ELENI-MARIA KARAMANOF

Experienced in leading high-performing teams to ensure adherence to global Anti-Money Laundering (AML), Counter-Terrorist Financing (CTF) and sanctions frameworks.

Key responsibilities and achievements

• Ensure compliance with global AML and sanctions regimes (EU, UN, OFAC, UK HMT) and internal policies.
• Lead a team of AML analysts specializing in sanctions screening, transaction monitoring and case investigations.
• Prepare sanctions policy and internal procedures.
• Oversee end-to-end review of sanctions alerts, including name and Politically Exposed Persons (PePs) screening, payment screening, shipping and trade finance transactions.
• Approve AML assessments and questionnaires for correspondent banking relationships (RMAs) and third party relationships (Payments and Financial Institutions, Institutional Investors).
• Escalate high-risk, complex and suspicious transactions to MLRO.
• Coordinate regulatory audits and respond to internal and external compliance reviews.
• Monitor tuning and optimization of sanctions screening systems to reduce false positives.
• Deliver sanctions and AML guidance and training sessions to internal stakeholders.
• Monitor KPIs and quality assurance metrics to ensure operational effectiveness.

• Supervised the work of the Compliance Units of the subsidiaries in Greece and abroad, in order to align with the Group standards and ensure compliance with the applicable legal and regulatory framework.
• Reviewed Compliance and AML policies and procedures manuals of the subsidiaries to ensure alignment with the Group standards and the requirements of the supervisory authorities.
• Prepared detailed reports for the Group Compliance Manager regarding the effectiveness of controls, risk identification, remedial actions and significant developments of the subsidiaries in Greece and abroad.

• Coordinated and supervised the work of AML Units of the Group companies in Greece and abroad.
• Ensured alignment with the AML policy and procedures at group level and compliance with the applicable AML and sanctions regulatory framework.
• Monitored the correspondent banking relationships and third party relationships (with Money and Payments Institutions and Institutional Investors).
• Signed -off periodic and ad hoc assessments for the correspondent banking and other third party relationships.
• Approved correspondent banking questionnaires.
• Prepared detailed reporting to the Group Compliance Officer regarding the effectiveness of policies and controls, risk identification, remedial actions, audits and significant developments for the Group companies and the correspondent banking relationships.

• Monitored global AML/CTF and sanctions framework and ensured compliance with the regulatory requirements.
• Led a team of AML analysts specializing in performing dedicated reviews to enhance compliance with the internal AML/KYC policies and procedures.
• Escalated AML/CTF and sanctions inefficiencies identified through the monitoring process to the MLRO and proposed remedial actions.
• Delivered AML/CTF and awareness training sessions in person and prepared AML/CTF training material and e-learnings.
• Coordinated with internal audit to enhance existing controls and mitigate the AML/CTF risk.

• Led a dedicated team of AML analysts specializing in handling Suspicious Transactions Reports provided by the Branch Network.
• Checked and approved all SARs prior to their submission by the MLRO to Hellenic Financial Intelligence Unit.
• Delivered AML/CTF training sessions and prepared related training material.

• Processed Suspicious Transactions Reports and escalated suspicious cases to the AML team leader.
• Prepared Suspicious Activity Reports to submit them in the Hellenic Financial Intelligence Unit.
• Provided support and guidance to the Branch Distribution network for AML/CTF related matters.
• Performed ad hoc KYC reviews.

• Performed KYC/CDD reviews to detect suspicious activity.
• Investigated alerts and escalated findings to the MLRO.
• Prepared and filed Suspicious Activity Reports in compliance with regulatory standards.
• Performed KYC/CDD/EDD reviews for new and existing customers.
• Provided AML guidance and training the Branch Distribution Network.

• Provided investment and bancassurance services and portfolio management.
• Assisted clients with brokerage account inquiries, trades and investment transactions.
• Conducted KYC/AML verification.
• Supervised tellers and other daily branch operations.
• Promoted investment, banking and bancassurance products.

• Responded to customer inquiries via phone and resolved billing, card, account and service related issues efficiently.
• Process retail banking transactions via phone.
• Escalated complex issues to appropriate departments.
• Promoted cards and bancassurance products.

• Assisted customers with internet connectivity and telephone issues.
• Documented customer transactions in CRM.
• Promoted internet and telephony products.

• Monitored capital markets, tracking equities, bonds and derivatives.
• Prepared market reports for senior management.
• Assisted in valuation models and scenario analysis.
• Collected and interpreted economic indicators.