Leena Prakashchand

Senior Compliance Officer @ RBC

About

I’m a compliance and program management professional with over 9 years of experience across the first and second lines of defence, most notably at HSBC, where I led large-scale regulatory changes, compliance transformations, and risk program execution. I’ve delivered global rollouts of RegTech platforms, including RegRoom (regulatory horizon scanning) and Helios (regulatory mapping), and collaborated across Legal, Operations, and Technology teams. I have also trained over 50 analysts in high-risk, audit-intensive environments. One of my proudest programs was the OKYC transformation, where I helped modernise KYC workflows across geographies. I introduced scalable quality control models, reduced review time by 30%, and brought structure to ambiguous, high-volume regulatory reviews — all while operating under DPA scrutiny. I recently earned my Master’s in Information Systems from the University of San Francisco, which strengthened my ability to embed compliance thinking into technology and product development early — something I believe is essential in today’s fast-evolving regulatory landscape. Whether it’s driving cross-functional program delivery, simplifying complex requirements, or building structure in ambiguity, I bring a proactive, collaborative, and outcome-driven mindset to everything I do. I’m especially excited about roles where compliance is seen not as a gatekeeper — but as a strategic enabler of trust, scalability, and innovation.

Country

United States

City

Walnut Creek

Industry

Management Consulting

Skill

Agile Methodologies, Managing projects, IT policy, Federal & State Regulatory Compliance, Client Engagement & Relationship Management, Technology Strategy & Digital Transformation, Project & Program Management, Proposal & RFP Response Development, Strategic Planning & Market Analysis, Cross-functional Leadership & Communication, Manufacturing Process Improvement, Data Privacy, Oral Communication, Compliance Assessments, Foreclosures, Consumer Bankruptcy, Mortgage Servicing, Regulatory Affairs, Regulatory Documentation, Stakeholder Management

Experience

Senior Compliance Officer

RBC

2025-10 - Present · 1 yr

Independent Compliance Consultant

2024-3 - Present · 2 yrs 7 mos

California, United States

I primarily supported efforts around: – Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) frameworks – Customer Due Diligence (CDD) and onboarding reviews – Risk assessments and internal process documentation – Informal training for small teams transitioning from manual to system-based reviews In parallel, I actively prepared for the CAMS (Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist) certification to deepen my knowledge in global financial crime prevention, sanctions screening, and program oversight.

Regulatory Compliance Manager

HSBC

2019-11 - 2022-8 · 2 yrs 10 mos

As a second line of defence, my responsibilities include but are not limited to – -Identify and oversee material regulatory compliance developments, supporting the Group and HBMB, HBCA. -Demonstrated experience in designing, developing, implementing, and maturing compliance programs, policies, and procedures from the ground up or significantly enhancing existing ones. -Led cross-functional digital transformation initiatives by aligning compliance operations with enterprise technology systems, driving automation and reducing regulatory reporting inefficiencies -Served as a strategic advisor to internal stakeholders, translating complex regulatory requirements into actionable technology solutions and influencing decision-making across business, IT, and risk functions to drive long-term digital adoption

Regulatory Affairs Manager

HSBC

2018-5 - 2019-11 · 1 yr 7 mos

• Conducted regulatory horizon scanning for emerging and evolving U.S. and Canadian laws applicable to financial institutions, with a focus on supporting enterprise-wide Risk and Compliance teams in identifying, assessing, and mitigating regulatory risks. • Monitored, tracked, and analyzed regulatory developments across Canadian financial authorities, including IIROC, CSA, OSFI, FCAC, CDIC, and OSC—providing strategic insights to internal stakeholders and helping align compliance frameworks with North American standards. • Translated and summarized complex legislative and regulatory changes, identifying applicable components based on a defined Risk Taxonomy and advising functional teams on operational impact and remediation strategies. • Delivered concise legal summaries and actionable impact assessments to support the enterprise regulatory change process and ensure controls and policies remained aligned with new requirements.

Customer Due Diligence Analyst

HSBC

2016-2 - 2018-5 · 2 yrs 4 mos

As a first line of defence, my responsibilities include but are not limited to – -Conducted end-to-end customer due diligence and enhanced due diligence reviews for onboarding, periodic, and trigger-based cases, ensuring risk classification and documentation met HSBC’s internal policies and external regulatory requirements. -Acted as the primary owner of screening compliance activities, including managing escalations, conducting investigations, handling customer violations, and leading first-line responses to regulatory queries and audits. -Collaborated closely with Legal and Compliance (2LoD) to build and continuously improve a compliance framework that supports Screening growth and adapts to changing regulatory expectations, while maintaining business accountability in 1LoD. -Served as the key point of contact for ensuring compliance in product and marketing content, while working cross-functionally with risk and compliance teams (2LoD) to align business practices with regulatory obligations and reduce overall risk exposure.