AT : As an active member of ACAMS and co-chair of the ACAMS South Florida Chapter , how important would you say ACAMS has been to your career ?
NS : I ’ m proud to say that I have been an ACAMS member and earned my Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist ( CAMS ) designation in 2009 , so I am coming up on almost 15 years of affiliation with ACAMS . I remember initially seeking membership after joining the U . S . Department of the Treasury ’ s intelligence office . Although I was not new to the intelligence community at the time , I was certainly new to the financial crime space and gaining membership and getting certified through ACAMS absolutely helped me improve my AFC overall knowledge base . Fast forward to 2021 , when I joined the South Florida Chapter Board . I had just come off 14 months of active duty leading U . S . Southern Command ’ s ( Southcom ’ s ) Counter- Threat Finance Branch in Miami , Florida , and was returning to HSBC in a civilian capacity , and very thankfully able to stay in South Florida . I was looking to strengthen my local AFC network and find a way to give back ; joining the South Florida Chapter Board made this possible .
AT : Why should members of the AFC community who are not yet ACAMS members join ACAMS ? How would membership benefit their careers ?
NS : AFC professionals , or aspiring ones , should consider membership to learn about and stay up-to-date on emerging financial crime topics such as the importance of publicprivate partnerships , increased concerns with environmental crimes such as illegal logging , as well as the increasingly important role of technology ( such as artificial intelligence ) in combating financial crime . Membership provides numerous learning opportunities and strengthens career development by enhancing your professional network . Chapter engagement also helps in both regards and there are many chapters located throughout the world that members can join and support . It ’ s worth noting that ― as with most things ― you will get what you put into your membership . I know that ’ s been my experience .
AT : During your career , you served in the U . S . Army Reserve , the U . S . Department of the Treasury and then in the private sector at HSBC . How has serving in the military and both the public and private sectors shaped your career and your life in general ?
NS : I have thoroughly enjoyed having the opportunity to serve my country through both civilian and military roles and would strongly encourage folks to consider government service . Within the public sector , I was able to work alongside dedicated people committed to helping keep our nation and local communities safe from harm . In the private sector , I have found and been able to work closely with colleagues equally committed to serving our communities and keeping them safe . The inputs might be different across the public and private sectors , but the outputs are generally the same : Doing the right thing in the right way . Bringing a public sector perspective to the private sector ― and vice versa ― is incredibly valuable and offers some important insights you might not otherwise gain .
AT : You are heavily involved in Veterans on Wall Street ( VOWS ). Could you tell us more about VOWS and how members could contribute to this organization ?
NS : VOWS is an initiative dedicated to honoring former and current military personnel by facilitating career and business opportunities in the financial services industry ( and more broadly across the private sector ). 1 VOWS events are held around the country throughout the year and directly supported by the VOWS strategic philanthropic partner , the Bob Woodruff Foundation ( BWF ). 2 For example , by the time this article is published , two major VOWS symposia will have been held in New York City and Miami , timed with Veterans Day . If anyone is interested in learning more and getting involved , either on an individual basis or as an organization , I would encourage reaching out directly to BWF through their website .
Bringing a public sector perspective to the private sector ― and vice versa ― is incredibly valuable and offers some important insights you might not otherwise gain
Interviewed by ACAMS Today editorial , ACAMS , Miami , FL , USA , editor @ acams . org
1
Veterans on Wall Street homepage , https :// veteransonwallstreet . com /
2
Bob Woodruff Foundation homepage , https :// bobwoodrufffoundation . org /
ACAMS Today | December 2023 – February 2024 65