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Avery Wellman

@averywellman

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Senior AML compliance SME integrating AI/ML with enterprise financial systems.

United States

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What I'm looking for

I seek senior compliance or leadership roles where I can modernize AML programs, integrate AI/ML, optimize detection, and mentor teams within regulated financial institutions.

I am a pioneering Compliance Subject Matter Expert with over 25 years leading AML programs and 15 years in enterprise financial software architecture, development, and implementation. I combine hands-on technical skills with strategic program leadership to deliver regulatory compliance at scale.

I have led and administered teams up to 30 directly and advised organizations of 300, driving successful enterprise-wide AML installs, tuning, validations, audits, and policy creation for top-tier financial institutions worldwide.

My accomplishments include authoring industry-standard AML application requirements, defining AML program policies and procedures used by major banks, reducing alerts by 50–80% through tuning methodologies, and integrating AI/ML approaches to improve detection and reduce false positives.

I seek to bring pragmatic systems design, strong analytics, and clear organizational vision to organizations aiming to modernize compliance operations, improve automation, and maintain regulatory alignment.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Head of AFC Model Development

Deutsche Bank

Jun 2020 - Aug 2023 (3 years 2 months)

Led implementation and remediation of transaction monitoring systems to close AML monitoring gaps, updated policies, methodologies, and MI reporting, and drove tuning and operational optimizations. Provided architectural and data guidance across TM projects.

Transaction Monitoring Policy Development Data Architecture Operations

Founder

Excogito Services, Inc.

Jan 2005 - Dec 2020 (15 years 11 months)

Founded and led a consultancy delivering AML program design, system implementations, and tuning for Global 50 banks and brokerages, reducing alerts 50–80% and achieving regulatory approvals for clients. Managed implementation teams, authored AML requirements and policies, and integrated analytics and AI/ML into compliance operations.

AML Tuning Transaction Monitoring Stakeholder Management

Manager

PricewaterhouseCoopers

Jan 2013 - Dec 2016 (3 years 11 months)

Managed AML audit and remediation engagements for Global 10 banks, delivering statistical optimization that reduced alerts by 80% and produced $2M in cost savings while preventing major regulatory failures. Developed policies and oversaw tactical and strategic AML program improvements.

Program Management Regulatory Compliance

Senior Engagement Manager

Accuity Solutions

Jan 2008 - Dec 2009 (1 year 11 months)

Led engagements to improve sanctions screening products and implementations, delivering at least 50% improvement in screening effectiveness and providing requirements for web-based screening solutions. Coordinated multi-region deployments and client requirements.

Requirements Gathering Client Engagement Deployment Project Management

Requirements Lead

Mantas, Inc.

Jan 2000 - Dec 2005 (5 years 11 months)

Built and led a requirements team for AML surveillance software, authored Mantas AML application requirements, streamlined development cycles to on-time/on-budget delivery, and planned the company’s largest global AML implementation across multiple continents.

AML Software Development Lifecycle Project Planning Global Implementations Team Leadership BRD FRD

Senior Architect/Developer

General Electric

Jan 1987 - Dec 1992 (5 years 11 months)

Led development of GE's financial reporting system (LEX), improving code efficiency and functionality and managing client relationships and administration for financial consolidations. Delivered object-oriented architecture reducing code by 25% and increasing functionality by 35%.

Software Architecture Financial Systems Object Oriented Design Team Collaboration Financial Reporting System Administration SQL SDLC

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

Princeton University

Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Civil Engineering

Activities and societies: Thesis: Structural Analysis CAD system for Frame and Truss Design; coursework included applied machine learning; management training; published in APT Bulletin Vol 20; ACAMS/CAMS involvement.

Bachelor of Science in Engineering (Civil Engineering) with a thesis on structural analysis CAD for frame and truss design and a minor in architecture and engineering.