U.K. Section 166 "Skilled Person" Review of FCC Technology

Played a central role in supporting the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) independent assessment of the bank’s anti-money laundering (AML) systems and controls as compliance technology testing lead during the Section 166 “Skilled Person” review of HSBC. Worked closely with and reported to the "Skilled Person" appointed under Section 166 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, and in this capacity was part of a team conducting a multi-year review of HSBC's control framework and FCC compliance technology capabilities.

Responsibilities included overseeing the testing of key AML systems such as transaction monitoring, customer due diligence, and sanctions screening platforms. Managed a global team and was responsible for planning, executing, and reporting on technology control assessments, including presenting to FCA representatives on multiple occasions.

The work involved validating system logic, assessing data inputs and alert quality, and reviewing escalation workflows to determine the effectiveness and reliability of HSBC’s compliance infrastructure, as well as contributing to the data analytics workstream, conducting in-depth analyses of large-scale transactional and customer datasets to test the performance and integrity of monitoring systems. These analyses supported objective, evidence-based conclusions regarding whether HSBC’s compliance framework was aligned with regulatory expectations and capable of detecting financial crime risk.

Serving as a key point of contact between the Skilled Person’s review team and HSBC’s internal compliance and technology stakeholders, this work ensured ongoing communication, issue resolution, and accurate documentation throughout the review. The role required deep regulatory understanding, advanced technical expertise, and effective coordination across global operations.