production to ensure utmost accuracy of reporting.
· Researched and reviewed critical financial information pertaining to tax reporting (CDS, SEDAR and FP); communicated with issuers to validate tax reporting, and responded to urgent branch inquiries.
· Monitored tax files monthly and made necessary adjustments/corrections in a timely manner.
Education
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA, Kenan-Flagler Business School – Chapel Hill, NC 2019 - 2021
Master of Business Administration (MBA)
YORK UNIVERSITY – Toronto, ON 2009 - 2011
Specialized Honors Bachelor of Administrative Studies (BAS) – Graduated Magna Cum Laude
SENECA COLLEGE – Toronto, ON 2006 - 2009
Business Administration (BA) – Accounting and Financial Planning Advanced Diploma
Other
· Certifications: CAMS, CSC, IFIC
· Volunteer: President of the UNC Chapel Hill - Kenan Flagler Business School Advisory Board, Member of the WF DE&I Committee, Member of the Charlotte Volunteer Chapter Leadership Committee
· Languages: Hebrew (fluent), Russian (fluent)
Contact Us
Yelena Nolin
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