Beyond banking: How Emily Pierce fights financial crime and protects our customers
As a Senior Manager of Financial Crime AML/CTF at Great Southern Bank, Emily Pierce is a seasoned leader who has seen it all over her decade-long career. Through her all-important work overseeing Customer Due Diligence, Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counterterrorism Financing (CTF), she keeps our services safe from illicit activities. If you’re craving a career with purpose and endless learning, hear from Emily as she shares her journey and the opportunities she’s found at Great Southern Bank.
Safeguarding financial integrity
In the world of banking, where people are managing their money, for some, there’s a whole other game at play. While most of our clients utilise our products for legitimate purposes, some people seek to exploit these channels for criminal profiteering.
That’s when Emily Pierce steps in. As Senior Manager of Financial Crime AML/CTF at Great Southern Bank, Emily oversees the team that monitors customer transactions, investigates suspicious activity and identifies potential money laundering risks.
“I’m a financial crime ‘ride or die’,” she chuckles. “I absolutely love what I do. When you work in this field, you’re surrounded by people who are driven by purpose and 100% passionate about the work they do.”
Make no mistake; this line of work isn’t for the faint of heart. It requires vigilance and commitment. That’s why in a fast-moving environment, Emily and her team excel at safeguarding our systems and services from criminal exploitation.
Driving change, crafting careers
Emily found her calling when she returned from living abroad in her early 20s. Her “aha” moment came when she stumbled into a role investigating insurance fraud at a large insurance company, and you could say the stage was set for a remarkable lifelong career.
“When I first got that role, I knew straight away that this is for me; that this is what I want to do and will do for a very long time.”
Since then, her career goals have centred upon specialising in the broader financial crime space. Over a decade-long career, Emily has amassed a wealth of knowledge and experience in her field. And since she joined us in 2018, that progression has only excelled.
Now as a Senior Manager of Financial Crime AML/CTF, her fourth role in as many years, Emily’s rise at Great Southern Bank is characterised by her unwavering commitment to justice and growth.
“The bank is a haven for those with a thirst for upskilling,” she says. “If you have a mixture of passion, interest and dedication, this organisation really supports you. I’m responsible for approximately 20 people, and one of the fantastic things is that I’m able to elevate our internal talent into managerial and senior positions and support their professional growth.”
Beyond protection
Though the work that Emily does can be challenging and contains an element of risk, she is optimistic and as motivated as ever about what the future holds.
“I’ve been able to grow and develop so much since I came here and it motivates me to constantly strive for excellence and deliver maximum value. I see it as a way of showing my appreciation for the opportunities I’ve been given at Great Southern Bank.”
For those considering a career in financial crime, Emily offers the following straightforward, no-nonsense advice: “Do it. It’ll be the best career decision you’ve ever made.”