DHANUSHA LEKSHMI
Associate - Financial Crime Compliance - Group Regional Sanctions Operations -AME
Dubai
Summary
Dedicated financial crime professional with 15+ years of experience in AML/CFT investigations, sanctions advisory, regulatory compliance and KYC/CDD across exchange houses and global and regional banks in the UAE. Solid credentials in managing sanctions risks, implementing AML procedures, processes and controls, handling regulatory audits, and advising senior stakeholders.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
Work History
Associate -Group Regional Sanctions Team (AME)
Standard Chartered Bank
11.2017 - Current
- Resolve Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) related alerts across name screening and transaction screening.
- Continuously review the transactions screening process sanctions controls and identify if changes and controls are required to better manage risk.
- Advise business on the processes around sanctions true matches, including reporting of breaches, potential circumvention attempts, addition to and maintenance of internal lists, and capturing of trends.
- Represented AME NS (Name Screening) in the PUT Transformation (Process Universe Transformation) initiative by providing recommendations and required changes required during the ECM (Enterprise Case Management) - Sanctions Case Management system transition.
- Contributed to the review and enhancement of the RST DOI (Regional Sanctions Team - Department Operating Instructions) ensuring alignment with the regulatory requirements and internal policies.
- Provide risk based advisory for onboarding high-risk and sanctioned-country clients ensuring adherence to Group Sanctions Policy and local regulatory requirement.
Senior Analyst - FCC - Client Surveillance - AME
Standard Chartered Bank
08.2016 - 10.2017
- Conducted transaction monitoring, sanctions and AML investigations, to evaluate the risk associated with the client activity.
- Assisted with ad hoc projects including AML and sanctions alert dispositions.
- Prepared and submitted investigation reports to the senior management, including recommendations related to STR filings, account closures, and retention of client relationship.
- Prepared MIS reports and escalated any build-up of backlogs in a timely manner to ensure risks are managed where appropriate.
- Trained junior investigators on Sanctions, PEP screening, adverse media investigation techniques.
Compliance Analyst
First Gulf Bank (FGB) Now First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)
05.2015 - 07.2016
- Assisted the Head of AML & Sanctions in enhancing Sanctions and AML KYC procedures including the escalated transaction alerts and name screening matches.
- Provided support to the Business Compliance Officer (Retail, Wholesale and international locations) regarding the management of sanctions and AML risk.
- Delivered actionable recommendations to Head of Business and Group Compliance regarding onboarding of individuals from sensitive jurisdictions and PEPs.
AML & Compliance Manager
Speedremit World Wide Ltd
01.2015 - 04.2015
- Provided oversight and advisory support for AML/CTF, sanctions, CDD, transaction monitoring, name screening, and customer risk assessment frameworks.
- Created and reviewed client KYC/CDD profiles to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements prevailing in each country including filing STRs with the CBUAE.
- Developed training materials and conducted AML/CFT and Due Diligence training for company personnel.
Compliance & AML Analyst
Al Ansari Exchange (AAE)
01.2010 - 12.2014
- Stay fully abreast of the local Anti-Money Laundering Law and U.A.E Central Bank Regulations and FATF recommendations.
- Supported implementation of the KYC onboarding process for both individual and corporate clients in compliance with the CBUAE regulations.
- Report Suspicious transactions Reports (STR) and sanctions/AML/CFT related cases to the Head of the Compliance and AMLSCU of the CBUAE.
Education
ACAMS- UAE AML REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
ACAMS
11-2025
Executive Education: Business Leadership -
Indian Institute of Management (IIM)
Calcutta, India 04.2001 -
Certified Anti Money Laundering Specialist - CAMS -
ACAMS
USA 04.2001 -
MBA - Finance & Marketing
University of Kerala
India 04.2001 -
Skills
Sanctions Advisory - OFAC, EU, UN, UK HMT, DFSA
CBUAE Regulations
AML Investigations & STR Filing
KYC/CDD
PEP & Adverse Media Screening
Name Screening & Transaction Screening (SWIFT)
Financial Crime Risk Assessment
Regulatory Compliance & Policy Implementation
Cross-border Advisory
Training & Mentoring
Case Management Systems (ECM, Fircosoft, MANTAS, WorldCheck, Infrasoft AML)
Timeline
Associate -Group Regional Sanctions Team (AME)
Standard Chartered Bank
11.2017 - Current
Senior Analyst - FCC - Client Surveillance - AME
Standard Chartered Bank
08.2016 - 10.2017
Compliance Analyst
First Gulf Bank (FGB) Now First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB)
05.2015 - 07.2016
AML & Compliance Manager
Speedremit World Wide Ltd
01.2015 - 04.2015
Compliance & AML Analyst
Al Ansari Exchange (AAE)
01.2010 - 12.2014
Executive Education: Business Leadership -
Indian Institute of Management (IIM)
04.2001 -
Certified Anti Money Laundering Specialist - CAMS -
ACAMS
04.2001 -
MBA - Finance & Marketing
University of Kerala
04.2001 -
ACAMS- UAE AML REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
ACAMS
Accomplishments
- Piloted the CBUAE Baseline FCC Examination and presented the onboarding and screening workflows to the regulators.
- Facilitated successful audits and inspections (CBUAE, DFSA, Treliant, GIA, and various government audits) through robust risk assessment and compliance reporting.
- Regulated transaction monitoring, customer screening, and regulatory reporting to ensure compliance with the UAE and global standards (OFAC, EU, UN, and OFSI sanctions regime)
- Advised and implemented sanctions controls and operational risk matters related to new products like virtual accounts and new systems.
- Developed sanctions and AML/CFT training materials, mentored new hires, and embedded a solid compliance culture across the teams.