Lauren Grifka

Sanctions Advisor - Regulatory Strategy & External Engagement at USAA Federal Savings Bank

Speaker

Lauren Grifka is a seasoned financial crime professional with 15 years of experience navigating the front lines of regulatory risk, including more than a decade of specialized expertise in global sanctions. Known for her ability to bridge the gap between complex regulatory mandates and practical business execution, she partners closely with First Line business units to design robust control environments that mitigate fast-evolving geopolitical and compliance risks. Throughout her career, Lauren Grifka has led compliance functions through some of the industry's most demanding challenges. In her current role, Lauren provides strategic oversight for enterprise-wide sanctions and export control compliance by partnering with cross-functional teams to mitigate risks, draft governance documents and present assessments to executive leadership and regulators. At UBS, she led the global client screening team, managing the high-stakes responsibility of tool enhancement and precision tuning to prevent critical system misses. Previously, as Head of Sanctions Compliance at Banc of California, she built the bank’s sanctions program from the ground up, establishing the strategic partnerships and streamlined procedures necessary to protect the institution in an increasingly volatile risk landscape. She began her career in forensic accounting, directing independent compliance monitoring and complex fraud investigations. Lauren Grifka brings an invaluable global framework to the sanctions conversation. She holds a B.A. in Economics from Columbia University and a M.A. in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. She is a CPA, CAMS, CCAS and CFE.