Irina Merkl

Key Responsibilities:

Financial management of holding companies:

• Provided full financial servicing for group companies (LLCs and sole proprietors) operating in Russia and abroad, including the UAE, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Georgia, Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Thailand, and India.
• Oversaw banking operations: technical execution of payments in various currencies, cross-border RUB transfers, international SWIFT payments, daily bank statement uploads, SAP transaction processing, and cash flow management across accounts.
• Controlled and analyzed the financial logistics of payments, ensuring compliance with currency legislation and Russian sanctions; supported and monitored foreign currency contracts, assessed financial compliance risks.
• Liaised with banks on a wide range of matters: account openings/closures, preparation and submission of documentation (payment-related, corporate, and statutory reports for foreign trade contracts), negotiations on service conditions.
• Managed brokerage accounts and exchange trading operations (overnight deposits, securities purchases); built and maintained long-term relationships with key bank representatives.
• Drafted reports for leadership for use in strategic planning and decision making.
  

Participation in Financial Software Development:

Contributed to the development of internal software for financial logistics: prepared technical specifications and approved financial calculator models for both the foreign trade department and the logistics sales team.

Business Trip Experience – UAE (Dubai):

Conducted business meetings (in English) with banks and tax authorities; managed selection and onboarding of outsourced service providers; prepared English-language documentation for local bank requirements.

Trip achievements: improved banking service conditions in Dubai, opened new corporate accounts, resolved issues with executives' personal accounts, initiated opening of new foreign currency accounts, signed a contract with a new outsourcing partner, and established a relationship with a personal tax advisor at IFZA.

Key Achievements:

• Streamlined international payment processes across multiple jurisdictions, improving accuracy and compliance.
• Played a key role in developing internal tools for financial logistics, enhancing efficiency for sales and trade teams.
• Improved banking service terms and opened new accounts in key markets, including the UAE.
• Built strong partnerships with banks and service providers in Russia and abroad.

Key Responsibilities:

• Performed currency control checks on corporate FX transactions in compliance with Russian regulations.
• Registered and updated foreign trade contracts, reviewed supporting documents, and ensured reporting accuracy.
• Conducted due diligence on suspicious transactions and submitted AML reports.
• Advised bank staff on currency control rules and documentation via phone and email.
• Maintained accurate records in the automated currency control system (ASVKB).

Key Achievements:

• Ensured timely and compliant processing of FX transactions, reducing regulatory risks for both the bank and its corporate clients.
• Recognised for clear and client-oriented internal communication, supporting front-office staff in resolving complex VED (foreign trade) queries.
• Contributed to the enhancement of internal software used for recording client operations.

Key Responsibilities:

• Reviewed and analysis client documentation for foreign currency transactions in compliance with Russian currency legislation.
• Registered, maintained, and removed foreign trade contracts from currency control records.
• Prepared mandatory regulatory reports, including Form 402 for the Central Bank.
• Provided daily consultations to clients and internal staff (via phone and written correspondence) on foreign exchange legislation, documentation, and regulatory procedures.
• Responded to requests from clients, customs, and tax authorities by preparing supporting documents for currency control compliance.
• Worked in the TBSVK system to manage contract records, including registering and tracking violations.
• Ensured compliance with anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) laws during FX transaction reviews.

Key Achievements:

• Increased client loyalty by retaining over 10 corporate clients who chose to continue banking services in a bank. Regularly received positive feedback and formal acknowledgements from clients for high-quality consultations, recorded in the bank's customer service system.
• Reduced processing time and improved accuracy of FX transaction documentation through systematic review and client support.
• Improved the clarity and accessibility of internal consulting materials for staff and clients.

Key Responsibilities:

• Detected suspicious transactions in line with Russian Federal Law 115; reviewed payment documents and prepared justifications for reports to the Central Bank.
• Acted as a personal compliance advisor to clients: provided consultations via online banking, phone, and in-person meetings; issued tailored risk mitigation recommendations.
• Assessed applications for account openings, evaluated business reputation and financial activity, and analyzed counterparties.
• Collaborated with the currency control department on the review of foreign trade documentation.

Key Achievements:

• Retained key clients by providing clear, risk-based recommendations for account operations.
• Contributed to internal process improvements in transaction review and compliance reporting.

Key Responsibilities:

• Real-time monitoring of payments to detect AML/CTF risks.
• Reviewed client documents to exclude suspicious activities.
• Assessed and processed requests on blocked accounts.
• Monitored individual accounts for unusual transactions.
• Conducted customer identification and risk profiling.

Key Achievements:

• Efficiently processed large volumes of information within tight deadlines.
• Supported colleagues in related departments with preparation of reports for the Central Bank of Russia.

Key Responsibilities:

• Retention and consultation of B2C clients: product selection, issue resolution, equipment return coordination, and service visit scheduling.
• B2B client support: business needs analysis, handling incoming service requests, upselling integration products.
• Cross-functional collaboration: liaised with technical departments, assigned tasks to engineers, and ensured service delivery.
• Conducted outbound calls to promote company services and maintain client engagement.

Key Achievements:

• Improved sales tools and client interaction processes.
• Successfully retained key clients through proactive support and tailored product offers.

Key Responsibilities:

• Serviced current accounts for mid-tier and premium clients
• Provided in-person and remote consultations on financial products
• Sold banking, insurance, and investment solutions (incl. life and endowment insurance )
• Issued consumer loans and credit cards
• Opened and managed deposit accounts

Key Achievements:

• Consistently met monthly sales targets; recognized as “Employee of the Month” multiple times.
• Trained junior staff and received official commendations for excellence in promoting investment and credit products.

Key Responsibilities

• Full-cycle servicing of private and SME clients, including account openings/closures, consumer loans, credit cards, deposits, insurance and investment products (e.g. unit-linked, term life), and FX transactions.
• Executed local and international transfers (SWIFT, Unistream, Western Union), processed mortgage transactions (letters of credit, pledges), and handled settlement and documentation for financial operations.
• Processed corporate payroll projects: initiated outreach to potential partners, conducted meetings with decision-makers, prepared offers, and ensured timely onboarding.
• Performed cash transactions in RUB, USD, and EUR: processed deposits, withdrawals, currency exchanges, and ensured compliance with cash handling regulations.
• Monitored transactions for AML compliance in line with Federal Law 115; conducted KYC procedures, reviewed flagged transactions, and coordinated with compliance teams.

Key Achievements

• Progressed from junior cashier to senior cashier at Bank24.ru; proposed and implemented improvements to internet banking that were adopted company-wide, earning a performance bonus.
• Successfully trained new hires in each new branch at Promsvyazbank; informally acted as deputy branch manager and developed training/adaptation plans.
• Concluded several large salary contracts with the issuance of more than 800 bank debit cards.
• Exceeded personal sales targets across key retail banking products; received multiple employee of the month recognitions.

• Provided customer consultations and support in retail and service environments.
• Handled cash transactions and maintained accurate cash desk operations.
• Processed documentation and prepared supply requests for equipment and components.
• Maintained communication with suppliers, including email correspondence and negotiations.
• Generated invoices, bills, and shipping documents using 1C accounting software.