Garen Afarian
About Garen Afarian
Garen Afarian is an Electronic Payment Support Analyst at CIBC in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, with a background in economics and finance.
Current Role at CIBC
Garen Afarian currently serves as an Electronic Payment Support Analyst at CIBC, a role he has held since 2019. Based in Toronto, Ontario, Garen's responsibilities include monitoring fraud-held ACH and wire payments using systems like FIRCO, FFF, and CMO. He collaborates closely with Bank Of New York Mellon, technical analysts, and AML teams for effective fraud monitoring and payment processing. Additionally, he works with risk management to adjust clients' daily transaction limits using ELCM.
Previous Positions at CIBC
Before his current role, Garen was a Technical Support Analyst at CIBC for five months from 2018 to 2019. During this tenure, he was involved in customer support and technical troubleshooting, providing assistance with electronic payment issues and system functionality.
Internships and Early Career
Garen Afarian has diverse internship experiences spanning multiple countries and industries. In 2016, he interned as a Research Specialist at the Fund For Rural Economic Development In Armenia (FREDA) and as a Business Analyst at EV Consulting CJSC, both located in Yerevan, Armenia. He also gained accounting experience with Baboyan Accounting Firm in Dora, Lebanon, during a one-month internship in 2015.
Educational Background
Garen Afarian holds a Master's degree in International Economics and Finance from Ryerson University, completed between 2019 and 2021. He also holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Haigazian University, where he studied from 2012 to 2016. Additionally, Garen achieved dual baccalaureate credentials in Sociology and Economics, and Literature and Humanities from M. & H. Arslanian College, where he studied from 1997 to 2012.
Technical Expertise in Electronic Payments
Garen's technical expertise includes tracing EFT/ACH payments through various banking channels such as Coins, ECIF, IMS, CPH/PSH, FTS, and CMO. He assists customers in processing EFT/ACH data files, investigating issues, and providing solutions to prevent rejections. His role also entails close collaboration with risk management teams and the adjustment of clients' transaction limits to enhance security and efficiency in payment processing.