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Do you have the resources to review and upgrade your AML systems and controls?

With increased reporting of criminal investigations and case outcomes related to planned or reported laundering operations, the Private Equity sector is under the regulatory spotlight.  

It was recently reported by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) that firms in the Private Investment Funds industry are being used for laundering money at scale, according to a leaked intelligence bulletin prepared by the agency back in May. This leaked document reported cases from within the US, the Cayman Islands, Luxembourg, Mexico, Russia, and the UK.  

The UK Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) recent announcements indicate that Private Equity firms will see increased regulatory scrutiny. 

In relation to money laundering Private Equity firms with links to the UK face two key risks, these are within Fundraising and Transactional activities, these risks may give rise to criminal and or regulatory issues.  

In response Private Equity (and similar) firms will need to review and enhance their Anti-Money Laundering (AML) systems and controls. This may require increased hiring of permanent and interim resources to support this activity. 

As a leading supplier of compliance personnel to the financial services industry globally, we are extremely well-placed to find you the best permanent and interim candidates. 

If you would like to discuss you hiring needs, or a recent track record of our work conducted, please contact:

Ed Wacher (permanent)
Tel: +44 (0) 20 3889 5756
Email: ewacher@danosassociates.com

Katherine Lord (interim)
Tel: +44 (0) 207 010 1153
Email: klord@danosconsulting.com

This month we hosted our first online discussion event – The Lessons of Lockdown for Regulation & Risk.

We had near to 70 senior professionals from across the sector, including heads of compliance, chief risk officers and directors.

Watch the key Priorities, Challenges and Strategies highlighted during this event.

If you would like more information, please contact Katherine Lord (Partner, Head of Danos Consulting).

Email: klord@danosconsulting.com

Tel: + 44 (0) 207 010 1153

And look out for our next event!

As an organisation we are committed to Diversity and Inclusion (D&I). However, recent events have made us reflect on whether we are doing enough. Our existing approach to D&I has been largely focused on our global team, internal policies, and our external search practices.

We believe that equality is about creating a fairer society, where everyone can participate and has the opportunity to fulfil their potential. Diversity is about valuing the differences between people and the ways in which those differences can contribute to a richer, more creative, and productive working environment. Inclusion is about ensuring that nobody within the team is excluded, and great communication.

It is important that all our employees and those we place on behalf of our clients are treated equally and fairly, and without discrimination in terms of recruitment, remuneration, training and development, appraisal and promotion opportunities, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, belief, age, marital status or disability.

We recruit for the financial services industry, a sector that has been focused on D&I for some time, when compared to other industries.  It is a requirement voiced by the vast majority of our clients during search briefings that we push the D&I agenda while executing searches on their behalf. Whilst this has been a focal point for some time, we realise we have the power as a recruitment company to actively influence the inflow of under-represented groups into the sector we service, thereby helping to advance the D&I agenda.  

The governance of the sector has a sharpened focus on D&I in its supervision of financial services firms. For example, the UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) makes a clear, intrinsic link between a lack of inclusive culture and non-financial misconduct. Changes in general workplace legislation is having a profound impact on firms; for example, the Supreme Court Of The United States (SCOTUS) recently ruled that the Civil Rights Act protects gay and transgender people from the workplace discrimination, a positive move towards equality – Read more at https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/15/us/gay-transgender-workers-supreme-court.html.

The FCA has D&I high on their agenda, they have published their sixth Annual Diversity Report, that fulfils part of their Public Sector Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010 and related secondary legislation – Read more at https://edit.fca.org.uk/publication/corporate/annual-report-2018-19-diversity.pdf. This report outlines the strategy and approach, as well as key activities and successes, that have impacted the UK financial services sector.

We must address the social injustice in our communities and cannot remain silent – silence is simply unacceptable. We are committed to stand against the legacy of systemic bias, racism, and discrimination.

In addition to our current practices and approach, we have set up an internal Diversity and Inclusion committee, this group will review our practices and policies, and identify what actions we can take as a business and individuals to further support.

We are in a position where we can actively support our clients’ D&I strategies, and assist those clients that are culturally transitioning, by advising and working with them on their D&I hiring strategies. It is important that we address the under-representation of minority groups and to ensure a career in the financial services industry is appealing to the next generation of professionals.

We can actively promote to our clients the importance and commercial benefits of a working culture that is diverse and inclusive, not only in terms of the bottom line but also in terms of employee satisfaction, and hence the attractiveness of a company to potential employees.

It is important that we continue to support all our staff, that we provide our clients with diverse candidates and that we strengthen our voice and use it to inform and influence others. We are actively taking a step forward towards true equality. 

#blacklivesmatter #pride #lgbtq #allnotsome #inclusion #equality #diversity #disabilityawareness #diversitymatters #mentalhealth #unity #humanrights

The Danos Team