Consultant / Investigator

LOUISE BERBERIAN

Fraud / Forensic Investigator • Banking Compliance • Arbitrator/Mediator

P.O. Box 4188 • Seal Beach, CA 90740 • 714-***-**** • ***************@*****.***

EXPERTISE

** ***** ***bined experience investigating Economic/Financial and White Collar Crimes in the Bank, Financial Services, Loan, and Insurance industries. Within the banking industry, fraud & forensic examination of complex historical financial data to identify account transaction patterns, criminal or fraudulent activity, compliance violations, and uncover anomalies to prevent or mitigate institution’s risk and operation’s vulnerability. Profile, classify and risk score account transactions to identify suspicious or unusual account activity for accurate, complete and timely Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) filings. Ability to assemble and synthesize large quantities of data, discern key issues and draw appropriate conclusions. Pro-active with the ability to adapt investigation and audit methods, interview and question techniques to specific situations. Strong analytical, observation, problem solving, and prioritization capabilities, understanding of corporate hierarchies and legal entity relationships with the ability to monitor and reconcile data: finding solutions to setbacks. Strong professional verbal & written communication skills taking into account the audience and the nature of the information conveyed. Detail oriented, interpersonal skills with the ability to work independently or as part of a team.

CORE COMPETENCIES

• SAR Drafting & Audits • Fraud & Forensic Examinations • BSA/AML Investigations

• KYC Drafting & Maintenance • Regulatory Compliance Assessment • Due Diligence

• Relationship Summary Drafting • Gap Analysis • Quality Assurance/Control Audits

• Risk Audits & Monitoring • Elder Financial Abuse Investigations • Insurance Fraud Investigations

• Criminal & Civil Investigations • Trade Analyses & Monitoring • Contract Analyses & Interpretation

• Loan Pre-Funding/Post-Closing • Problem Analyses & Resolution • Cost Basis & Profit Analyses

• Operational Cost Reduction • Transaction Analyses & Monitoring • Polls, Research, Studies & Surveys

EDUCATION

UC Irvine, California State University Northridge, L.A. County Bar Association, and L.A. City Attorney’s Office.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

BSA/AML - COMPLIANCE

• Enhanced Due Diligence/Customer Due Diligence and Gap Analysis within insured depository institutions of customer deposit account complex historical financial data and foreign correspondent monetary instruments, ECD and ICL processed through RDC, and International & Domestic wire activity. Transaction sampling, case research, transaction monitoring, and alert clearing. Retail and institutional client on boarding and gap analysis. Grace under pressure during completion of CIP/KYC and SAR Lookback Remediation Investigations.

• Conduct bank/financial institution fraud investigations. Collect research and analyze account activity, compile information and documents from a variety of sources, including, but not limited to, internet resources and public records databases. Confirm the accuracy/authenticity of information collected to detect and determine fraud, suspicious activity, terrorist financing, money laundering, criminal activity, transaction patterns, and filter for targeted information to ensure compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act, OFAC and the US Patriot Act Section 326.

• Adept at identifying suspicious and unusual activity detecting items that are inconsistent with the nature of the financial institution customer’s business and transactions that are designated to evade home country regulations. Decide whether to write and file or not to file a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) or SAR Recommendation making sure that evidence is documented, supported and all data elements and narratives are completed within specified timeframes; are accurate and comply with FinCEN’s filing requirements.

• Thorough investigation of multiple and technically complex cases involving multiple relationship accounts, tired and multi-faceted transactions, and complex cash structure schemes. Anticipate issues or barriers to case/project completion, resolve problems, recommend and implement solutions. Support conclusions and recommendations by documenting and organizing findings, investigation steps, hypothesis, detailing the potential suspicious financial activity within a prescribed written report format that is clear, concise and logical.

• Profile, risk score and classify acceptable and not acceptable risk level activities associated with customer deposit accounts to comply with the US Patriot Act. Recommend client relationships and accounts termination.

• Quality control audits and analyses of work papers to ensure final work product is complete, all supporting

documents are attached; errors, omissions, deficiencies or discrepancies are resolved.

CIVIL & CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION

• Plan, organize and conduct Economic/Financial and White Collar Crimes complex fact-finding investigations of suspected fraud. Legal research, secure, identify, research, collect, assemble, examine, interpret, analyze, & evaluate complex claim, business, financial & personal information/records from a variety of sources; follow the paper and/or money trail to identify criminal, fraud and suspicious activity, develop case strategies, gather evidence, document litigation, settlement and subrogation potential, assists with trial preparation, develop and justify sound conclusions and recommendations, and meet deadlines.

• Interview corporate officers, claimants/plaintiff, defendants, state peace officers, and health care professionals to gather evidence & identify suspicious activity, suspected criminal activity, detect fraud, confirm or refute allegations prior to referral for criminal prosecution.

• Critical thinking with deductive & inductive reasoning. Identify evidence, key damage issues, and third party liability. Cost reduction to clients of $1.2 million. Trained team members how to detect, identify and document suspicious activity, deter and prevent fraud.

• Establish loss amounts, client financial condition, business interruption, operating performance, and risk management practices to link claimants, witnesses, defendants, financial institutions, and methods of operation. Secure and preserve evidence documenting the chain of custody. Prepare narrative and statistical reports to thoroughly, logically and systematically pursue a hypothesis to completion documenting all steps.

LOAN - QUALITY CONTROL & POST CLOSING - DOCUMENT REVIEW

• Loan servicing; contact borrower during pre-loan funding for gap analysis, document acquisition, and information verification. Due Diligence compile, analyze, and evaluate loan documents, employment and tax records, financial statements, credit reports, and court records to verify the identity of parties involved in the transaction, authenticity of documents, accuracy of information, sources of funding, and compliance issues.

• Identify and execute fraud-tracking analysis to isolate loans with the greatest emerging or existing risk issues, evidence of fraud, abusive sales practices or misrepresentation by the parties. Evaluate, recommend and pursue document deficiencies and re-verification, remedial actions, and SAR filings.

• Research and identify root cause of payment delinquencies, bankruptcy and disputes. Establish the “who knew what when” to mitigate fraud-related losses.

ARBITRATION

• Review and analyze discovery motions, pleadings, contracts, financial statements, records, compliance documents, and deposition as part of the case decision-making process in securities industry arbitrations.

• Facilitate party communications to guide parties toward cooperation and exploration of settlement options.

• Compose structured settlement agreements, including language modification and division of fees and costs.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

2006 - 2012 BSA/AML Lookback Project Investigator HSBC, CITI, Downey S & L, WaMu, UBOC

2005 –Present Arbitrator (FINRA) Self-Employed

1982 - 2003 Investigator and BOA/AA/CSA Self-Employed in Financial, Securities & Insurance

TECHNICAL SKILLS

MS Office, Lotus Notes, Citrix, ESB, Actimize, LanAmo, Mantas, Host, Optima, Metavante, Fortent/Searchspace, ILX, ACAT, Starcase, SQL, Preview, ChoicePoint, SDI/Miser, Identity Check, VisiFlow, Bloomberg, Lexis-Nexis, Westlaw, World Check, Patriot Officer, Norkom, AMS, Chex System, Report Manager, AS-400, eRoom, CMT, NESS, Quickscreens, CDMS/AMC, eCADD.

Contact this candidate