Meet Leah Ryan – AML Consultant, FCS Compliance

Find out more about the AML experts at FCS.
In this interview, FCS PR Director, Alison Blease introduces you to FCS AML Consultant, Leah Ryan – AICA (KYC/CDD):

Today I’m with Leah Ryan, AML consultant with FCS Compliance. It’s lovely to see you. You’ve been working for the company since August 2022. How has the last year been for you?

It’s been really good, thank you. I’ve noticed a positive switch in my professional life since joining. It’s interesting to see how everyone brings something different to the table, which is an amazing way to build a team and it means you also keep expanding your field of knowledge, which for me is really important.

Let’s rewind a little. Tell me about your career so far and how it led you to FCS:

I’ve spent most of my career in office-based jobs – in marketing, sales, account management, and customer service. All of which demanded a keen eye for detail and accuracy, as well as ensuring consistency and good communication in a wide range of situations – in essence a great grounding for my current role. I also worked in the hospitality industry for a time too. Again, the skillsets I developed there – time management, multitasking, and prioritisation – are ones I use today.

I eventually ended up in property, which is where I first came across anti-money laundering (AML) compliance. I found it really interesting and it pulled together the different skills that I’d gained over the years.

I was already working in property and then I came across FCS Compliance, and after a little research found that the company was based on strong ethics and quality work, which really appealed to me.

And since you’ve been working in compliance for a little while now, what would say was the most interesting and rewarding part of the work?

The real estate sector is large and ever-changing which I really like. And there are so many nuances within property compliance it means no two situations are ever quite the same. The nature of the job means everything requires thought and consideration – nothing is ever truly black and white – and that makes it interesting.

If an agent was to ask you what aspect of compliance is most important, what would you say?

Fully completing the Know Your Customer (KYC) process, keeping really clear records, and ensuring that those records are kept up to date – events change over time, so it’s important to keep on top of recording changes.

Agents are often nervous or feel they’re being intrusive by asking their clients for documents/information. This is completely understandable. However, all involved parties need to keep in mind that these checks and regulations are there to make sure that no one is put at risk through the process of buying and selling property. And it’s our job to help both the agents and their clients navigate that process safely.

What would you say are the most common mistakes that people make when it comes to compliance?

Trying to rush through checks and take shortcuts. There are no shortcuts and in my experience taking time to see the process through in a detailed and thorough manner saves time in the long run. Rushing the process through, far from speeding up a transaction, frequently slows it down. It’s always better to be thorough and get all the right information the first time around, rather than trying to retrospectively fix issues later down the line.

Leah thank you so much for taking the time to speak to me today. It’s been really interesting.

Thank you!

Learn more about Leah and the rest of the FCS Compliance Team here.