Holly Ray’s stellar career in the financial sector spans more than 20 years, having risen to prominence through her expertise in financial crimes, risk compliance, fraud, and technology. Since 2017, she has excelled as the senior manager in financial services consulting for fraud and financial crime technology at EY in New York. In this position, she manages diverse teams, selecting talent based on specialized skill sets and ensuring the delivery of high-quality products for clients. Her primary focus is collaborating with financial institutions to help them navigate complex regulatory requirements and protect both institutional and consumer interests. As part of the administrative team, Mr. Ray oversees several hundred individuals following a recent departmental merger, and her responsibilities extend to advancing discussions around artificial intelligence and responsible technology use in risk management.
Prior to joining EY, Ms. Ray served as head of model risk management for quantitative data analytics within global financial crimes at Morgan Stanley from 2016 to 2017. She was recruited to this position after her chief data scientist departed for EY, and her tenure was marked by significant collaboration with top-tier financial institutions and regulators. From 2015 to 2016, Ms. Ray worked as a global anti-money laundering model risk specialist and tuning manager at Morgan Stanley, where she further honed her skills in risk assessment and compliance.
Ms. Ray’s earlier experience at Morgan Stanley included operating as director of global anti-money laundering from 2014 to 2015. In this capacity, she contributed to the development and oversight of anti-money laundering programs for a global client base. Before joining Morgan Stanley, she found success at JPMorgan Chase & Co. as a compliance officer and anti-money laundering investigator from 2011 to 2014 and as an assistant vice president and senior compliance officer in 2014. During her time at JPMorgan Chase & Co., Ms. Ray led multiple investigative teams focused on combating global financial crimes.
Ms. Ray’s foundational years in banking began at BBVA Compass, now known as The PNC Financial Services Group Inc., where she refined her skills as a branch retail executive from 2001 to 2011. Her responsibilities included overseeing retail banking operations and developing expertise in customer service, compliance and frontline risk management, experiences that remain especially meaningful to her today. Ms. Ray was previously active as a special events coordinator at Kmart from 2000 to 2001 before shifting her focus toward banking.
Throughout her career, Ms. Ray has been recognized for her ability to lead large teams across continents while transforming her early experience as a bank teller into a trajectory that now sees her managing hundreds of employees worldwide. Her progression from entry-level roles to senior management stands as her most notable achievement, reflecting a commitment to ethical leadership and collaborative success.
A member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Inc. since 2011, Ms. Ray has consistently advocated for teamwork and open discourse within her teams, drawing upon lessons learned from both positive mentors and challenging leadership experiences throughout her career. She credits much of her professional growth to embracing diverse perspectives and fostering an environment where solutions are developed collectively.
To support her professional ambitions, Ms. Ray pursued an education at The University of Texas at San Antonio, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology with a concentration in criminal behavior in 2008. She subsequently concluded her studies with a Master of Science in economic crime management from Utica University in 2012, which provided advanced knowledge crucial for addressing complex challenges in financial crime prevention. This academic foundation has informed her understanding of behavioral drivers behind criminal activity and supported her work in compliance and investigations. In addition to her degrees, Ms. Ray has been certified as an anti-money laundering specialist through ACAMS since 2015 and as a certified fraud examiner through the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Inc. since 2012.
Ms. Ray attributes her ongoing success to an enduring curiosity and willingness to ask questions, qualities that have enabled her to adapt quickly within an evolving industry landscape. Her entry into banking was serendipitous; after relocating to Dallas, she accepted a teller position while seeking other employment opportunities, setting the stage for a lifelong commitment to financial services.
Beyond her professional achievements, Ms. Ray is dedicated to civic engagement through volunteer work with the Wounded Warrior Project since 2010, supporting veterans’ events in San Antonio, a major military hub hosting numerous bases and medical facilities serving veterans nationwide. Her academic pursuits have resulted in several publications and projects, including authoring “Terrorist Financing: The Increasing Risk of Trafficking in Persons” at Utica College in 2012, as well as presenting research on “The Effects of Neuroticism on Cortisol Response to Awakening in Mexican Americans” at the APS Convention in Chicago. Ms. Ray continues working on new books aimed at raising awareness about fraud’s impact on individuals inspired by personal experiences within her own family.
Among the highlights of Ms. Ray’s career is witnessing colleagues she mentored achieve promotions surpassing even her own advancement. Many began their journeys alongside her at EY before moving on to leadership roles elsewhere; each success story brings her immense pride knowing she contributed meaningfully to their growth. Ms. Ray’s enduring commitment to ethical leadership, advocacy for smaller organizations and passion for mentoring others continue to define her legacy within the field of financial services consulting.
Looking toward the future, Ms. Ray aims to transform the industry by addressing how fraud affects both institutions and consumers alike. She also hopes to emphasize the importance of harnessing artificial intelligence as a means for protecting clients’ legacies amid rapid technological change.