SAJID UL ABDEEN
Dubai,UAE
Summary
A CAMS-certified, results-driven AML/CFT Specialist with 12 years of experience in developing, implementing, and managing robust Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorist Financing (CFT) compliance frameworks within the UAE. Expertise in Transactions monitoring, Onboarding clients, Sanctions screening, Risk assessment, Regulatory reporting. Focused on UAE Central Bank regulations, FATF guidelines and global best practices.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
5
5
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work history
AML/CFT Compliance Senior Officer
Al Ansari Group PJSC
Dubai, UAE
2014.01 - 2026.03
- Developed and managed comprehensive AML/CFT policies and procedures to rebuild and fortify company's AML/CFT framework.
- Fine-tuned and validated transaction monitoring program to ensure compliance with evolving AML/CFT laws and regulations.
- Monitor transactions to identify any suspicious activity and report SAR and STR to FIU using goAML system.
- Identify, assess, and monitor risk posed by customers such as money laundering, terrorist financing and fraud.
- Supervised KYC/EDD team activities and analyzed customer data to ensure compliance with international AML and KYC regulations.
- Identify beneficial owners and PEP, conduct customer risk assessments using risk based KYC framework.
- Screen customer details, managing blacklist screening systems; reduced screening turnaround time by 20% through system optimization.
- Maintained strong relationships with regulators and law enforcement agencies.
- Work closely with internal teams and external stakeholders to ensure regulatory requirements are met.
- Collaborated with internal teams and stakeholders to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Conducted site visits for high-risk agent partners, preparing comprehensive EDD risk assessment reports.
- Developed and delivered mandatory AML compliance training to all staff, ensuring comprehensive awareness of regulatory obligations, reporting requirements, and effective risk mitigation.
- Acted as central point of contact for client onboarding and procedural inquiries, resolving 20% of queries at initial stage to improve process efficiency.
- Liaise with regulators, law enforcement agencies; serve notices such as (Search/Freeze/Unfreeze notices).
- Receive internal audit report, promptly address identified concerns.
- Worked diligently under pressure whilst preserving high-quality output.
- Handled sensitive information with discretion and professionalism.
- Responded promptly and effectively to emergencies using established protocols.
- Wrote detailed reports, aiding in case documentation.
AML/CFT Compliance Officer – Teams Leader
Al Ansari Group PJSC
Dubai, UAE
2023.01 - 2023.12
- Lead team of 07 members in analyzing transactional data for potential sanctions violations, negative media, and other red flags.
- Managed team workflow by assigning daily, weekly, and monthly tasks, optimizing team output and ensuring compliance with deadlines.
- Investigate financial transaction alerts for potential sanctions violations against global PEPs list, criminals, and embargoed entities.
- Conducted investigations of flagged transactions, gathering information from internal and external sources to support compliance decisions.
- Escalated suspicious cases to line manager for review after filing Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) with FIU, ensuring timely response to potential violations.
- Conducted compliance monitoring to ensure adherence to sanctions laws and policies.
AML Analyst
Al Ansari Group PJSC
Dubai, UAE
2019.06 - 2022.12
- Prepared and submitted enhanced due diligence reports on transactional behaviour of large value, high-risk customers to mitigate potential risks.
- Evaluated customers for unusual or suspicious transactions; reported findings to Compliance Officer to ensure regulatory adherence.
- Arranged site visits for corporate customers and produced EDD reports to assess compliance with AML regulations.
- Ensure day-to-day compliance of business against own AML/CFT policies and procedures.
AML Executive
Al Ansari Group PJSC
Dubai, UAE
2014.08 - 2019.05
- Handled onboarding for face-to-face and non-face-to-face customers independently, ensuring compliance and customer satisfaction.
- Conducted site visits for corporate customers and compiled EDD reports to assess risk.
- Resolved client transaction processing issues through effective coordination with departments.
AML Operations Assistant Executive
Al Ansari Group PJSC
Dubai, UAE
2012.04 - 2014.07
- Managed internal hotline to address branch inquiries efficiently.
- Organized and filed documents as directed by AML supervisor.
Sanctions Analyst
Allied Bank Limited
Karachi, Pakistan
2011.01 - 2012.07
- Analysed OFAC/UN sanctions, negative news alerts, and internal lists, ensuring compliance with SBP guidelines.
- Documented independent decisions to release or escalate transaction activity, facilitating thorough review processes.
- Adheres to bank policies, procedures and regulatory requirements and maintains strict level of confidentiality.
Education
M.B.A - Finance
IQRA University
Karachi, Pakistan 2007.08 - 2011.02
B. Com - Accounts
University of Karachi
Pakistan 2005.01 - 2006.12
Skills
- World-Check
- Lloyd's
- Sea-Searcher
- MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
- Leadership excellence
- Incident reporting
- Crime trend analysis
- Policy development
- Staff management
- Conflict Resolution
- Effective negotiation
- Team Leadership
- Risk Assessments
- Report drafting
Certification
- Associate Certified AML specialist (ACAMS)
- Certified Crypto-Currency Officer ACO3 – (Pursuing)
- Anti-money laundering assessment (EIFBS)
- Trade based Money Laundering (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime - UNODC)
- Anti-Bribery & Corruption (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime - UNODC)
- Anti-Terrorism (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime - UNODC)
- Advance AML & CFT certification (ACC)
Accomplishments
- Fine-tune transaction monitoring criteria resulting 15% increase in analyst productivity.
- Enhanced sanctions screening effectiveness resulting 20% reduction in false positives.
- Served as the central point of contact for client inquiries and resolved 20% of queries at the initial stage.
- Developed and implemented innovative AML / CFT training programs resulting increased staff awareness in identifying potential risk.
- Successfully led the team while regulatory examinations with no major findings.
CORE COMPETENCIES
- AML/CFT Compliance Strategy
- KYC, CDD, EDD & Risk Assessment
- Sanctions Screening & Regulatory Reporting
- STR/SAR Drafting & Submission
- Transaction Monitoring Models (Design & Validation)
- Stakeholder Engagement & Audit Readiness
KEY SKILLS
- Analytical & Investigative Thinking
- Detail-Oriented Approach
- Leadership & Team Supervision
- Regulatory Communication
- Time Management & Prioritization
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
AML/CFT Compliance Officer – Teams Leader
Al Ansari Group PJSC
2023.01 - 2023.12
AML Analyst
Al Ansari Group PJSC
2019.06 - 2022.12
AML Executive
Al Ansari Group PJSC
2014.08 - 2019.05
AML/CFT Compliance Senior Officer
Al Ansari Group PJSC
2014.01 - 2026.03
AML Operations Assistant Executive
Al Ansari Group PJSC
2012.04 - 2014.07
Sanctions Analyst
Allied Bank Limited
2011.01 - 2012.07
M.B.A - Finance
IQRA University
2007.08 - 2011.02
B. Com - Accounts
University of Karachi
2005.01 - 2006.12