Cassandra Tyrrell

Cassandra Tyrrell, CFO at Lepaya, thanks for taking the time to talk to Leaders in Finance as we prepare for the Leaders in Finance AML Event on the 2nd of October. Could you introduce yourself?

My name is Cassandra, CFO of Lepaya. My background is in finance and in

scaling growth companies, where I’ve seen firsthand how the right talent and the right skills can accelerate growth. At Lepaya, we work at the intersection of learning and business performance, helping organizations—including some of the largest banks and accounting firms in Europe—prepare their people for the skills they need tomorrow. It’s a privilege to bring that perspective to a conversation on AML, where talent, regulation, and technology converge.

Which skills do you believe will be absolutely essential for AML-professionals in the next five years?

AML-professionals will increasingly need to go beyond technical compliance. The essential skills will be adaptability, resilience, and digital and data literacy. Critical thinking and sound judgment will be vital as technology and regulation evolve. And since Lepaya’s mission is to upskill employees for the future, we see every day that the most successful professionals are those who combine technical expertise with the ability to continuously learn and adapt to change.

How does your organization encourage employees to keep developing themselves in thearea of financial crime? How do you keep upskilling your clients?

At Lepaya, we invest in the continuous learning of our own finance and legal teams—not with one-off training, but with ongoing upskilling journeys. For our clients, we support AML-teams at leading Dutch banks and the Big Four accounting firms. For example, we deliver learning programs that strengthen Problem Solving, judgement & decision making, Coaching, Change management, feedback and storytelling. The focus is on equipping professionals with the tools to adapt in a fast-changing landscape.

In your view, how will the dynamic evolve between AML-professionals and technological innovation (especially AI)?

AI is changing the AML profession rapidly. On one hand, AI can make detection smarter and more data-driven. On the other hand, people are still needed to interpret signals, manage risk, and make ethical decisions. At Lepaya, we see a dual approach. The first one is using AI to practice in roleplays—for example, AML analysts can interact with

AI-generated suspicious case studies, helping them sharpen their investigative instincts.

As well as practice a difficult conversation with an AI Roleplay actor, before actually calling the client.

The second one is training professionals in active AI adoption—for instance, with a top-tier bank we coached analysts on embracing AI screening tools, leading to faster adoption and measurable productivity gains. All the while making sure their decision making and critical thinking skills improve, as AI is also threatening independent and objective judgement through fostering intellectual laziness.

The future is about pairing human judgment with AI efficiency, and that requires deliberate upskilling.

Looking ahead, what do you see as the biggest challenges for the next five years with regard to the AML ecosystem?

From my perspective as a CFO, the challenges are not just technical—they’re about people and resources. AML-teams are under pressure: regulatory complexity is increasing, while economic headwinds mean constant headcount constraints. At the same time, AI-driven financial crime will only accelerate. The challenge is how to manage increasing workload with existing teams, while keeping those teams skilled and motivated in an environment that is constantly shifting.

What key advice would you offer to AML-professionals who want to make greater impact and stay committed in the years ahead?

My advice would be: stay curious, keep investing in your own development, and embrace adaptability. Don’t see change as a threat, but as a chance to grow your impact. And above all, remember why AML matters—you’re protecting the integrity of the financial system and the trust of society. That purpose is what makes the work meaningful.