Nathaniel E. Akyeampong
**** **** **** ******, ********, NY 11234
917-***-**** ******@***.***
EXPERIENCE
Compliance Officer, United Bank for Africa, New York Branch 1/2014 - Present
• Perform periodic reviews and updates of policies and procedures in line with regulatory
guidelines, including FFIEC Manual.
Investigate Questionable Transaction Reports (QTRs) and initiate Requests for
Information. (RFI)
Perform FinCEN 314(a) searches and follow recording keeping requirements.
• Ensure the integrity of the branch’s compliance with OFAC regulations by appropriate
filtering of branch transactions.
• Ensures all daily OFAC cases in internal system are properly documented and
forwarded for approval.
• Ensures all assigned BSA cases are cleared in the required time frame and properly
documented
• Review BSA alerts for the appropriate AML compliance and fully investigates any
unusual activity.
• Prepares reports including SARs when appropriate based on conclusions reached, and
accurately conveys results of investigations in a timely manner in accordance
with bank policy.
• Downloads updates from OFAC SDN list to the NY branch’s system as they occur and
ensures changes are communicated to appropriate parties.
• Performs testing of OFAC changes within the PRIME and Finacle Core systems.
• Researches and analyzes compliance monitoring reports for suspicious/unusual
patterns of activity.
• Obtain all relevant documentation for compliance with KYC rules
• Participate in special compliance reviews and project to check for efficiency gaps
• Performs any other tasks as required to promote day to day branch compliance
• Develops the quarterly transaction look back review report.
AVP, Senior Compliance Officer, JP Morgan Chase, New York, NY 9/2012 - 8/2013
• Conducted periodic internal account/customer reviews to identify potentially suspicious
activity.
• Documented steps taken through the investigation process.
• Interfaced with bankers to obtain information related to their clients’ transaction activity.
• Prepared Suspicious Activity Reports (SAR) in compliance with established regulatory
guidelines and time frames.
• Obtained information and assistance from law enforcement agencies and peer banks.
• Reviewed Suspicious Activity Report and recommended relationship retention or
termination.
• Maintained familiarity with appropriate investigation techniques to support AML
activities, including research utilizing bank systems, internet and databases consistent with the
resolution of investigations.
• Escalated cases to Law Enforcement.
• Participated in the development of goals and execution of strategies within the
department.
• Interviewed customers when applicable.
Compliance Analyst (contract), Bank of New York Mellon, New York, NY 1/2008-9/2012
• Quality assurance - anti-money laundering
• Member of the Enforcement & Investigations Unit within the Legal Department. Made
recommendations for avoiding errors when filing Suspicious Activity Reports (SAR) and compiled
reports of consistent mistakes for the Reviewing Attorneys.
• Reviewed 50-60 SARs per week filed by investigators of the Compliance Department to
verify if correct suspicious or unusual activity has been identified and reported accordingly.
• Conferred with SAR Investigators for additional information relating to ongoing
investigations and discussed findings with Reviewing Attorneys.
• Reviewed and recommended changes to SARs written by SAR Investigators before
approval and remitting to FinCEN.
• Reviewed and evaluated internal controls and procedures for complying with
AML/KYC/BSA and OFAC regulations.
• Conducted enhanced due diligence on all high risk accounts opened and investigated
transactions that presented possible money laundering or terrorist finance risk.
• Provided support in responding to request for information from internal audit and
regulators as part of audit and exam requirement.
• Reviewed and updated policies and procedures applicable to AML/KYC Compliance
• Reviewed and conducted investigations on various types of incident reports including
Corresponding Banking Wires; Subpoenas; 314(a); 314(b); Terrorist Financing; Fraud; Money Service
Businesses and Brokerage related activity.
Senior Compliance Analyst, MacKay Shields LLC- New York, NY 5/2005-6/2007
• Developed policies regarding employee personal trading, including opening of securities
accounts for employees.
• Conducted employee trading surveillance to detect code violations and procured
information in response to regulatory inquires; developed and monitored gift and entertainment policies
and conducted surveillance to detect violations.
• Reported on employee lobbying activities and processed lobbyist registrations in various
states.
• Reviewed Soft Dollar services to ensure appropriate allocation; processed Soft Dollar
invoices for approval and payment; recorded and maintained vendor invoices and payment.
• Provided clients with relevant information about trading activities; reconciled billing
discrepancies.
• Reviewed and updated proxy-voting guidelines; prepared proxy reports; established
new accounts; coordinated with voting agent to ensure that clients’ guidelines were followed.
• Administered claims filings and their settlements, and distributed settlement checks to
clients’ account(s) as needed.
• Conducted OFAC, and FinCEN checks on new accounts; reviewed and approved KYC
documentation for new and existing clients; implemented and monitored Chinese Wall policies and
procedures.
• Reviewed surveillance for breaks of the firm’s Watch and Restricted List policies, and
maintained Restricted and Watch list.
Compliance Analyst, Alliance Capital Management Corporation, New York, NY 1/1998-5/2005
• Assisted in implementing monitoring programs to assure corporate adherence to
internal company policies and procedures, and a State and Federal Laws and Regulations.
• Coordinated continuing education classes for wholesalers and other licensed
representatives, and dealt with insurance licensing and renewals with state insurance department.
• Monitored and updated registrations with the National Futures Association.
• Assisted in interpreting new and existing securities regulations and communicated to
management the operational or functional changes necessary to assure compliance.
• Assisted in coordinating regulatory examinations and inquiries with SEC examiners;
responded to inquiries, audits, complaints and investigations.
• Kept abreast of the latest SEC, NASD and NFA regulations and how they impacted the
firm.
• Reviewed and updated proxy-voting guidelines, voted proxies, prepared proxy report,
established new accounts, organized and filed proxy materials and statements.
• Administered claims filings and their settlements, and distributed settlement checks to
clients’ account(s) as needed
• Directed leadership responsibilities for Financial Associates through coaching and
process improvements necessary to achieve critical performance targets.
• Assisted in developing policies regarding the opening of securities accounts for
employees.
• Conducted employee trading surveillance and procured information in response to
regulatory inquiries.
• Back up for monitoring investment guidelines using Charles River to determine if a
guideline violation occurred.
Paralegal, Ladas & Parry, New York, NY 10/1997-12/1997
Paralegal, Rheingold, Valet & Rheingold, New York, NY 6/1997-9/1997
EDUCATION
LL.M, Corporate, Banking & Finance, Fordham University School of Law, New York, U.S., May 2005
Common Professional Examination in Law, London Guildhall University, London U.K., June 1995
Bachelor of Arts in Law and Sociology, University of Ghana, Accra- Ghana, September 1990
BAR ADMISSION
Member, New York State Bar, Appellate Division, Second Department, Admitted 2009
ADDITIONAL
Series 6, 7 & 9
Proficient in Windows XP Professional/MSOffice, and the following Specialized Banking and Asset
Management Systems: SYFACT, Searchspace, Montran, Lexis/Nexis, Lotus Notes, World Check,
Bridger/Choicepoint, Enterprise Document Mgmt (EDM), Incident Reporting System (IRS)