aml_analyst_guide

About Me | Sameera Konduri Sameera Konduri AML • KYC • CDD • EDD • Financial Crime Compliance Professional Exploring the hidden side of banking, compliance, customer risk, and financial crime prevention through practical industry insights. Behind Every Customer Review Is A Story Most people see a bank account. I see risk, behaviour, compliance obligations, and the decisions that protect the global financial system. Welcome to AML Analyst Guide. I am Sameera Konduri, a Financial Crime Compliance Professional with over 6 years of experience in Customer Due Diligence (CDD), Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD), Know Your Customer (KYC), Adverse Media Screening, Sanctions Screening, Quality Assurance, and Risk Assessment. Throughout my career, I have worked on customer risk reviews, compliance investigations, quality assurance processes, and regulatory compliance activities that support the integrity of financial institutions. What started as a career op...

 What Makes a Good CDD Analyst? I'm not just a  Analyst . I'm a Senior CDD Analyst, AML Analyst, Screening checker. Here's what separates Good from Great in CDD: 1. Attention to Detail – Spots DOB mismatch, address mismatch, name spelling. 2. Investigative Mindset – Doesn't just collect docs, asks WHY? Checks Companies House even when not asked. 3. Understands RISK not just PROCESS – Knows why this customer is High risk. 4. Documentation – Writes clear audit trail. Any reviewer can understand your rationale. 5. Knows Regulations – JMLSG, MLR, FCA, SAR, NCA – not just bank policy. 6. Communication – Writes RFIs that get replies in 1 go, not 3. 7. Integrity – Escalates red flag even under business pressure to onboard. 8. QA Mindset – Thinks: "If I was the reviewer, would I fail this case?"Journey: Checker → Analyst → Quality Analyst. That's Beyond Onboarding.   Which skill do you think is most important?  Comment below.

 Companies House Verification Guide Step 1: Search – Go to find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk – search by company name or number. Step 2: Check Status – Active / Dissolved / In Liquidation / Strike-off? If not Active, high risk. Step 3: Directors & PSC – Check Persons with Significant Control. Who owns >25% shares/voting rights? That's your UBO. Verify DOB, nationality, appointment date. Step 4: Filing History – Check Annual Accounts, Confirmation Statements, incorporation date. No accounts filed = red flag.Step  5: Red FlagsMass registration address (50+ companies same address)Dormant company showing £2M turnoverFrequent director changes in 3 monthsDirector is corporate entity in offshore jurisdiction Step 6: Cross-Check – Does Companies House data match what customer told you? If mismatch – RFI.Interview Line: "I use Companies House to verify legal entity, UBO via PSC register, financial health via annual accounts, and to identify shell company risks v...

Top 15 KYC Interview Questions for 2026 – What HSBC, Barclays, Revolut are asking now: What is KYC & why is it critical per MLR 2017? CDD vs EDD – Real difference? SOF vs SOW – With documents? What is PEP, types, and EDD process? Who is UBO? How to identify via Companies House PSC? What are AML Red Flags? 4 Pillars of Customer Risk Rating? What is SAR & when to file to NCA? What is JMLSG & FCA Handbook role? What is De-risking / Customer Exit? How do you handle adverse media hits? What is structuring / smurfing? How does sanctions screening work (OFAC/OFSI)? What makes a good QA review? Scenario: Customer reluctant to provide docs – your next steps?

 📊 Customer Risk Rating Explained  How UK Banks Actually Rate RiskAfter CDD, every customer gets a risk score – Low, Medium, High, Prohibited. This score decides your entire KYC journey: Review frequency, Monitoring level, and whether you stay or exit.Most analysts just tick the box. Top 1% analysts understand the 4 Pillars behind it (JMLSG + FCA Model): 1️⃣ Customer Risk Who is the customer? Low: Salaried UK resident, student High: PEP, HNW, Non-resident, complex structure, cash-intensive business 2️⃣ Product / Service Risk What is he buying? Low: Basic current, savings account High: Private banking, Trade finance, Correspondent banking, Crypto, Payable-through accounts 3️⃣ Geography / Country Risk Where is he from / Where does money go? Low: UK, EU, USA, Australia – FATF compliant High: FATF grey/black list – Iran, N.Korea, Myanmar, Nigeria etc. + High corruption per Transparency International + OFSI sanctioned 4️⃣ Channel / Delivery Risk How was he onboarded? Low: Face-to-...

 🚩 AML Red Flags Every Analyst Should Know In my CDD Analyst reviews at HSBC UK, I see one mistake again and again — analysts complete CDD but miss the RED FLAG staring at them.If you miss it, you miss financial crime.Here are the 5 categories interviewers at HSBC, Revolut, Barclays EXPECT you to know:1. Transaction Red Flags Large round figures, Rapid in-out in 24-48 hrs (U-turn), Structuring under £10k, Profile inconsistent, Transfers to FATF grey list jurisdictions2. Customer Behaviour Reluctant to provide KYC/SOF/SOW, Complex shell structures with no rationale, Evasive answers, Multiple accounts3. Business / Corporate Mass registration address on Companies House, No real activity/no website/no employees, Grocery store doing £500k international wires, Use of nominees / bearer shares to hide UBO4. SOF / SOW Red Flags Cannot explain funds/wealth, Wealth from high-corruption country with no legit career, Large cash business with no cash logic5. Sanctions & Adverse Media OFAC /...