Pranav Sukumaran

As a Senior Associate at Callidus Consulting, I am responsible for supporting regulatory compliance and anti-money laundering (AML) functions for clients operating within the DIFC and Mainland. My key responsibilities include:

• Develop, implement, and maintain robust anti-money laundering (AML) policies, procedures, systems, and controls to ensure full compliance with applicable DIFC regulations and UAE AML legislation.
• Manage the day-to-day AML compliance operations for Pinnacle Underwriting (DIFC) Pvt Ltd, ensuring effective monitoring and reporting mechanisms are in place.
• Act as the designated point of contact for all internal suspicious transaction reports (STRs), overseeing their assessment, documentation, and escalation in accordance with regulatory requirements.
• Prepare and submit external STRs to the UAE Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) in compliance with UAE Law No. 20 of 2018, and handle related correspondence with the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA).
• Serve as the primary liaison with the DFSA and other competent UAE authorities on all AML-related matters, ensuring accurate and timely responses to requests for information and findings.
• Conduct internal assessments and follow-ups based on regulatory feedback or investigation outcomes, ensuring any identified issues are promptly addressed.
• Establish and lead comprehensive AML training and awareness programs tailored for staff across all levels, fostering a culture of compliance and ensuring documentation of training activities is properly maintained.

• Supported the business in key compliance functions, including managing regulatory and legal compliance, AML (Anti-Money Laundering), sanctions, and financial crime matters.
• Led client onboarding processes, ensuring adherence to AML regulations, sanctions policies, and financial crime checks. Re-vetted existing clients and managed vetting certificates for regional entities.
• Assisted with the design and execution of the Compliance Monitoring Program, reporting key compliance issues to management and the group.
• Drafted, reviewed, and finalized key contract documents such as treaties, amendments/addendums, and service agreements, ensuring they adhered to best practices and legal guidelines.
• Facilitated the approval process for treaties and other legal documents, obtaining internal and external sign-offs.
• Provided ongoing support by addressing compliance-related queries and delivering tailored solutions that met regulatory standards.
• Maintained and updated the Treaty Information Management System (TIMS) to ensure accuracy throughout the documentation lifecycle.
• Collaborated with external legal and treaty resources, and assisted in dispute resolution and negotiations.
• Providing training to staff on compliance requirements and legal obligations, ensuring alignment with internal and regulatory standards (For RGA and Aspire).
• Performed additional compliance-related duties as needed for RGA.
• Perform Compliance Officer duties for Aspire’s operations.
• Oversee and manage Compliance programs ensuring adherence to CB UAE requirements, and conducting Audits and assessments for Aspire TPA.
• Assist in developing and implementing Compliance policies and procedures.

• Delivered high-quality advice and solutions for all regulatory queries, escalations, and approvals across all Lines of Business, maintaining the highest standards for both external and internal stakeholders.
• Assisted in the creation of Financial Crime Compliance and Regulatory Compliance policies.
• Contributed to compliance-related drafting of policies and procedures, enhancing the compliance control framework.
• Drafted agreements and addendums in coordination with the Legal Team.
• Coordinated with the Reinsurance Team on treaty renewals or onboarding of new reinsurers, ensuring compliance perspectives were addressed internally and externally.
• Identified appropriate solutions and processes for business issues to meet regulatory requirements.
• Assisted with the authorization of regulatory applications and licenses, obtaining necessary internal and external approvals.
• Engaged with regulators in the UAE (CB UAE, MOF, DHA, DOH, MOHAP) and other relevant regulators in the Gulf region.
• Maintained close liaison with relevant regulatory bodies, obtaining necessary consents and making ad hoc notifications, and ensuring periodic regulatory compliance.
• Monitored compliance with KYC requirements, performing sanctions checks through World-Check - Refinitiv.
• Provided training to stakeholders on CB UAE requirements related to UBO identification, risk categorization, and KYC mandates.
• Documented and ensured the implementation of appropriate regulatory compliance frameworks, policies, standards, reporting standards, and procedures for the department.
• Conducted monthly and quarterly compliance audits to monitor the quality of KYC documentation and ensure adherence to regulatory requirements.
• Maintained proper records related to regulatory repository, fraud register, regulatory breaches, fines, regulatory complaints, and training conducted.
• Acted as the Regulatory Complaints Champion, coordinating with teams/LOBs to address complaints raised through the CB UAE portal, DHA/DOH complaint emails, and resolving issues within the TAT.
• Assisted with trade license renewals, new branch openings, and tenancy contract renewals.
• Addressed internal audit queries where applicable.

• Ensure 100% compliance and implementation of all rules and regulations set by regulators such as Dubai Health Authority (DHA) and Health Authority of Abu Dhabi (HAAD) - now Department of Health (DOH), acting as the Regulatory Champion for the department.
• Responsible for implementing all rules, regulations, and any new requirements from DHA, HAAD(now DOH), and the Insurance Authority within the department.
• Ensure full compliance and accuracy of data for both regular and ad hoc reports, coordinating with stakeholders to obtain and validate data prior to submission.
• Utilize the Refinitiv World-Check database to meet KYC and regulatory obligations.
• Develop knowledge and understanding of compliance and risk management matters related to products and services for key department users.
• Act as the PSP champion, reconciling and uploading monthly reports, and addressing eligibility or queries on a case-by-case basis.
• Provide new and refresher training to a team of approximately 60 people on various initiatives, including the HAAD (DOH) personal register, DHA unique member ID, and European directives.
• Monitor compliance in line with KYC requirements, ensuring relevant documentation is obtained and communicated to stakeholders, along with additional requirements or sanctions.
• Responsible for training internal stakeholders on various department processes and procedures.
• Serve as the key point of contact for insurance brokers, freelancers, and sales sources to resolve and execute problematic cases.
• Manage high-net-worth clients by liaising between service teams, clients, and processing centers (TPAs) to resolve issues in line with policy terms and conditions.
• Participated in a project team to implement an endorsement portal aimed at enhancing the efficiency of the client journey and improving customer satisfaction for policy mid-term adjustments, working with direct clients and sales sources.
• Created and documented Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on internal processes, regulator directives, and endorsement procedures.
• Coordinated and responded to complaints raised by any regulator (policy or claims-related).

• Maintained an in-depth knowledge of all company regulations and safety legislation, effectively communicating these to all workers.
• Enforced compliance by administering disciplinary actions as required.
• Supervised employees, contractors, and sub-contractors.
• Special Achievement: Best Supervisor for 1st Quarter, 2015.

• Worked on a project for the Naval Aircraft Yard, Kochi, involving the repair of a Compressive Load Testing Machine and the analysis of the previous Load Measuring System.
• Implemented a new Load Measuring Equipment into the system, finalizing the use of a 5-ton capacity pancake model Load Cell and fabricating mount-ups to integrate it into the machine.
• Provisioned a digital load indicator to ensure accuracy and precision of the readings.
• The Load Testing Machine was used to assess the load impact on the landing gears of Indian Naval Helicopters, such as the HAL Chetak and HAL Dhruv.