Christopher Shirk

About Christopher Shirk

Strategic and results-focused executive with end-to-end success across AML program design, execution, and performance. Directed global Anti-Financial Crime teams, including three in-country affiliate MLROs, to align resources, KPIs/KRIs, and processes with risk priorities. Enable strategic growth by strengthening internal controls and mitigating enterprise-wide financial crime compliance risks. Proven record leading compliance programs, policy development, regulatory exams, MRA remediation, and agency engagement. Stabilize underperforming teams and convert disjointed AML efforts into high-impact frameworks. Deep industry fluency in financial markets, lending, and investment banking environments. Broad success in developing and executing plans in complex, fast-paced, competitive, regulated environments. Early career US Navy Chinese Linguist (Mandarin) supervisor.Qualifications: • 20+ years leading AML regulatory compliance at Deutsche Bank. • Oversaw AML, BSA, CTF, KYC, Anti-Fraud-Bribery-Corruption, Sanctioned Persons, and OFAC Designated Individuals and other financial crime compliance programs for bank operations in Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Colombia. • Recruited, trained, evaluated, and developed 10 Anti-Financial Crime AFC staff, including 3 MLRO country managers. • Established enterprise-wide AFC framework across multiple countries, reducing regulatory findings. • Implemented transaction monitoring system, cutting false positives and enhancing case resolution speed. • Led de-risking from Russia past OFAC and EU sanctions, aligning business exit with enterprise-wide risk appetite standards. • Master of Business Administration MBA, Finance & Economics, Columbia University

Experience

1. Director, Global Financial Crimes - Financial Intelligence Unit (2lod)

   Bank of America

   Dec 2025 — Present · New York, NY, US

   Review and enhance current-state of AML Transaction Monitoring for the Global Markets business units (Bank + Broker-Dealer) in order to increase efficiency and effectiveness.• Design and implement automated and manual interim compensating controls thereby strengthening the control environment.• Design and implement future-state of GM AML TM for both Red Flag coverage (i.e. money movement)+ Behavioral KRIs in order to adhere to regulatory commitments and risk tolerance.• Enhance team capabilities and knowledge on inherent AML risks and mitigants in GM businesses.

Education

• Bentley University

  Attended

• Columbia University

  Master of Business Administration - MBA, Finance & Economics

• University of Hawaii at Manoa

  Master of Arts - MA, Asian Studies (China)

• Penn State University

  Bachelor of Science - BS, Finance

• Columbia University

  Attended (not completed), MA Mathematics of Finance

• University of Amsterdam

  Master of Arts - MA, Mathematical Finance

• Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center

  Diploma, Chinese Mandarin Language