Sepideh Behram Rowland, a two-decade financial services industry veteran, has assumed a vice president position within the financial crimes risk and compliance practice of K2 Intelligence Financial Integrity Network.
She will oversee managed services and partnership efforts aimed at helping clients manage and protect business operations from various risks through anti-money laundering, counter terrorist financing and know your customer programs, according to a company announcement.
K2 Intelligence and Financial Integrity Network merged in September 2019 to support public and private sector organizations in financial crime risk and compliance management initiatives. The combined firm works with customers to handle transaction monitoring alerts, file suspicious activity reports, and conduct sanction checks, due diligence and alert reviews.
“Today’s organizations are facing unprecedented pressure on risk and compliance models, alongside tightening budgets and human capital challenges, yet compliance operations are not something that can fall to the wayside,” said Thomas Bock, co-head of K2-FIN's financial crimes risk and compliance practice.
Bock added that Rowland will help drive an effort to help clients design and maintain tailored compliance programs in her new capacity.
Rowland most recently worked at Burke & Herbert Bank as principal VP and Bank Secrecy Act/Office of Foreign Assets Control officer. Her career also includes leadership roles at The Bancorp Bank, American Express, Travelex Global Business Payments, E\*TRADE Financial, Monroe Bank and Trust. She previously held stints at the American Bankers Association as senior compliance counsel for BSA/AML and its subsidiary, the Bankers Association for Finance and Trade, as general counsel.
Her professional experience covers work on consent and enforcement actions, governance oversight programs, compliance systems.
Currently, she serves as co-chair of the U.S. Capital Chapter Advisory Board for the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists and the advisory board of the ABA/ABA Financial Crimes Enforcement Conference, as well as holds membership with the American Bar Association and the Federal Bar Association.
She is the former chair and current advisory board member for the American Bankers Association's Certified AML and Fraud Professional certification program.
Rowland earned her bachelor's degree from George Washington University and juris doctorate from Michigan State University School of Law.
She holds Certified Community Bank Compliance Officer and Certified Fraud and Anti-Money Laundering Professional designations from the Independent Community Bankers of America and the ABA, respectively.
