Alyona Grigoryeva
Tallinn,Estonia
Summary
Compliance professional with strong ownership of KYC/KYB processes and hands-on experience in complex onboarding and risk assessment. Combine operational expertise with process improvement, system optimization, and cross-functional collaboration. Experienced in handling PEP, sanctions, and high-risk cases, and supporting business teams in navigating compliance risks.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work history
KYC/AML/Compliance Specialist
EMCD
2025.04 - 2026.04
- Manage end-to-end KYC/KYB onboarding processes for individual and corporate clients, ensuring compliance with internal AML/CTF policies and regulatory expectations.
- Conduct risk-based customer assessments, including sanctions screening, PEP checks, adverse media review, and enhanced due diligence (EDD) for high-risk clients and counterparties.
- Act as an internal decision point for complex onboarding and escalation cases, including PEP matches, sanctions alerts, suspicious behavior indicators, and other high-risk compliance scenarios.
- Train and mentor new team members, sharing practical expertise in due diligence, AML match handling, fraud indicators, and escalation workflows.
- Own development and enhancement of internal KYC/KYB procedures and onboarding guidelines, strengthening compliance controls and process standardization.
- Configure, optimize, and enhance KYC/KYB verification workflows in Sumsub, aligning system logic with internal AML requirements.
- Identify and resolve critical KYC process and system issues (status synchronization, document handling, screening coverage, workflow logic) in collaboration with IAM and engineering teams.
- Lead end-to-end vendor evaluation, negotiation, and implementation of LexisNexis Diligence+, defining the optimal tool selection and strengthening corporate due diligence framework.
- Define functional requirements for compliance-related platform enhancements and support testing and rollout of system updates.
- Conduct second-line reviews (2LoD) of escalated cases, providing risk-based decisions and recommendations.
- Advise cross-functional stakeholders (Product, Support, Marketing, Business Development, CRM, Legal, Finance) on KYC/KYB processes, onboarding risks, and compliance implications.
- Dual-Function KYB Ownership
- Inbound KYB (Client & Partner Onboarding): Manage full-cycle KYB onboarding for corporate clients and partners, including complex ownership structures, UBO verification, and compliance risk assessment.
- Outbound KYB (Account Opening): Lead corporate onboarding and account opening with external banks, payment institutions, and trading platforms (e.g., Binance, OKX, ByBit, KuCoin and others), acting as the company representative during third-party due diligence, verification, and compliance review processes.
- Https://emcd.io/
- AML & Compliance manager
Skailenga (EEA/UK)
2022.11 - 2025.01
- Provide AML and compliance support for e-money, fiat, and crypto projects, ensuring alignment with regulatory requirements and internal risk frameworks.
- Design and maintain risk-based KYC onboarding procedures tailored to different customer risk levels.
- Configure and optimize KYC workflows in Sumsub in line with internal due diligence and compliance policies.
- Identify and address gaps and vulnerabilities in KYC processes and system integrations, reducing fraud risks and improving control effectiveness.
- Contribute to the development of internal AML/KYC frameworks, including customer risk scoring models, country risk classification, and anti-fraud alert triggers.
- Prepare and maintain AML documentation, including suspicious activity monitoring procedures and internal SAR reporting to MLRO.
- Perform enhanced due diligence (EDD) as part of second-line control, supporting risk-based decision-making.
- Investigate suspicious activities and support risk assessments using analytical and anti-fraud tools.
- Establish and maintain internal AML knowledge-sharing practices (e.g., updates on FATF changes, regulatory developments, and financial crime trends).
- Https://skailenga.com; https://gmwallet.com
AML specialist / KYB Team Lead
Wallester
Tallinn
2022.04 - 2022.11
- Perform end-to-end KYB onboarding, including CDD/EDD, verification of corporate structures, and assessment of financial crime risks.
- Conduct risk-based analysis using corporate registries, external databases, and internal tools to identify AML/CTF risks.
- Evaluate PEP and sanctions alerts using Dow Jones Risk & Compliance and internal screening tools, making risk-based decisions in line with internal policies.
- Support onboarding decision-making by providing structured risk assessments and recommendations to Head of AML.
- Train and mentor KYB/KYC specialists, providing ongoing support, quality control, and knowledge sharing.
- Act as a key point of contact between Compliance, Customer Support, and Sales teams, ensuring consistent communication and alignment in onboarding processes.
- Develop and maintain KYB workflow documentation and internal guidelines to improve process clarity and standardization.
- Facilitate cross-functional collaboration between 1st and 2nd lines by organizing regular syncs and improving communication workflows.
- Contribute to onboarding process optimization and automation by proposing improvements and supporting collaboration with IT teams.
- Investigate suspicious activities and support escalation of high-risk cases where required.
- Https://wallester.com
AML officer
Btc2wire OÜ (Embily and TTMbank)
Tallinn
2021.05 - 2022.04
- Perform CDD and EDD for new and existing clients, including PEP checks, adverse media screening, fraud indicators analysis, and review of high-risk triggers (e.g., high turnover, limit increase requests, address discrepancies).
- Collect and analyze supporting documentation to assess customer risk profiles and ensure compliance with internal AML requirements.
- Prepare regular AML reports in line with FIU requirements and internal reporting standards.
- Maintain and update customer data and risk-related information to support KYC/EDD evaluations.
- Conduct customer risk scoring based on internal methodologies and risk factors.
- Support preparation of internal reports and documentation required for compliance monitoring and decision-making.
- Participate in internal and external audits, ensuring data accuracy and compliance with regulatory expectations.
Company Formation Specialist
Private Finance International Services
Tallinn
2020.01 - 2021.05
- Manage company incorporation processes across multiple jurisdictions, ensuring compliance with local regulatory requirements.
- Support corporate and individual clients with bank account opening in international banks and payment institutions.
- Perform KYC and due diligence procedures for corporate structures and individuals as part of onboarding processes.
- Advise clients on documentation requirements and guide them through complex verification and onboarding procedures.
- Collaborate with AML/KYC specialists, legal advisors, notaries, and banking partners to ensure smooth execution of corporate and financial setups.
- Analyze client structures and propose optimal solutions for complex cases involving multi-jurisdictional setups.
- Maintain client data and support operational processes using CRM systems, including documentation tracking and payment coordination.
- Https://prifinance.com/
Visa specialist
Visa Application Centre
Tallinn
2011.01 - 2016.05
- Perform document verification and KYC checks for visa applications in line with consular and regulatory requirements.
- Review application data for accuracy and completeness, identifying inconsistencies and potential risks.
- Advise individual and corporate clients on documentation requirements and application procedures.
- Ensure compliance with internal procedures, government regulations, and data handling standards.
- Handle sensitive cases involving VIP clients, government officials, and diplomatic profiles, requiring a high level of accuracy and confidentiality.
- Selected to represent the visa centre on-site at a diplomatic mission, supporting visa processing and verification procedures in a high-trust environment.
- Maintain client records and support administrative processes related to application handling.
Education
Degree in Linguistics & Multicultural Communications - English, Interpreter
Moscow State Pedagogical University / Pyatigorsk State Linguistic University
Degree in Business Management - Diploma with Honors
Moscow State Institute for Tourism and Hospitality Management
Skills
- KYC/KYB & Verification Platforms: Sumsub, Idenfy, Onfido, Ondato
- Risk & Compliance Tools: Dow Jones Risk & Compliance, LexisNexis Diligence
- Workflow & Collaboration Tools: Jira, Confluence, Slack, ClickUp, Pyrus, HiBob
- General: Google Workspace
Certification
- AML/KYC Specialist Certifications (2022, 2025) Estonian Training and Conference Centre
- Sumsub — KYC/KYB Certifications
- AMLBot — Blockchain Analytics Certification
- Chainalysis Academy — Blockchain Analysis (Reactor, KYT)
- LexisNexis Diligence+ — KYB Risk Intelligence Training
- OSINT — Open Source Intelligence for Customer Due Diligence
LANGUAGE SKILLS
English — Fluent
Estonian — Intermediate
Russian — Native
Affiliations
- Gym training, brisk walking, travel Certified parachute jumper
References
References available upon request.
INTERESTS AND HOBBIES
Gym training, brisk walking, travel Certified parachute jumper
Timeline
KYC/AML/Compliance Specialist
EMCD
2025.04 - 2026.04
Skailenga (EEA/UK)
2022.11 - 2025.01
AML specialist / KYB Team Lead
Wallester
2022.04 - 2022.11
AML officer
Btc2wire OÜ (Embily and TTMbank)
2021.05 - 2022.04
Company Formation Specialist
Private Finance International Services
2020.01 - 2021.05
Visa specialist
Visa Application Centre
2011.01 - 2016.05
Degree in Business Management - Diploma with Honors
Moscow State Institute for Tourism and Hospitality Management
Degree in Linguistics & Multicultural Communications - English, Interpreter
Moscow State Pedagogical University / Pyatigorsk State Linguistic University