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James Schlegel

Consultant Financial Economic Crime (FEC)

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

James currently serves as an AML Subject Matter Expert at Compliance Champs, where he leverages his expertise in Transaction Monitoring and Organizational Development to empower teams of all sizes.

With extensive experience in Anti-Money Laundering (AML), James has a proven track record in building and optimizing transaction monitoring programs. He has held pivotal roles at global giants like American Express and agile fintech startups, demonstrating his ability to adapt to any environment.

At American Express in Spain, James thrived as a Transaction Monitoring subject matter expert, dominating programs for European and Asian markets. Beyond technical expertise, he displayed strong leadership qualities by growing the Amex’s FIU from a fledgling team to a robust unit of over 100 colleagues within two years.

James’ passion for knowledge translates into immediate success. When joining a local Amsterdam fintech, his in-depth understanding of DNB, AMLD, PWC, and Wwft standards allowed him to implement new procedures that streamlined operations and bolstered their AML defences. Notably, he built a comprehensive transaction monitoring rule set from scratch, including a remediation and historical review (lookback) project.

James isn’t just an expert; he’s a complete package. He tackles large-scale international projects with confidence, effectively representing the department in front of regulators. His dedication extends to building training and onboarding programs, ensuring consistent knowledge transfer within AML specialist teams.

James maintains a healthy balance between work and personal life. He prioritizes physical fitness, staying active through gym workouts and challenging nature-driven activities. This dedication to pushing his limits translates into his professional approach, where he tackles problems with perseverance and strategic thinking – qualities also honed through his love of strategy games. This well-rounded approach allows him to bring fresh perspectives to new challenges.