Neerav Maniar

Currently serving as the Chief Compliance Officer at IDFC FIRST Bank, I bring over 25 years of experience in the financial services sector. For the past two and a half years, I’ve had the privilege of leading the compliance function at the bank, working closely with internal teams and regulators in an evolving regulatory landscape. A Chartered Accountant (first-attempt pass, May 1999), I began my career with internal and process audits for companies like Tata Steel and DHL, gaining early exposure to robust financial systems. This was followed by a hands-on stint as Accounts and Finance Manager at a reputed computer hardware and software firm, giving me insights into the financial workings of a manufacturing environment. I spent over 20+ years at Citibank N.A., India, starting in banking operations at the Citi Shared Services Centre, where I managed backend processes for corporate accounts and led a team of 15–20 professionals. After initial 5 years in Operations, I transitioned into Compliance for the other 15+ years in Citi. My last stint with Citi was Director and Head of Compliance for the Consumer Banking business in India. This role deepened my expertise in regulatory risk management, policy implementation, and stakeholder engagement across business lines and regulatory bodies. Having worked across multinational and domestic institutions, I’ve built a career that blends operational understanding with strong compliance acumen — a combination that has served me well in navigating India’s complex regulatory environment.