Why You Shouldn’t Hire Me

If you’re looking for a quick-fix hire, someone to push targets at any cost or toss compliance to the side when it gets inconvenient, let me save you some time, you probably shouldn’t hire me. I’m not a “cut corners and hope for the best” type, especially not in the high-stakes world of VIP and financial crime. In fact, my approach may feel more like a long game than a sprint to the finish.

When I first stepped into the compliance space from VIP, it was all about uncovering risk and spotting patterns. In some ways, you could say I was like a detective, piecing together clues to prevent issues before they arose. My love for the job (and my success in it) wasn’t just about meeting quotas or checking boxes; it was about really understanding what makes a business resilient and trustworthy. Now, in financial crime department, I’ve taken that passion from VIP brought it into the world of investigation and risk, where compliance isn’t just a rule but a value that supports sustainable growth.

You might think this sounds serious, and it is, but I’ll let you in on a secret: it’s also a lot of fun. There’s something incredibly satisfying about helping a business achieve its targets without sacrificing ethics.

Take this one experience early on, when I first realized that “keeping everyone happy” would sometimes mean keeping some people far from happy. I was dealing with an internal push to speed up client onboarding, which, let’s be honest, isn’t always the smoothest process. But fast-tracking meant potentially sidestepping essential compliance checks or making mistakes. So, when I stood my ground and showed where I had made genuine business growth, things started to change. Did it slow things down? Yes, a bit. Did it keep us out of a situation that could have led to fines, or worse? Absolutely. It was a tough call, but the right one, and those lessons have stuck with me since.

What I’ve learned over the years is that compliance and growth aren’t mutually exclusive. They’re actually best friends, whether they know it or not. And sure, in the Australian market, with AML regulations evolving faster than you can say “compliance update,” the temptation to cut corners is there. But when you approach business growth with a compliance-first mindset, you’re setting yourself up for long-term success rather than short-term wins that could come back to bite you.

My career isn’t just built on preventing financial crime or ticking boxes. It’s been about building trust, both with clients and within the organization. You know, there’s a funny thing about trust: it’s often seen as a soft skill, something nice to have, but not essential. But in this industry, trust is everything. If people sense that you don’t take compliance seriously, it doesn’t take long for that negative reputation to spread. And trust me, people are looking closer than ever.

It’s not to say we don’t focus on growth. I love reaching targets, probably more than most. But reaching targets without a rock-solid compliance base is a bit like building a house on sand. Sure, it might look nice from the outside, but one strong gust and, well, you get the picture. I’ve worked with my teams to spot efficiencies, use tools like Refinitiv and Quantexa to filter out false positives, and streamline the process so that hitting targets doesn’t have to mean compromising on standards.

And here’s another thing you should know about me if you’re considering this a job application: I don’t believe in “quiet leadership.” I’m not one to sit in the background and let things run on autopilot. I’m the kind of person who likes to be hands-on, to know the team, to jump in when things get tough, and to celebrate when things go well. I’m a fan of learning, of taking risks in ways that add value, and of making sure my team feels supported enough to do the same.

In fact, the only thing I find more rewarding than solving a compliance puzzle or reaching a tough target is watching my team grow and excel. Seeing them take on new challenges with confidence, knowing that they have the tools and support to make the right choices, even if it’s hard, that’s where the real win is.

So, if you’re still reading, and you’re wondering if this is the right fit, ask yourself: are you looking for someone who’ll push for results without compromise, who’ll support growth while managing risk, and who won’t just “manage” a team but invest in them?

If so, then maybe I’m exactly the person you’re looking for and we should talk. And if not? Well, you’ve been warned.

?