Augustine Uchechukwu Achikasim

• Implementation of structures to facilitate regulatory compliance with requisite regulations;
• Planning and Implementation of Bank wide Compliance Programme;
• Operationalising Internal Control policies to ensure effective implementation;
• AML/CFT compliance, education and implementation;
• Daily monitoring of operations to ensure exposures are mitigated;
• Bank Reconciliation and expense monitoring;
• Implementation of the Rule Book to facilitate regulatory compliance;
• Due diligence reviews on Participating Finance Institutions and End-borrowers screening;
• Capacity building of PFIs
• Ethics & ABC Monitoring
• Policy development, training/sensitisation and reviews;
• E & S Compliance Monitoring

• Initiated and implemented the annual Compliance Programme across business units.
• Identified, reviewed, and conducted daily monitoring of high-risk accounts, including enhanced due diligence on flagged entities.
• Reviewed customer transaction alerts, carried out investigations and due diligence, and filed Suspicious Transaction Reports (STRs) and Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) as required.
• Conducted AML/CFT investigations and performed enhanced due diligence on high-risk accounts such as PEPs, public sector accounts, DNFBPs, IMTOs, merchants, POS operators, and BDCs.
• Carried out sanction screening and reporting by screening transactions against global watchlist (e.g., OFAC, EU, UN, and French lists).
• Monitored KYC compliance, assessed customer risk, and reviewed onboarding processes, including screening and profiling of new and existing customers.
• Led Anti-Bribery and Corruption (ABC) monitoring, including ABC risk assessments, staff and vendor training, and compliance reviews.
• Managed due diligence processes for correspondent banking relationships, including handling enquiries and investigations.
• Conducted AML/CFT risk assessments across products, delivery channels, countries, and other risk-prone areas.
• Oversaw compliance with the Compliance Matrix and monitored the Rule Book to ensure alignment with regulatory standards.
• Coordinated engagements with regulatory and law enforcement agencies, ensuring timely responses and accurate reporting.

Anti-Money Laundering Officer / MLRO

• Oversaw group-wide AML/CFT compliance efforts and ensured consistent adherence to regulatory expectations across subsidiaries.
• Managed relationships with correspondent banks, addressing compliance queries and ensuring due diligence standards were upheld.
• Acted as liaison with local and international regulatory bodies on AML/CFT matters.
• Delivered bank-wide AML/CFT training to equip staff and first-line teams with knowledge of emerging threats and compliance expectations.
• Reviewed and updated AML/CFT policies to reflect evolving regulatory requirements and industry best practices.

• Formulated, reviewed, appraised, amended, and updated policies in response to regulatory changes, emerging risks, and shifts in business volume and operational dynamics.
• Conducted product reviews and ongoing monitoring to identify policy gaps and unmitigated risks, recommending practical solutions to address vulnerabilities.
• Ensured adherence to the Bank’s governance policies and regulatory compliance requirements across business functions.
• Monitored staff activities for potential ethics breaches and conflicts of interest, including reviews of staff account transactions to ensure compliance with the Code of Conduct.
• Planned, coordinated, and delivered staff training programmes, including scheduling and post-training monitoring to ensure knowledge retention and behavioral alignment.
• Oversaw the publication, internal communication, and sensitization of revised policies, including targeted training sessions to ensure staff understanding and implementation.

• Developed, reviewed, and updated operational risk mitigation and fraud prevention strategies.
• Identified and categorized key risks, and designed procedures for ongoing monitoring and mitigation.
• Designed and implemented frameworks for the continuous identification, assessment, monitoring, control, and reporting of compliance risks.
• Acted as the primary liaison with both local and foreign regulators such as the NFIU and the Central Banks of Nigeria and Congo on all compliance and supervisory matters.
• Reviewed Head Office units to ensure effective internal controls and appropriate mitigation of exposures.
• Ensured organization-wide compliance with internal policies and control frameworks, and oversaw thorough investigations of any breaches.
• Ensured full compliance with applicable regulations by coordinating issue resolution with stakeholders and maintaining proper monitoring records to track follow-ups and timely closure.
• Established and enforced KYC procedures to meet regulatory expectations and strengthen customer due diligence processes.
• Reviewed international remittances and IMTO operations (Western Union, MoneyGram, RIA, etc.) to ensure regulatory compliance.
• Managed relationships with supervisory and regulatory bodies to support ongoing compliance and institutional credibility.
• Provided leadership and oversight to ensure team deliverables were aligned and executed within expected timelines.
• Performed additional tasks as assigned by the Compliance & Internal Control, International.
• Maintained a robust control environment across the Subsidiary and promoted a culture of risk awareness and accountability.
• Proactively flagged emerging risks to senior management, recommending appropriate mitigating actions.
• Monitored budget performance closely and resolved variances in a timely manner.
• Championed a zero-tolerance approach to fraud across Access Bank DR Congo.

• Oversaw Internal Control and Compliance functions across 81 Access Bank branches within the Zone.
• Identified and classified risks on all general ledger accounts, ensuring adequate controls were implemented based on risk levels.
• Ensured proper reconciliation of high-risk accounts, conducted detailed investigations, and promptly resolved any discrepancies.
• Coordinated the quarterly Risk and Control Self-Assessment (RCSA) exercise for Operations, facilitating the identification and implementation of corrective actions and mitigating controls.
• Ensured strict adherence to operational procedures by coordinating spot checks and periodic reviews of various processes and products offered by the bank.
• Managed timely escalation, tracking, evaluation, and verification of corrective action plans, ensuring closure of exceptions identified during review cycles.
• Promoted continuous awareness and training on information security across the bank.
• Ensured all applications complied with minimum information security standards, with user access rights aligned appropriately to job functions.
• Acted as liaison with external auditors, regulatory bodies, and internal audit teams during reviews and assessments.

• Oversaw over Internal Control and Compliance functions in the 17 Branches of Access Bank in Port Harcourt region

• Supervised a team of four to provide oversight for five branches across Asaba and Agbor, Delta State.
• Conducted daily and periodic reviews of the General Ledger to ensure accuracy and compliance.
• Oversaw account opening and maintenance processes, ensuring adherence to policies and regulatory requirements.
• Performed periodic spot checks at branches, coordinated with external auditors, and managed regulatory liaison activities.
• Reviewed monthly and quarterly proof of accounts for all Operations units to validate financial integrity.
• Conducted branch audits and inspections periodically to ensure high standards of service quality and operational efficiency.

• Conducted daily transaction post-callovers to ensure accurate processing.
• Performed periodic reviews of the General Ledger for accuracy and compliance.
• Reviewed account openings and mandate changes to ensure proper authorization and documentation.
• Carried out periodic spot checks of operational units to monitor adherence to procedures.
• Reviewed monthly and quarterly proof of accounts for all Operations units to verify financial accuracy.