Banks and financial services
Banks are at the heart of my client work. I support the development of AML and compliance functions, the implementation of regulatory change, and the work of management and specialist teams.
AML / SANCTIONS / COMPLIANCE
Complex rules.
Solutions that work.
I help businesses prevent money laundering, comply with sanctions and develop their compliance functions. I turn regulatory requirements into solutions that work in your day-to-day operations.
Let's discuss your business needs20+
years of experience
Financial services, industry and EU institutions
FOR LEADERS DELIVERING CHANGE
Regulatory expertise.
For businesses across sectors.
A partner to CEOs and AML and compliance leaders across sectors. Services are tailored to each business, its risks and the requirements that apply. The sectors below are examples.
INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS
Export businesses
Sanctions risks in export trade can involve customers, owners, distributors, other business partners and payments. I help assess how sanctions affect your trade and how to address risks before starting a new customer relationship, partnership or investment.
- Background checks and ownership analysis for customers and business partners
- Assessment of sanctions risks in transactions and payments
- Practical sanctions procedures and training for sales, management and finance teams
Accounting firms and auditors
Integrating customer due diligence and ownership checks into everyday client work. I develop risk assessments, procedures and staff capabilities, and help firms prepare for the EU AML reform.
Property management
Understanding customers and business partners, clarifying ownership structures, and managing sanctions and compliance risks. The scope is defined by the company’s activities and applicable obligations.
Gambling operators
Building and improving AML frameworks, player due diligence, risk-based monitoring and the capabilities of management and staff. I also support international operators preparing to enter the Finnish market.
EXPORTER EXAMPLE
When a new owner brought banking services to a halt
An SME was looking for funding for an investment and found a Nordic investor. When the bank reviewed the new owner’s background and earlier business connections, it decided to terminate the company’s banking services. Earlier background checks and a closer review of the ownership structure could have identified the situation sooner.
I help export and growth companies assess new customers, owners and business partners, including sanctions and financial crime risks, before they become a banking or business problem.
This example is based on an anonymised business situation; no identifying information is published.
01 / EU AML REFORM
From regulation to implementation
Are your processes
ready for what's next?
The EU's new Anti-Money Laundering Regulation changes the framework for obliged entities. Now is the time to understand what it means for your business.
The Anti-Money Laundering Regulation, or AMLR, generally applies from 10 July 2027. Preparation starts with reviewing your business: what needs to change in customer due diligence, risk assessment, monitoring, reporting and responsibilities?
I identify the changes that matter and translate them into policies, processes, customer data and system requirements. The work is tailored to your business and its risks.
IMPLEMENTATION EXPERIENCE
I have supported financial sector organisations in implementing the EU AML package. I bring practical experience of interpreting and implementing the forthcoming rules to your organisation’s preparations.
Understand your starting point
We assess the requirements that apply to your business and identify where current practices need to change.
You receive: a current-state and gap assessment.
A clear change roadmap
We turn the findings into a prioritised plan with named owners and a timetable for delivery.
You receive: a practical implementation plan.
Make the change work
I lead the agreed implementation, engage key stakeholders and embed the changes in working practices together with your organisation.
You receive: an experienced change leader.
Assess your change needs
What is in the EU AML package?
EU legislation provides the common framework, complemented by Finnish legislative reforms and technical standards. The requirements relevant to your organisation depend on its activities and risks.
- AMLR – the EU Anti-Money Laundering Regulation
- Anti-Money Laundering Regulation · (EU) 2024/1624
Directly applicable rules for obliged entities, including customer due diligence, beneficial ownership identification, risk management and internal procedures. The main application date is 10 July 2027.
Read the AMLR (opens in a new tab) - AMLD6 – the sixth Anti-Money Laundering Directive
- Anti-Money Laundering Directive · (EU) 2024/1640
Governs national arrangements in Member States, including supervision, financial intelligence units and registers. The Directive is implemented through national legislation.
Read AMLD6 (opens in a new tab) - AMLA Regulation – the EU Anti-Money Laundering Authority
- Anti-Money Laundering Authority · (EU) 2024/1620
Establishes AMLA and its responsibilities. AMLA promotes consistent supervision, develops technical standards and directly supervises selected financial sector entities.
Read the AMLA Regulation (opens in a new tab) - Finnish AML law reform – Government Proposal HE 105/2026
- Government proposal for national legislation
The Finnish Government proposal supplements the EU regulations and implements the directive’s national requirements. It was submitted to Parliament on 4 June 2026.
Follow the Finnish legislative reform (opens in a new tab) - RTS under AMLR Article 28(1) – customer due diligence
- Regulatory Technical Standards · AMLR 28(1)
The draft regulatory technical standards specify customer due diligence information and documentation, as well as simplified and enhanced due diligence measures. They may affect customer data, processes and system requirements for obliged entities across sectors on a risk-based basis.
02 / YOUR RISK MANAGEMENT EXPERT
Leadership and practical delivery
Your own risk management expert.
A clear lead on delivery.
Does your business need financial crime prevention expertise without a full-time hire?
I can join your business for 1–2 days a week, in a role such as MLRO or financial crime prevention specialist. You gain a legal professional who understands your business and becomes part of your day-to-day operations. My role is tailored to your needs: I can lead the agreed remit, develop processes and support management and specialist teams.
MLRO stands for Money Laundering Reporting Officer.
AML PARTNER1 day / week
Continuity and direction.
For businesses with an existing AML framework that need an experienced specialist to manage an agreed area of work.
- Agreed advisory sessions with the MLRO and management
- Support with procedures and risk assessment preparation
- Advice on customer due diligence and handling unusual activity
- A prioritised work plan and monthly progress update
MLRO & CHANGE LEADERSHIP2 days / week
Leadership for your reform.
For businesses seeking an AML lead or a partner to manage EU AML implementation. The MLRO role is defined for each engagement.
- Leadership and reporting for the agreed AML remit
- EU AML roadmap development and implementation leadership
- Process and control development
- Management decision materials and agreed training
How we work together
We start by assessing the current position and agreeing objectives for the first three months. We reserve working days for the engagement and review progress monthly.
A defined monthly service
A fixed monthly fee for an agreed workload and scope. Initial assessment, additional work, availability and arrangements for absences are agreed separately.
Responsibilities and suitability
Tasks, authority, reporting lines, availability and data handling are defined in the engagement. The workload reflects the scale and risks of the business: a demanding remit may require additional resources.
A formal MLRO appointment and the limits on outsourced tasks are assessed for each business and sector under the applicable rules. The obliged entity retains its statutory responsibility. Outsourcing restrictions and decisions reserved to the business are always reflected in the agreed scope.
03 / ADVISORY SERVICES
From a specific question to a major change
The right expertise.
For the risks that matter.
I advise banks and businesses across sectors on AML, sanctions and compliance. I combine legal expertise, practical experience and an understanding of your business.
We can work together on a project, an ongoing monthly engagement or a defined advisory assignment.
Find the right way to work together01Anti-money laundering and
counter-terrorist financing
A risk-based approach focuses effort where it matters. I help your business interpret AML requirements and put them into practice.
- Risk assessment and procedure development
- Customer due diligence, enhanced measures and ongoing monitoring
- Developing suspicious transaction handling and reporting processes
- Reviewing AML frameworks and controls
02Sanctions compliance
Sanctions risk management also matters for businesses that are not obliged entities under AML legislation. I help identify sanctions risks in your operations and develop suitable procedures.
- Assessing how EU, US and UK sanctions apply to your business
- Assessing sanctions risks relating to customers, owners, business partners and payments
- Sanctions procedures, risk assessment and staff training
- Improving screening and alert handling
03Compliance and risk management
Clear responsibilities, effective controls and understandable reporting support management decisions. I help build a compliance function that fits your business and its scale.
- Governance, responsibilities and internal procedures
- Developing risk-based processes
- Decision support for management and boards
- Interim specialist support and cover in an agreed role
04Training
Training is tailored to participants' roles and real situations in your business. The aim is knowledge that makes a difference in everyday work.
- AML and sanctions training for staff
- Management and board responsibilities
- Preparing for the EU AML reform
- Specialist sessions, workshops and ongoing training
SPEAKING AND TRAINING
Experience with audiences across sectors
Making regulation understandable.
Putting knowledge into practice.
Over the years, I have spoken at numerous seminars and delivered in-house training for companies’ AML specialists. I combine regulatory expertise with practical experience and tailor the content to participants’ work.
Below are a few examples of training and talks for members of the Finnish Real Estate Management Federation, at auditors’ summer conferences and at AML seminars.
Auditors’ summer conference
Delivering training in Turku for the second consecutive year, covering beneficial ownership, customer risk assessment and sanctions compliance in auditors’ day-to-day work.
Highlights from the training (opens in a new tab)
AML Day · Alma Insight
Talks on de-risking and AML risk assessments, followed by the closing panel discussion. The focus was on proportionate risk management and putting risk assessments into practice.
Highlights from the seminar (opens in a new tab)
Finnish Real Estate Management Federation
Customer due diligence and sanctions compliance in property management. The June 2025 webinar brought together more than 130 participants from the sector.
Highlights from the training (opens in a new tab)
Special issues in anti-money laundering
Chair and speaker at the Finnish Lawyers’ Association’s training event on 25 April 2025. My talks focused on de-risking and risk assessments for obliged entities.
Explore the training topics (opens in a new tab)LähiTapiola AML training days
Training for anti-money laundering specialists at AML training days, exploring demanding practical questions and deepening their AML expertise.
Read about the training day (opens in a new tab)AML & financial crime prevention
A talk on the business risks posed by sanctions at Sijoitusakatemia’s 10th anniversary seminar. A practical case study illustrated how to account for sanctions, including in investment decisions.
Highlights from the seminar (opens in a new tab)Looking for an expert trainer for your team, management or event?
Let’s plan your training04 / KATJA OULASVIRTA
Legal expertise that works
in practice.
I combine legal interpretation, risk management and experience in demanding leadership roles.
I have more than 20 years of experience across financial services, technology, defence administration and EU institutions. My background includes leadership roles at Nordea working on financial crime prevention.
My legal education in Finland and England and my ICA qualification in anti-money laundering underpin my work. I help management and specialists understand what regulation requires in practice and how to deliver the necessary changes.
Let's discuss your business’s situation05 / WORKING TOGETHER
Client feedback and references
Leading changeRegulatory expertise and
project delivery
project delivery
PERSONAL LINKEDIN RECOMMENDATION
Laura's recommendation highlights the successful delivery of a demanding AML project, combining regulatory knowledge with change management.
Laura Pohjonen Head of Financial Crime Prevention, Säästöpankkiryhmä
She particularly values Katja's ability to make requirements actionable and bring stakeholders together.
Read the recommendation on LinkedIn (opens in a new tab)OP Financial GroupDeveloping AML
operating practices
operating practices
Daniel's feedback highlights Katja's ability to connect AML regulatory knowledge with practical business needs.
Daniel Amsler Client feedback summary, OP Financial Group
The engagement supported risk-based AML practices, from strategic preparation to implementation. It included process reviews and management decision materials grounded in regulation and supervisory guidance.
Read the OP case study
The starting point and objective
OP Financial Group’s financial crime prevention organisation needed support in developing its AML processes. The aim was to strengthen a risk-based approach and carry a substantial change from strategic preparation into everyday operations.
How I helped
I supported management in planning the work and identifying the requirements and challenges of the change. Together with the unit responsible for the process, we assessed opportunities to streamline procedures using legislation and Finnish Financial Supervisory Authority guidance.
I prepared decision-making materials for different management levels, helping the organisation’s lines of defence align on common objectives and the changes needed.
The outcome
The collaboration supported customer-related AML compliance and more streamlined AML procedures. It also helped focus specialists’ work on managing material money laundering risks.
Let’s discuss your organisation’s development needsLET'S AGREE THE NEXT STEP
Let's start
with one question.
You don’t need to define a whole project in advance. We can start with one question, a document review or a focused consultation.
We agree the work, scope and fee before starting. An enquiry does not commit you to an engagement, and any further work is agreed separately.
Katja OulasvirtaOulasvirta Consultingkatja@oulasvirta.com+358 50 486 7880