Heather H.

Interview

What does the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) team do?

We are a large team with different responsibilities, but my specific team focuses on higher-risk clients. We work to ensure they are within our risk tolerance as a financial institution. We conduct research, background checks, and review transactions to follow trends and ensure Key isn’t banking with bad actors. As an Enhanced Due Diligence Operations Department Manager, my primary focus is coaching team members and helping through roadblocks, ensuring we are meeting our goals and helping them grow professionally. I’m also involved in projects like the DARQ Replacement of RSQ.

Tell us about your career path.

I joined Key out of high school. I started in a corporate cash vault, went to high-net-worth sales, digital banking, and now AML. I’ve been fortunate to have great managers who have helped me identify strengths and skills that lead me to my next opportunity. They even pushed me when I needed encouragement to make a positive career change.

What do you like most about what you do?

I really enjoy working with my team members. I love seeing their diversity of ideas and their excitement when their process improvement ideas are implemented. Finding a bad guy to help protect KeyBank is also always rewarding.

Do you feel set up for success?

We have so many training and networking opportunities. For example – a formal mentoring program, networking groups, Grow at Key (career development platform that matches you with career paths that are a good fit for you), coffee chats to connect with peers and leaders. . . so many opportunities. I thought I would love Project Management, but I learned through some of the above opportunities that that’s not for me.

At Key, you can be as successful as you want to be. If you just want to do your job that’s great. If you want to learn coding (for example) there is a program for that. If you want to be a leader, there’s an Aspiring Leader program where you can learn how to handle difficult conversations, resolve conflicts, become a better presenter, and get introduced to other areas of the bank.