UWAKWE ANYAOGU UWAKWE
Ottawa,ON
Summary
Senior professional in anti-money laundering and regulatory compliance with extensive experience leading AML/CFT initiatives. Proven track record in conducting risk assessments and strengthening financial crime controls, while collaborating with senior management to foster effective compliance cultures across multiple banking operations.
Overview
1
1
Certification
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Customer Service Assistant
COSTCO WHOLESALE CANADA
10.2025 - Current
- Delivered customer-focused service in high-volume retail environment, ensuring confidentiality, professionalism, and operational accuracy.
- Processed customer transactions with strong attention to detail and teamwork, supporting daily operations with integrity.
- Assisted members with product inquiries and service requests.
- Handled customer transactions efficiently at checkout stations.
- Collaborated with team members to maintain store appearance and organization.
Regional Compliance Officer/Area Compliance Officer
FIRSTBANK OF NIGERIA LIMITED
01.2012 - 01.2025
- Led regional AML/CFT compliance programmes supporting regulatory compliance across multiple banking operations.
- Reviewed suspicious transaction reports, unusual transaction activities and high-risk customer relationships, ensuring appropriate escalation and regulatory compliance.
- Liaised with regulatory authorities including Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU), and Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on AML/CFT matters and regulatory examinations, enhancing compliance and investigative support.
- Advised business leaders on AML regulations, KYC, CDD, and EDD, ensuring consistent application of compliance standards across the organization.
- Conducted AML compliance risk assessments and control reviews, identifying vulnerabilities and recommending corrective actions that strengthened enterprise governance.
- Prepared executive compliance reports, governance updates and regulatory submissions supporting senior management decision-making.
- Designed and delivered AML/CFT, regulatory compliance and business continuity awareness programmes for operational teams.
- Partnered with Internal Audit, Legal, and Operations to strengthen governance and investigate compliance issues, resulting in improved financial crime controls.
Area Service Manager/Branch Operations Manager
FIRSTBANK OF NIGERIA LIMITED
01.2000 - 01.2012
- Managed high-volume banking operations involving 500+ financial transactions weekly, maintaining 98–99% operational accuracy.
- Directed branch banking operations, ensuring compliance with internal controls, banking regulations, and operational governance standards to mitigate risk.
- Strengthened operational governance through transaction monitoring, reconciliation reviews, operational risk assessments and continuous process improvement.
- Coordinated responses to operational incidents, audit recommendations and service disruptions while maintaining business continuity.
- Prepared operational reports and management information that enhanced executive oversight and facilitated informed decision-making.
Education
Master of Science - Financial Management
Federal University of Technology Owerri
Imo State, Nigeria01-2024
MBA - Business Administration
University of Calabar
Cross River State, Nigeria01-2002
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
Abia State University
Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria01-1998
Skills
- Customer Service Management
- Customer Interaction
- Customer Inquiry Handling
- Customer Feedback Analysis
- Customer Satisfaction
- Customer Service Reporting
- Transaction Processing
- Operational Efficiency
- Operational Assessment
- Process Improvement
- Team Coordination
- Reporting
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office 365
- Risk Management
- Operational Risk
- AML compliance
- CTF compliance
- Financial compliance
- Reporting
- Transaction Oversight
- Customer Service Reporting
- Operational Assessment
Certification
- Harmonized LLQP-REMIC
- ACAMS (CAMS) Certification – In Progress
- CPA Ontario - Credential Assessment / Certification Pathway in Progress
- Fellow, Chartered Institute of Loan & Risk Management
- Certified Risk Management & Compliance Professional
- Hazard Recognition & Risk Assessment Certification (2025)
Accomplishments
- Delivered 20+ years of progressive leadership in AML/CFT, enterprise compliance, regulatory governance and operational risk.
- Directed AML oversight across regional banking operations, strengthening governance and enterprise financial crime controls.
- Reviewed 1,000+ financial transactions monthly, supporting suspicious activity identification, regulatory compliance and financial crime prevention.
- Supported regulatory examinations and audit engagements with zero major audit findings through proactive compliance oversight and timely remediation.
- Strengthened reporting accuracy to 98–99% through enhanced compliance monitoring, reconciliation and internal control reviews.
- Designed and delivered AML/CFT awareness programmes that reinforced regulatory compliance and financial crime awareness across operational teams.
Timeline
Customer Service Assistant
COSTCO WHOLESALE CANADA
10.2025 - Current
Regional Compliance Officer/Area Compliance Officer
FIRSTBANK OF NIGERIA LIMITED
01.2012 - 01.2025
Area Service Manager/Branch Operations Manager
FIRSTBANK OF NIGERIA LIMITED
01.2000 - 01.2012
Master of Science - Financial Management
Federal University of Technology Owerri
MBA - Business Administration
University of Calabar
Bachelor of Science - Accounting
Abia State University