DENISE BARRETT
Toronto,Canada
Summary
A Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist with experience in the investigation of digital currency transactions, Large Virtual Currency Transaction Reporting(LVCTR) and Fiat Currency Submission (LCTR), (STR) Skilled in analyzing complex situations, identifying risks, and developing compliance solutions. I am a forward -thinking Specialist bringing over 20 years of expertise in financial crimes and compliance reporting,
I am Inspired by Cultivating rapport with teams to optimize project goals and output, resolve complex problems and deliver innovative improvement strategies.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Sanctions Consultant Analyst
INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION (IATA)
10.2022 - 09.2025
- Facilitated the adoption of advanced analytical tools and emerging technologies such as AI and ML during enterprise-wide rollout while providing compliance solutions within the travel industry and collaborating in a team environment
- Assessed and mitigated risks by ensuring compliance with global sanctions regulations and applicable laws using a wide range of technologies, including Salesforce CRM, Canchek AML Solutions, IATA Pay account-to-account payment service, various regulator databases, and Excel
- Screened IP generated transactions to check for Sanctions alerts, investigated potential sanctions violations, documented findings, and provided expert advice to stakeholders; updated control log (in Excel) with data capturing activities and timestamps using knowledge of international sanctions regulations
- Evaluated and tested the effectiveness of internal control systems for sanctions compliance, conducted gap analysis and identified key performance indicators based on new algorithms
- Conducted enhanced due diligence on high-risk counterparties, such as politically exposed persons (PEPs) or entities in high-risk regions; requested more information as required
- Updated client systems to reflect either 'cleared' or 'sanctioned' based on regulatory issues, monitoring activities, and compliance metrics
- Alerted Audit team of inconsistencies and provided feedback during the automation process to ensure the integrity of reporting system as it evolved
- Helped to mitigate financial, legal, and reputational risks for airlines and other aviation businesses by ensuring compliance with complex and evolving international sanctions and AML regulations
- Leveraged skills in working with large datasets (e.g., IATA Global Aviation Data Management [GADM] Hub) to support analysis and decision-making and undertook self-directed learning initiative to increase knowledge of sanctions policies, and stay current on global regulatory changes affecting the industry
Senior Consultant, Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU)
INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL BANK OF CHINA
Toronto, Canada
05.2023 - 09.2023
- Contributed to the overall success of the Financial Intelligence Unit by mitigating risk and identifying all suspicious transactions with reasonable grounds to suspect (RGS), reported said transactions, via suspicious transaction reports (STRs) to FINTRAC and conducted potential money laundering (ML), terrorist financing (TF) and other related investigations
- Supported and contributed to a high-performance and inclusive work environment while identifying and investigating high-risk customers including potential PEPs /PEFPs, and sanction alerts
- Performed and documented FIU / SIU ML/TF investigations and reviews of transaction monitoring alerts and maintained supporting information in accordance with Enterprise AML and FIU policies and procedures, including records of alerts investigation activity and disposition action for alerts
- Recommended risk mitigation actions and next steps at the conclusion of investigations and communicated with leadership to identify challenges and obstacles related to the team’s objectives
- Assisted in the execution of the Bank’s day-to-day AML and other regulatory obligations with an understanding of the Bank’s risk appetite and risk culture in both activities and decisions
- Identified and escalated activities that may expose the Bank to AML risks as well as challenges and obstacles related to the team’s objectives
- Assisted with the development of internal processes and controls for transaction monitoring, and regulatory reporting such as reporting of electronic funds transfers and large cash transactions
- Actively pursued efficient operations, while ensuring the adequacy, adherence to and effectiveness of day-to-day business controls to meet obligations with respect to operational risk, regulatory compliance risk, AML/ATF risk; also conducted risk analysis, and assist in other tasks of the AML Compliance team
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of relevant laws, regulatory guidelines, and industry best practices and superior skills relevant to perform case investigations for ML, TF, sanctions and other regulatory matters
Large Virtual Currency Transaction (LVCTR) Analyst
WEALTHSIMPLE
Toronto, Canada
10.2021 - 06.2022
- Provided regulatory expertise to support the integrity and compliance of mission-critical digital (crypto) currency transaction platform by reviewing and analyzing account activities for possible money laundering, terrorist financing and fraud using various methods (such as an automated monitoring system, analytic reports, notification from other banking personnel and transactional testing)
- Played a key role in the company’s overall compliance program by supporting team efforts to incorporate 'compliance by design' in Invest, Trade and Crypto products and linking business imperatives with regulatory requirements with a business creativity and problem-solving mindset
- Drove regulatory initiatives across various platforms by proactively monitoring and communicating regulatory changes to impacted teams, and testing compliance processes to ensure objectives were met; also assisted with development of appropriate and scalable policies and procedures
- Facilitated the onboarding of new clients by providing account opening approvals and conducting account supervision activities as required, as well as reviewing newly onboarded clients
- Backfilled remediation and monitored transactions pertaining to crypto currency throughout the blockchain to detect any suspicious activity and mitigate risk; applied know your customer (KYC) functions
- Collaborated with various team members using strong analytical and problem-solving skills, superior attention to detail and the ability to exercise sound judgment in gray areas; expressed views that may seemed contrary to prevailing wisdom with confidence and data-driven rationale
- Assured existing and potential clients by verifying the robustness of company’s compliance in line with its growth strategy; participated in and contributed to internal and regulatory audits
- Supported the launch of a new enterprise-wide screening platform through testing & implementation of transaction monitoring rule sets and transferring data from Google sheets to the new platform
- Handled crypto reporting to FINTRAC under the Proceeds of Crime (Money laundering) and Terrorist Financing Act (PCMLFTA) and associated Regulations as applicable
Analyst/Investigator, Financial Crimes & Compliance
HSBC CANADA
Toronto, Canada
05.2014 - 08.2021
- Managed financial crime risk across the enterprise while strengthening financial crime detection, AML, sanctions and anti-bribery and corruption compliance by managing a key leadership role with a global function
- Functioned as a subject matter expert (SME) in screening transactions of PEPs (including bank executives) for financial crime risk aligning all areas of financial crime risk management at the bank
- Facilitated the implementation of effective global standards to combat financial crime by creating the department intelligence manual (DIM) and training analysts on AML procedures
- Provided judgement and clear direction on major issues for which there was no clear-cut solution: adjudicating between the Audit Team & analysts in disagreement on high-risk cases and working with other business areas across the Group and senior stakeholders within each business line
- Investigated fraud & financial crimes, prioritized cases based on potential staff involvement, the amount of financial loss, prospects of recovery, regulatory and reputational risks, and existence of lines of enquiry
- Provided Senior Management with details of investigations and findings, including any weaknesses in management and control processes, along with recommendations to limit future potential losses
- Interacted with representatives at global, regional and country level, and with Senior Management, the Fraud/Financial Crime Investigation Heads and Senior Managers in the other major Financial Institutions
- Implemented and adhered to Global Standards, through conformity with regulations
- Maintained an up-to-date and informed understanding of relevant legislation and regulations and their impact on the bank to facilitate proactive monitoring, governance, risk identification and escalation, commensurate with the business unit’s risk appetite and all risk and compliance program requirements
Compliance/KYC Analyst, Capital Markets, Remediation Project
BANK OF MONTREAL (BMO)
Toronto, Canada
01.2014 - 05.2014
- Proactively evaluated potential risks to BMO to identify unusual activities and behaviours across multiple products and provide KYC analysis and QC recommendations
- Gathered and analyzing a wide variety of information related to system and manually generated alerts to identify persons and entities that may be laundering money or funding terrorism including sanction checks, PEP screening, and adverse media reviews
- Undertook intrinsic investigations/analysis of customer activity using a good working knowledge of Sanctions, Anti Money Laundering, Fraud and Anti Bribery and Corruption legislation and, associated regulation and guidance, with expertise in mapping processes and controls
- Fulfilled risk and compliance obligations, timely and effective escalation and remediation of issues by making sound risk decisions, and creating and maintaining account files to ensure compliance with AML and KYC/ATF customer due diligence operating directives
Investigations Officer/Assistant to VP of Operations/Wire Team Lead
CAMBRIDGE MERCANTILE CORPORATION
Toronto, Canada
05.2007 - 04.2013
- Contributed, as part of a team, to the integrity of the company’s financial system by playing an active and vital role in fraud detection and investigations; reporting daily to the VP of Operations
- Maintained an enterprise-wide view of trader activity and data, aggregating key indicators from across the firm to identify suspicious trading activities
- Correlated and interpreted information from multiple functional areas to prevent savvy traders from circumventing controls in areas such as trading, risk management, compliance, account use, and operations
- Identified unusual behavior with peer and sequence analysis, as well as analytics which tested anomalies in topics: from P&L, cancelled transactions and counterparty concentration to off-hours access and number of attempted logins; investigated messaging of high value International wire transfers & unfulfilled payments
- Developed a trader risk score using multiple alert levels for warning & fraud predictor aggregation
- Investigated the activities and all related messaging of high value International wire transfers and unfulfilled payments as well as ad-hoc analysis of trades, cases, alerts, and account data
- Ensured transactions were in compliance with FINTRAC and FATF regulations
- Liaised with International banking executives concerning matters related to fraudulent or high-risk transactions; maintained effective communication and collaboration company wide
- Approved payments and communication with banking partners using SWIFT secure messaging service, and managed international payments on Bank of America's CASHPRO FX & Deutsche Bank’s DB CINQ
- Provided clearance approval for international cheques and collection items while maintaining vigilance regarding large transactions and suspicious activities/trends
- Implemented procedures for exotic international payments with proper controls that would assist in the detection, deterrence and prevention of money laundering activities
- Assisted in building and reinforcing a culture that minimizes the company’s exposure to risk by providing leadership across the team for staff training and continuous improvement initiatives
- Provided company-wide updates with respect to new and updated directives affecting payment processing; completed all in-house compliance training and testing
- Reported suspicious transactions and transaction monitoring to the Compliance department
- Founding member of the Corporation's Disaster Recovery Team
Account Payable/Receivable Officer
CAMBRIDGE MERCANTILE CORPORATION
Toronto, Canada
12.2004 - 05.2007
- Analyzed AR/AP transactions, conducted variance analysis and prepared reports for the Controller and President disclosing financial intelligence and identifying any areas of financial risk while managing all aspects of the corporation’s payables/receivables and pre-legal collections
- Liaised with the Chief Compliance Officer and General Counsel and conducted tracing operations, including undercover site visits to customer locations; managed and maintained the Corporate Credit Card program, expense reporting procedures and audit; also managed the company loans program
Accounts Payable Supervisor
CORPORATION BURNAC
12.1997 - 06.2001
- Enforced compliance in keeping with a strong customer service delivery model while managing the corporations accounts payable system for all retail shopping centers and industrial properties
Education
Professional Certificate Program - Applied AI And Data Science
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (MIT) PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
01.2026 - Current
Anti-Bribery & Corruption -
ASSOCIATION FOR CERTIFIED ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING SPECIALISTS (ACAMS)
Human Trafficking and Smuggling -
ASSOCIATION FOR CERTIFIED ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING SPECIALISTS (ACAMS)
Financial Crimes and Online Fraud - update
ASSOCIATION FOR CERTIFIED ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING SPECIALISTS (ACAMS)
CAMS Certified Member -
ASSOCIATION FOR CERTIFIED ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING SPECIALISTS (ACAMS)
Skills
- Regulatory Compliance
- AML/BSA
- OFAC
- KYC
- Risk Management
- Audits
- Financial Crimes
- Sanctions
Certification
- Anti-Bribery & Corruption, 2018
- Human Trafficking and Smuggling, 2012
- Financial Crimes and Online Fraud, 2022
- CAMS Certified Member, 05/01/11
References
Available upon request
Professional Development
- Project Shadow Certified Trainer – Public-private partnership involving FINTRAC, the RCMP and Canadian businesses
- Certified Psychological Health and Safety Advisor - Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA)
- Certified Group Facilitator - Gatehouse Toronto
- Award of Excellence in Speech Arts - Scarborough Board of Education
- Award of Excellence in Creative Writing - Scarborough Board of Education
- ACAMS 8th Annual AML & Anti-Financial Crime Conference – Canada
- ACAMS 9th Annual AML & Anti-Financial Crime Conference – Canada
- ACAMS 2nd Annual AML & Anti-Financial Crime Conference – Caribbean
- Battling Fraudulent Activity Connected to Elderly Financial Exploitation (EFE)
- Masterclass: Overcoming Language Barriers in Financial Crime Investigations
- The Other Refugee Crisis: How Global Conflicts Fuel the Scourge of Human Trafficking
- AML Act 2020: Exploring the Future of Financial Crime Management
- Fighting Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking
Timeline
Professional Certificate Program - Applied AI And Data Science
MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (MIT) PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
01.2026 - Current
Senior Consultant, Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU)
INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL BANK OF CHINA
05.2023 - 09.2023
Sanctions Consultant Analyst
INTERNATIONAL AIR TRANSPORT ASSOCIATION (IATA)
10.2022 - 09.2025
Large Virtual Currency Transaction (LVCTR) Analyst
WEALTHSIMPLE
10.2021 - 06.2022
Analyst/Investigator, Financial Crimes & Compliance
HSBC CANADA
05.2014 - 08.2021
Compliance/KYC Analyst, Capital Markets, Remediation Project
BANK OF MONTREAL (BMO)
01.2014 - 05.2014
Investigations Officer/Assistant to VP of Operations/Wire Team Lead
CAMBRIDGE MERCANTILE CORPORATION
05.2007 - 04.2013
Account Payable/Receivable Officer
CAMBRIDGE MERCANTILE CORPORATION
12.2004 - 05.2007
Accounts Payable Supervisor
CORPORATION BURNAC
12.1997 - 06.2001
Anti-Bribery & Corruption -
ASSOCIATION FOR CERTIFIED ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING SPECIALISTS (ACAMS)
Human Trafficking and Smuggling -
ASSOCIATION FOR CERTIFIED ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING SPECIALISTS (ACAMS)
Financial Crimes and Online Fraud - update
ASSOCIATION FOR CERTIFIED ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING SPECIALISTS (ACAMS)
CAMS Certified Member -
ASSOCIATION FOR CERTIFIED ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING SPECIALISTS (ACAMS)