Karishma Ilyas is joining My RIA Lawyer as an Of Counsel Senior Compliance Officer. Karishma is a seasoned executive with deep expertise in regulatory change management, risk governance, and compliance innovation across the financial services industry. With over 15 years of progressive leadership, Karishma has built a reputation for designing and scaling compliance programs that not only meet regulatory expectations but also drive operational efficiency through automation and forward-thinking strategies.
Most recently serving as Chief Investor & Board Relations Officer and formerly as Chief Compliance Officer at an investment management company, Karishma led transformational initiatives to enhance compliance frameworks, streamline investor communications, and strengthen global regulatory governance. Her leadership in automating compliance reporting resulted in a 40% increase in reporting efficiency, while her implementation of employee training and risk assessment programs significantly mitigated reputational and financial risk exposure.
Throughout her career, Karishma has successfully navigated complex regulatory environments including SEC, GDPR, AML/CFT, CIMA, and FATCA, acting as a trusted advisor to executive leadership and boards. Her hands-on approach to compliance maturity—developing global regulatory inventories, managing internal and external audits, and embedding ethical cultures—has consistently delivered measurable outcomes and business resilience.
She holds an MBA in Finance from Lynn University and a BA in Criminal Justice from Rutgers University and is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS). Karishma is a champion of compliance culture and an advocate for leveraging innovation to achieve compliance excellence in today’s dynamic regulatory landscape.
