Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
Timeline
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Zakir Ali

Tallinn

Summary

Experienced Senior KYC/CDD officer with a proven track record of ensuring regulatory compliance and mitigating financial risk in the banking and financial services industry. With over five years of comprehensive experience, I possess a deep understanding of KYC procedures, customer onboarding , and risk assessment methodologies. I have proven and extensive experience in fraud detection, risk management, customer due diligence, handling payment issues, and stakeholder engagement. Familiar with identifying red flags and taking the proper steps in documenting the evidence discovered. Talented in training employees, solving complex problems and making sound decisions.

Overview

8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification

Work History

Senior KYC/CDD Agent

Wise (TransferWise)
06.2024 - Current

.

  • Identifying threats, vulnerabilities and suspicious behavior patterns to recommend mitigation measures.
  • Mentoring newbies on various KYC batches
  • Identifying data anomalies through SIDE PROJECTS
  • Skills in ensuring KYC checks and completing Due Diligence.
  • Exercise discretion in setting priorities, identifying customer records that require further review and taking action to obtain and follow-up on the information and/or documentation requested



Due Diligence Agent

Wise (TransferWise)
06.2023 - 05.2024


  • Prepare required reports including Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs), following regulations and time limitations and recommend relationship retention or termination.
  • Evaluate transactions and identifying red flag issues and escalates to relevant and concerned teams


  • Identified threats, vulnerabilities and suspicious behavior patterns to recommend mitigation measures.
  • Perform Due Diligence on existing, new and/or potential customers based on risk mitigation controls and certain trigger events
  • Customer identification and verification using official documents
  • Exercise discretion in setting priorities, identifying customer records that require further review and taking action to obtain and follow-up on the information and/or documentation requested

Officer SME Banking

NATIONAL BANK OF RAS AL KHAIMA
02.2020 - 07.2020
  • Assist in SME loans and account openings
  • Performing holistic due diligence reviews in support of Corporate KYC
  • Responsible for KYB verification of small to medium-sized business customers. This includes using 3rd party web verification sources to verify supplied business information/documents to ensure that internal policy and procedures, as well as regulatory requirements, are met.
  • Responsible for updating customer profiles using internal CRM tools
  • Responded to and executing social escalations for various customer requests to ensure excellent customer satisfaction
  • Exceeded goals through effective task prioritization and great work ethic

Retail Banking Officer

United Arab Bank
06.2018 - 11.2019
  • Responsible for detecting fraudulent activities and charges on credit cards
  • Thoroughly reviewed credit applications to determine applicant and data validity
  • Sales of credit cards and personal finances
  • Onboarding retail customers
  • Evaluated risk to client relationships and work directly with the client to resolve problems
  • Investigated credit card application discrepancies and determine authenticity to prevent fraudulent applications while maximizing new accounts




Islamic Finance Executive

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
02.2017 - 04.2018
  • Contributed ideas toward the monthly team contests to increase team performance levels
  • Assisted with weekly team meetings, reviewing and informing important departmental updates with the team
  • Maintained a high level of ethical conduct handling customers' personal information
  • Sales of Sharia Compliant Products including Credit Cards
  • Received merit-based bonus after a 1-year service

Education

Master of Arts - Innovation and Technology Management

University of Tartu
Tartu, Estonia
06.2023

BBA - Business Administration

Iqra University
Karachi, Pakistan
12.2013

Skills

  • AML/KYC Regulations
  • Customer Due Diligence (CDD)
  • Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD)
  • Risk Assessment
  • Tableau
  • R Programming Intermediate
  • Python Intermediate
  • Report Writing
  • MS Office (Excel, word, & PowerPoint)
  • Analytical and Critical Thinking
  • Team Player
  • SQL Beginner
  • Clear Communication
  • Professional Networking
  • Financial Document Preparation
  • Time Management
  • Adaptability
  • Decision-Making

Certification

  • Certified Information System Auditor (CISA) – License #20170118
  • CompTIA Security+

Timeline

Senior KYC/CDD Agent

Wise (TransferWise)
06.2024 - Current

Due Diligence Agent

Wise (TransferWise)
06.2023 - 05.2024

Officer SME Banking

NATIONAL BANK OF RAS AL KHAIMA
02.2020 - 07.2020

Retail Banking Officer

United Arab Bank
06.2018 - 11.2019

Islamic Finance Executive

Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank
02.2017 - 04.2018

Master of Arts - Innovation and Technology Management

University of Tartu

BBA - Business Administration

Iqra University
Zakir Ali