Financial Services Compliance · KYC & Due Diligence · Policy Governance
AML Analyst and LLM-qualified compliance professional. I work where regulation meets real client files — and I bring an edge in AI governance to the compliance teams of the future.
I'm Towo Odukoya, an AML Analyst in London working at the point where regulation meets real client files. Every week I run KYC and CDD reviews, PEP and sanctions screening and beneficial ownership checks under the Money Laundering Regulations — and I prepare the risk reports our MLRO relies on.
Why compliance? Because it's where law stops being theory. I studied law at Brighton and completed an LLM in Regulation & Compliance at Queen Mary, where my dissertation on UK GDPR and AI regulation in financial services earned a Distinction. What I learnt is that good compliance isn't about saying no — it's about helping a firm grow without losing the trust it runs on.
My edge is AI governance. I've followed the rise of AI in financial services from a regulatory standpoint since 2022. At my current firm I designed and delivered AI training that influenced firm policy and sharpened our risk appetite for long-term value — and I've since volunteered that training to other firms.
The next wave of financial crime risk will be shaped by technology. The compliance teams that thrive will understand both the rulebook and the tools — and that's the professional I'm building myself to be.
Client due diligence investigations, PEP and sanctions screening, adverse media checks, and AML/CTF compliance procedures using industry-standard databases.
Transaction monitoring, compliance reviews, and regulatory reporting aligned with FCA requirements, MiFID II, MAR, and GDPR frameworks.
Drafting and maintaining compliance policies, control design, regulatory framework development, and governance reporting.
Building productive relationships across functions. Translating compliance requirements into practical guidance stakeholders actually use.
Monitoring FCA and regulatory developments, horizon scanning, and producing clear briefings for strategic compliance decisions.
Conduct metrics, management information reports, audit documentation, and board-level compliance summaries.
KYC/CDD reviews, PEP and sanctions screening and beneficial ownership verification under MLR 2017. Prepare risk assessment reports for the MLRO, track evolving UK regulation, and review third-party AI/AML supplier risk. Designed and delivered AI training that influenced firm policy and risk appetite.
Produced structured regulatory reporting and MI used by senior leadership, and acted as first point of contact for regulatory queries from councils and external parties.
Conducted transaction monitoring and flagged 15+ suspicious activities for escalation. Directed KYC investigations for simulated legal onboarding, screening for PEPs, sanctions, and adverse media. Drafted compliance policies aligned with FCA conduct rules.
Supported investigations and due diligence reviews involving sensitive client matters. Collaborated across litigation, IP, and accounts teams, demonstrating stakeholder management and cross-functional communication.
Independently managed complex research projects on governance and regulatory frameworks. Authored publications conveying complex legal concepts to diverse audiences.
Dissertation: UK GDPR and AI Regulation in Financial Services (Distinction)
EU Law, International Law, Company Law (74%), Data Privacy Law (77%), Contract Law
What the FCA's takeover of 60,000 firms means from the inside — and three things firms should start now, not in 2028.
How AI is outpacing UK regulatory frameworks in consumer credit — and what compliance teams need to prepare for.
Why boards must stop siloing AI and ESG — and the compounded risk of not making the connection.
Practical lessons from my dissertation research on data protection challenges facing regulated firms.
Open to opportunities in financial services compliance, regulatory affairs, and KYC/AML roles. Based in London.