Lana Babenko-Smith

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT LANA BABENKO-SMITH

I am an anti-financial crime expert with 14 years of experience across global banking institutions, fintech and a boutique consultancy. I am a strategic thinker and problem solver and drive initiatives to completion.I have experience in building financial crime teams at 2 financial institutions, enabling a proactive and strategic approach to financial crime prevention. Most recently, I established and scaled a high performing Intelligence & Investigations team of 5 professionals, built key processes, set standards and through engagement with stakeholders integrated the team in the wider risk management framework. As a consultant, I worked across multiple client engagements in the European banking sector. I led teams to support clients in enhancing their financial crime and sanctions programmes through independent assurance reviews, gap analyses and audit work. Notably, I led the execution of several workstreams in an independent review of a Sanctions Compliance Programme on behalf of a US regulator.In in-house banking roles I have led complex AML investigations, thematic intelligence, EDD, high risk client and high risk jurisdictional reviews covering, Retail, Business Banking, Corporate Banking (including Correspondent Banking and Trade), cross-border payments and Private Wealth Management. I have a strong working knowledge of UK and European AML/CTF regulations and guidance including UK Money Laundering Regulations, JMLSG, 5MLD, FATF, OFAC, EBA. I have extensive experience of leading projects with a focus on measured risk mitigation and financial crime control design. I am skilled in report writing (execution and oversight) as well as standardising and elevating investigative and intelligence processes and techniques. I am fluent in Russian.