Abhishek Rahul Koonja
Flacq,Mauritius
Summary
Accomplished professional with expertise in transaction monitoring, sanctions screening, and KYC/CDD/EDD reviews. Demonstrates a strong ability to conduct AML/CFT investigations and manage regulatory operations effectively. Proficient in SWIFT transaction monitoring and targeted financial sanctions, ensuring compliance with industry standards. Skilled in client risk assessment, regulatory correspondence, and data integrity reviews, contributing to process improvement initiatives. Committed to advancing career in regulatory compliance and financial crime prevention.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
3
3
years of post-secondary education
Work history
Regulatory Operations Analyst
Investec Bank (Mauritius) Limited
2024.03 - 2026.07
- Reviewed and investigated regulatory operations and financial crime-related matters, emphasising transaction monitoring to identify compliance risks.
- Analyse client activity, payment narratives, source of funds information and supporting documents to identify unusual patterns and potential sanctions concerns.
- Prepared structured client profiles, investigation summaries, and closure rationales to meet internal AML/CFT and regulatory requirements.
- Supported investigation workflows through data extraction, reconciliation, Excel analysis, and Microsoft 365/Copilot-enabled process automation to enhance operational effectiveness.
Bank Officer - Payment Systems and Digital Innovation Division
Bank of Mauritius
2021.01 - 2024.02
- Supported licensing and oversight of payment service providers and payment system operators through reviews of new products, infrastructure changes, operational model changes and governance arrangements, ensuring compliance and operational efficiency.
- Screened domestic interbank transactions and international payments to and from the Bank using the SWIFT Transaction Monitoring Tool.
- Delivered training to users of the SWIFT Transaction Monitoring Tool and supported operational adoption.
- Integrated new participants into MCIB while assessing data accuracy, integrity and compliance with applicable terms, conditions and statutory requirements, strengthening overall data governance.
- Coordinated resolution of public and participant queries regarding Mauritius Credit Information Bureau (MCIB), enhancing participant satisfaction and operational clarity.
Compliance Officer
ABC Banking Corporation
2020.01 - 2020.12
- Performed KYC checks on account opening files for retail, private banking, and corporate clients to mitigate risk and ensure regulatory adherence.
- Executed real-time sanctions screening for local and international transactions to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Monitored post-transaction activity of local and international payments using OFSAA to identify potential compliance issues.
Compliance Assistant
ABC Banking Corporation
2017.09 - 2020.01
- Conducted KYC checks for new clients and reviewed existing client files to ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
- Updated internal caution lists for individuals under scrutiny, facilitating prompt risk assessment and compliance management.
- Drafted detailed correspondence addressing queries from authorities, including ICAC, MRA, Enforcement Authority, and Supreme Court, to ensure timely and accurate responses.
Education
Certified Financial Investigator -
International Compliance Association
Certified Anti Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) -
Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists
Bachelor of Law and Criminal Justice - undefined
University of Mauritius
2014.08 - 2017.05
Higher School Certificate -
Skills
- Regulatory Operations
- KYC reviews
- Transaction Monitoring
- AML investigations
- Sanctions Screening
- Compliance Reporting
- Financial sanctions
- Client Risk Assessment
- Regulatory Correspondence
- Data integrity
- Process Improvement
- Proficient with AI
SELECTED TRAINING AND WEBINARS
- Licensing of digital banks - Bank of Mauritius, May 2021
- Implementation of Targeted Financial Sanctions - July 2021
- Virtual workshop on LEA cases, legal arrangements, beneficial ownership and suspicious transaction reporting - August 2021
- Beneficial ownership information and Suspicious Transaction Report outreach - September 2021
- ML/TF risk internal controls, compliance programme and suspicious transaction reporting - December 2021
- FATF webinar on proliferation financing risk assessment and mitigation - December 2021
- Virtual Assets / Virtual Asset Service Providers e-learning - FATF Academy, June 2022
- Virtual Assets, Professional Money Laundering, Cryptocurrencies, Ransomware and Countering Terrorist Financing - ECOFEL e-learning platform, 2022-2023
- Demystification of Fintech, Virtual Assets and Initial Token Offerings - Financial Services Institute Mauritius, June 2022
ADDITIONAL STRENGTHS
- Analytical, numerate and detail-oriented, with strong reasoning and documentation abilities.
- Able to work under pressure, manage competing priorities and meet tight regulatory or internal deadlines.
- Collaborative team player with leadership, communication, time management and project management abilities.
- Meticulous listener with strong ability to translate data, supporting documents and transaction activity into clear compliance narratives.
Languages
English
Fluent
French
Fluent
REFERENCES
Available upon request.
Timeline
Regulatory Operations Analyst
Investec Bank (Mauritius) Limited
2024.03 - 2026.07
Bank Officer - Payment Systems and Digital Innovation Division
Bank of Mauritius
2021.01 - 2024.02
Compliance Officer
ABC Banking Corporation
2020.01 - 2020.12
Compliance Assistant
ABC Banking Corporation
2017.09 - 2020.01
Bachelor of Law and Criminal Justice - undefined
University of Mauritius
2014.08 - 2017.05
Certified Financial Investigator -
International Compliance Association
Certified Anti Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) -
Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists