Ricardo Alves

Team Leader | Compliance Review Control | Expert in Regulatory Risk & Team Leadership

Sintra, Lisbon, Portugal

About

Results-driven Compliance Leader with over a decade of experience at BNP Paribas, specializing in the complex landscape of international Sanctions and Embargoes. I have a proven track record of managing high-stakes regulatory environments, investigating SWIFT/SEPA flows, and mitigating operational risk. ​As a Team Leader, I bridge the gap between technical regulatory rigor and people-centric leadership. I am passionate about optimizing workflows, developing talent, and ensuring that compliance serves as a robust pillar for business integrity. ​Core Expertise: ​Regulatory Compliance: Deep knowledge of Sanctions, Embargoes, and AML frameworks. ​Operational Leadership: Driving team performance, conflict resolution, and change management. ​Risk Mitigation: Expert analysis of high-level transaction alerts and message investigation. ​Communication: Published author of 6 books, bringing advanced analytical and narrative skills to professional reporting and stakeholder management.

Experience

  • BNP Paribas (13 yrs 3 mos)
    • Team Leader Compliance Review Control
      Jun 2026 - Present · 2 mos

      Team: Independent Testing Financial Security HUB: Compliance Control & Risk Management

    • Team Leader Sanctions and Embargoes
      Feb 2024 - Jun 2026 · 2 yrs 5 mos

      Operational Strategy: Lead and mentor a specialized compliance team, ensuring 100% adherence to international regulatory standards. Process Innovation: Designed and implemented new operational methodologies that streamlined activity management and enhanced the accuracy of client reporting. Performance Management: Responsible for the full talent cycle, from recruitment and onboarding to difficult leadership conversations and performance appraisals.

    • Supervisor Sanctions and Embargoes
      Mar 2023 - Feb 2024 · 1 yr

      Acted as Deputy of the Team Leader, supervising daily controls and task delegation for the compliance unit. Performed critical revisions of internal procedures to align with evolving global sanction regimes. Conducted final-level validation of high-risk transaction alerts.