Bilal Akhtar — a lifetime in financial integrity
Founder & Lead Compliance Consultant 🔗 Connect on LinkedInHis career began in the fraud department at Royal Bank of Scotland. Over the following twelve years, he built deep specialist expertise across some of the UK's most respected institutions, including KPMG, Deloitte, Bank of New York, and Eversheds Sutherland, working at a senior level across Anti-Money Laundering, Sanctions, and KYC compliance.
That experience gave him a precise understanding of how financial institutions think, what they require, and why. It also revealed a persistent gap in the market.
Businesses receiving compliance requests from their banks — whether a source of funds letter, an AML review, or a KYC refresh — are expected to respond accurately and promptly to highly technical requirements. Most have no in-house expertise to draw on. The result is unnecessary delay, frozen accounts, damaged banking relationships, and significant operational cost.
KYCifi exists to close that gap. Working with professional services firms, SMEs, high-net-worth individuals, and international businesses, KYCifi provides the specialist compliance support that transforms a complex, stressful process into a clear, efficient, and professionally managed engagement.
Clients benefit from three things that only come with genuine seniority in this field. First, clarity: a precise understanding of what the bank is asking for and why, communicated in plain terms. Second, efficiency: the ability to navigate the process quickly, prepare accurate responses, and avoid the back-and-forth that prolongs reviews. Third, advocacy: acting as a professional liaison between client and institution, ensuring the bank receives exactly what it needs while the client retains full confidence throughout.
KYCifi is based at No.1 Spinningfields, Manchester. Clients are welcome to meet in person. Engagements across the UK and internationally are conducted by video and telephone.