SIPA Career Interview: Musab Zeiton MIA ’19

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Musab Zeiton MIA ’19 is an experienced financial crime compliance professional in the financial services industry. He is a Certified AML Specialist (CAMS), Certified Global Sanctions Specialist (CGSS), and Project Management Practitioner (PRINCE2). He is currently working in the Financial Crime Control Ops Department at Santander Bank in London, United Kingdom. The following interview, part of a series conducted by Ahmad Jamal Wattoo MPA ’21, has been condensed and edited for clarity.

What prompted you to join SIPA for the Master of International Affairs (MIA) Program in 2017?

Before SIPA, I had been working for six years since finishing my undergraduate studies at the University of Manchester. At that point, having had a good level exposure to professional work experience, I felt that it was the time to pursue post-graduation education to further enhance my understanding and capabilities. Following undergrad, I worked in a variety of financial service-related roles in audit, corporate banking as well as a number of roles at a central bank. Eventually, In the latter, I fell into the financial crime profession which is a very multifaceted field. Similarly, studying international affairs requires a strong grasp of different interweaving subjects, so I felt it was an ideal program.

Which courses did you enjoy most and would recommend to current SIPA students?

As an MIA student, I studied Conceptual Foundations of International Affairs which was very insightful as I had no previous exposure to core IR theories. Besides the core MIA/EPD classes, I took a lot of the finance and banking themed courses, one of which was Global Financial Services in the 21st Century, taught by Professor Richard Goldberg, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I also enjoyed studying Project Management and feel this is an invaluable skill, which is one of the reasons I later pursued PRINCE2 Practitioner certification.

The infinite variety of courses offered at SIPA also allowed me to opt for what I would consider to be more niche courses, such as Anti‐Money Laundering and Threat Financing as well as Economic Sanctions in Practice, which despite being topics I was quite familiar with given my professional background, I found to be valuable given the quality of the instructors’ material and their guest speakers.

Did you participate in any extracurricular activities at SIPA?

I wasn’t an active member of any student boards/societies but I attended many on‐campus events and panel discussions whenever possible. I particularly enjoyed the social and topical/themed events organized by the regional student societies (MENA, LASA, SEASI, etc.). There is definitely something for everyone if you wish to take part in such activities.

How was your experience working for Morgan Stanley as part of your Capstone project at SIPA?

My capstone project was about the topic of risk and regulation as it pertains to cryptocurrency within quite a large group of 10 which meant there were plenty of thought and opinions to go around. With the subject of cryptocurrency being particularly topical at the time (and even now), it was great to delve into this area and gain a better understanding, particularly with how it relates to financial crime risk and the emerging global regulatory framework, which of course closely relates to my current profession.

In your job search, how much emphasis did hiring managers place on your GPA? What advice would you give to current SIPA students about managing studies and job applications?

In my opinion, GPA does not matter much in terms of future career prospects. For instance, wherever I interviewed, no one asked me about my GPA. I have seen some advertised roles which ask for a minimum GPA, but these tended to be targeting those who are current/recent undergraduate students. I believe so long as you can confidently advocate your worth and capabilities effectively, you will get opportunities. In my experience, I have found companies do not emphasize grades as the most important factors to take into account when selecting employees.

Which hard and soft skills are crucial for prospective employees at Santander, especially in your role in the Financial Crime Control Department?

As I mentioned, financial crime compliance is multifaceted, therefore requiring a good understanding of finance/banking, international trade, geopolitical concerns, risk management and emerging technologies, just to name a few. As with many field requires adequate quantitative/qualitative skills and strong attention to detail.

Being able to approach teamwork with a collaborative spirit, and possessing the ability to multitask is also important. Being communicative and having empathy for others is also a great trait. My role involves a lot of communication with other teams within financial crime ops. Therefore, the ability to communicate effectively and resolve possible conflicts is crucial.

What made you choose Santander your prospective workplace after you graduated from SIPA?

While studying for my MIA degree at SIPA, I started working at a boutique banking IT consultancy in New York City, which continued upon graduation for the remainder of the period I stayed in the City. Afterwards, I decided to move back to the United Kingdom; upon arriving in the country in the middle of the Coronavirus pandemic, I managed to get several interviews with various companies. Ultimately, Santander seemed the best option for me because they provided the perfect role where I could be a good fit. So far, my experience at the company has been great; I am working with a phenomenal team and the work is exciting.

How did you get the position at Santander? Did SIPA’s alumni network play a role in helping you get the job?

SIPA’s alumni network didn’t play a significant role in helping me secure my current job. However, there were many career events including career panels that took place, which although I found insightful, I found most of these opportunities were restricted to US residents.

Once I had relocated back to the UK, I interviewed for a few roles including that with Santander, which led to them giving me an offer.

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Do you have any parting advice for Columbia SIPA students who are currently looking for internships and full‐time positions?

I would encourage the students to make the most of their time at Columbia by exploring the broad range of courses on offer as well as networking with peers, instructors, potential employers and the wider community. With respect to securing employment after graduation, I would advise SIPA students to make a list of desirable employers and regularly check their career sites and social media posts for relevant roles and apply to them directly. Recruitment agencies may be another avenue too, but having applied for dozens of roles and interviewed for a handful, these were mostly as a result of direct applications.