Insight : #BIGCOMPCONVO

Blockchain: an introduction

Blockchain is capturing the imagination of the financial services for its potential to reduce risk and decrease costs. It’s easy to consider blockchain as a unicorn – elusive, never seen and no one seems to quite know its capabilities. Blockchain is a type of distributed ledger technology (DLT), but what exactly is blockchain and DLT? And how can they be used by mainstream companies?....More

Understanding complex company structures – solving the puzzle

When it comes to customer due diligence (CDD) - what challenges do AML professionals in financial institutions face?

How many languages does a financial crime professional need to speak?

Virtual currencies, cybercrime and Trumponomics, to name just a few, present interesting dilemmas: to what extent should we be conversant in these areas in order to fully understand the financial crime risks associated with them?....More

5 ways to help establish a fraud-averse environment

When correctly motivated, employees remain honest and become the most effective frontline defence against the fraudster. Employees become motivated when they believe that:

How much do businesses know about competition law?

The CMA and the ICA are collaborating to ensure that together we can #StopCartels....More

How to use a football club to launder money

Identify a football club in distress

Who is speaking at the Big Compliance Conversation: Singapore Conference?

Live events, done well, can be unparalleled for learning and professional growth. So who is speaking at the Big Compliance Conversation: Singapore Conference?....More

A look at the illicit financial flows from wildlife crime and illegal wildlife trade

When asked to consider IWT, many people would think of ivory and tiger skins; but it is so much more than that. IWT can be broadly defined as ‘any action which contravenes current legislation (nationally or internationally) governing the protection of animals and plants’ (NPCC).

Mental Health in a Changing World

October 10 is World Mental Health Day. One of the themes this year is ‘mental health in a changing world’.....More

The creeping legalisation of cannabis: compliance lessons from the US ”green rush”

Inconsistent laws, political tension and ambiguous banking regulation. What next?

5 best practice tips for training in AML and Compliance

Increased regulatory expectations, rising standards and best practice now makes it clear that rapidly clicking through a computer based training course does not mean people have been given the right skills to tackle the complex issues facing regulated firms today.....More

More focus required on professional money launderers

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has recently produced a report looking at the ways in which individuals and organisations, known as professional money launderers (PMLs), are charging fees or commission for providing a money laundering service to criminals.

Pakistan added to FATF Grey List

The FATF’s International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) identified four key areas of concern in respect of Pakistan; can these be resolved?....More

Are multinationals supporting terrorist financing?

French firm Lafarge, a major producer of cement, construction aggregates and concrete, is the subject of a formal investigation by French authorities over allegations of terrorist financing, violating international sanctions and committing crimes against humanity.

Is the UK going cashless?

A recent Guardian article has found the cashless approach to be increasingly popular, particularly with businesses in the food and drink sector it seems. Where does that leave pounds, shilling and pence?....More

The World Cup of Corruption: Part 2

The World Cup has got off to an explosive, entertaining start. We follow up our coverage of each team’s first fixture with Part 2 of our World Cup of Corruption, looking at each nation’s ranking on Transparency International’s 2017 Corruption Perceptions Index. Teams included in Part 2 include Sweden, Senegal, South Korea, Panama, Poland and Japan.

The World Cup of Corruption: Part 1

Football itself – and in particular FIFA – has been beset by corruption problems over the last decade. In light of this we thought we would consider each fixture of the tournament through the lens of corruption.....More

Bitcoin and the ongoing money laundering risk

Cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin, will continue to challenge the way in which we conduct financial transactions - and ultimately how we tackle the issue of money laundering risk.

With the US out of the Iran deal, the EU considers ‘Blocking Regulation’

In 2015, an agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was drawn up in which Iran agreed to curtail its nuclear activities in return for the lifting of UN, US and EU sanctions.....More

The changing face of compliance

In this article, Keeley Fitzsimmons, Training & Development Manager at Broadgate Search, provides an insightful overview of what employers are looking for from Compliance teams.

Is the sun setting on BOTs tax haven status?

An amendment to the Sanctions and Anti Money Laundering Bill was approved by the British government in May. The headline news from the amendment was that from 2020 British Overseas Territories (BOT) will be obliged to publish the beneficial owner(s) of all registered companies.....More

EU fifth anti money laundering directive (5MLD)

Here’s an insight into some of the changes put forward in this fifth and latest update.

How high risk is trade finance?

What is trade finance and is it really as high-risk as it is often perceived?....More

What does being a member of ICA do for you as a compliance professional?

The Financial Conduct Authority publishes 2018/19 business plan

The FCA’s business plan for this year has had to strike a careful balance between the considerable amount of work that is going to be taking place on Brexit, which is already well underway, and their other strategic priorities.....More

The RegTech and FinTech Revolution

RegTech is now one of the most talked about innovations in the financial services sector. The added influx of FinTech that has caused the incumbent population of the financial services industry to sit up and take notice. Disruption is a clear and present threat to this community. The revolution is here.

5 reasons to recertify your ICA Diploma

For the first time, we are delighted to offer our Diploma graduates the opportunity to recertify their qualification in either AML, governance risk and compliance or financial crime prevention.....More

Why is it important to know your customer?

Do you ever truly know your customer? And, if you don't does it really matter?

Will an ICA qualification get me a job?

One of the most frequently asked questions is ‘will an ICA qualification get me a job?’. This hardly comes as a surprise.....More

The #MeToo Movement: What lessons can we learn in the compliance community?

Over the past months, the world has witnessed a rise of an unprecedented global movement against sexual harassment and assault. It's time to rethink what constitutes a harassment-free workplace environment and revisit your anti-harassment policies, fostering a cultural shift in attitudes to this issue.

2018: elections, cybercrime, Bitcoin and bribery

Unpredictability is the new normal. What does 2018 hold for our industry?....More

The rise of the unregulated online gambling industry

Should the anti-money laundering (AML) community be concerned at the prevalence of such Bitcoin services, and their open lack of regard to customer due diligence (CDD) controls?

Cryptocurrency prices and money laundering – Is there a link?

As Bitcoin prices rose from $1,000 to $19,000, Ethereum from $8 to $715 and Ripple XRP up from $0.0064 to $3.79 in under 12 months, I found myself wondering, can this all be true? What is the story behind these obscene gains? Is this a wonder drug promising immortality to mankind?....More

The importance of tone from the top and why it should not be underestimated

As firms continue to navigate the labyrinthine minefield of legislation and regulation and claw their way up the evolutionary ladder of compliance with standards that appear to have moving goal posts, ‘tone from the top’ has never been more important.

The five hour rule: the benefits of deliberate learning

The five-hour rule has become synonymous with inspirational leaders around the world. What is it and who abides by it? Bill Gates? Yes. Barack Obama? Double yes. Oprah? You guessed it, yes. The five-hour rule is a relatively new term, but one that is perfect for explaining success. Whatever your personal opinion of the aforementioned leaders, their success is undeniable.....More

Five things you need to know about Bitcoin

Bitcoin has taken the world by storm; Simone Jones shares what she has learnt about cryptocurrency over the course of the last year.

Everything you need to know about mobile financial services

Over the last decade, mobile financial services (MFS) have been instrumental in increasing financial inclusion in developing markets. What impact does this have on financial services and the telecommunications industry?....More

Why policy makers should shoulder responsibility for UK failings

In November 2017, Transparency International (TI) published the report Hiding in Plain Sight which further highlighted the attractiveness of UK Plc to those that wish to launder the proceeds of corruption or value of other criminal origin.

Blurring the lines: how technology is shaping illicit finance typologies

As technological innovation sweeps the financial sector, the compliance professional faces developments of huge consequence.....More

Who’s been on Santa’s naughty list? Top FCA fines of 2017

At the beginning of this year, the ICA published the top Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) fines of 2016. So as we come to the end of 2017, I thought we’d take a look at who’s been on Santa’s naughty list this year; in other words, the top FCA fines of 2017.

What is a KYC analyst?

What exactly is required of a KYC analyst? What are the specific duties and responsibilities that make up this key compliance function?....More

Top five blogs on anti money laundering of 2017

As the year draws to a close, it’s always a good opportunity to reflect on the past 12 months. With this in mind, I took a look back at the blogs International Compliance Training has published on anti money laundering in 2017 and chose my five favourites.

United Kingdom Anti-Corruption Strategy 2017-2022

The UK Government recently published their strategy for addressing the effects of corruption across the UK, which will provide a framework to guide the government’s anti-corruption policies and actions. It also underpins the current government’s strengthened focus on economic crime. We thought we’d take a look at some of the key elements.....More

Anti money laundering and risk assessment in the gambling industry

I wrote in June about an increased regulatory focus on AML within the gambling industry. This included reference to requirements set out within the GB Gambling Commission’s licensing regime that entail the preparation of money laundering risk assessments (MLRA) by all gambling operators. This new condition mirrors an existing obligation for casinos to develop such assessments – required by the Money Laundering Regulations and recognised internationally as a fundamental component of successful AML capability. During my time within the Gambling Commission, and since then, delivering AML training, I have found that no issues cause more confusion and uncertainty than the nature and development of operator ML risk assessments. Whilst this short piece won’t provide a comprehensive explanation, it can serve to de-mystify some of the elements.

International Anti Corruption Day: the ICA's top 5 blogs of 2017

In the lead up to the UN’s International Anti-Corruption Day on 09 December, we have collated a collection of articles and blogs, written over the last 12 months, to aid your learning journey on this all-important subject. The information that you take away should help stimulate discussion and support you in making sound decisions in your role.....More

The Department of Mysteries (or What is the Compliance Department actually doing?)

It struck me that the compliance department has certain parallels with the Ministry of Magic from J.K. Rowling´s Harry Potter series. Both are often misunderstood, mysterious, ‘secretly’ structured but at the same time necessary and important.

Happy Thanksgiving Day: top 5 US blogs of 2017

Thanksgiving Day is upon us, and in celebration of the annual harvest, we have collated our top five blogs with US origins. Let’s take a retrospective look at our favourite blogs from the last year, with a keen focus on the United States.....More

A turning tide? Terrorism and the Caribbean

How many of us, if we were then asked to think of terrorism and the Caribbean, would think back to the bygone era of piracy; of Calico Jack and mutiny on the seas? This era ended around the 1830s so surely terrorism is something that now happens outside of the Caribbean, doesn’t it?

Meet an ICA Member with Jerry Walters

Jerry Walters has a Distinction in the International Compliance Association Diploma Course in Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter Terrorist Financing (CTF). As well as being a member of the ICA, Jerry is a former Detective Constable and has worked on high profile cases including Operation Trilby. He is still involved in all aspects of tackling financial crime through the running of his own business. Here, Jerry discusses what ICA and compliance means to him.....More

Money Laundering – the Pakistan Lottery Typology

Hooray! I’m a winner! I won £412,000 on the Pakistan Prize Bond Draw. And I didn’t just win it once. I won it 123 times. Yes – you read that correctly. I won it 123 times. Fancy that eh? What an incredible run of luck. Now pause, if you haven’t already. That’s as likely as winning the UK National Lottery jackpot 40 weeks running…

Money Laundering and North Korea

I read an article recently that highlighted how North Korea is using Hong Kong to launder their criminal proceeds. The article described the use of shell companies established in the region that provide the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (the official name of North Korea) with access to the global financial system. Severe international sanctions are in place to restrict this access to North Korea, so any advantage they can gain is really important for them to maintain the best access they can.....More

Money Laundering Regulations 2017

On Monday 26 June 2017, by the skin of its teeth, the UK enacted the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (the MLRs 2017). Dragging its heels, somewhat unusually for UK Plc, there were a few tweaks but no real surprises between the draft MLRs and the final version with five key changes made:

Which ICA qualification is right for me?

We get asked a lot of questions about ICA qualifications. That makes sense given our role as a training provider. The questions range from ‘will this qualification land me a new role?’ to ‘what course is right for me?’. While we are always happy to have a chat about options and suitability, and make recommendations, fundamentally the qualification you select has to be your decision.....More

Five key points of the upcoming Fifth Anti Money Laundering Directive (5AMLD)

What is the 5AMLD? 5AMLD is a bit of misnomer, as it is in fact a set of proposed amendments to the Fourth Anti Money Laundering Directive (4AMLD) which is to be transposed on 26th June 2017. These proposed amendments were published in July 2016 as a way of strengthening the 4AMLD in light of recent terrorist attacks in Europe.

Fake documents: For all your ‘novelty’ proof of address needs

The Internet has brought us many great things, but I would argue that easy access to counterfeit documents is not one of them. Over the years we have seen the emergence of websites offering creation of fake documents – you send the name and address you want shown on a bank statement or utility bill, along with the transactions, and they create it for you.....More

Understanding complex company structures – solving the puzzle

Verifying the identity of a customer can be as gloriously simple as meeting a customer face-to-face and taking a copy of their original passport and a utility bill. On the other side of the client due diligence (CDD) spectrum is trying to unravel a complex corporate structure and understanding the identity of the ultimate beneficial owner.

Skills and attributes of a compliance officer

Have you ever wondered which skills and attributes are useful when working in compliance? If you currently work in compliance, have you considered how your own skills measure up?....More

Is your client a money launderer?

Googled it? We offer insight to firms who vet their customers for ‘negative news’ or ‘adverse information’ through various methods of screening.

Skills and Attributes of an Anti Money Laundering Professional

Have you ever wondered which skills and attributes are useful when working in anti money laundering? If you currently work in AML, have you considered how your own skills measure up?....More

My top 10 quotes on learning

“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” ― Benjamin Franklin. At ICT, we are passionate about learning and development and tens of thousands of individuals and firms all over the world have realised their training ambitions through us.

The BCCI Scandal

After reading the comments on my previous blog on some of the biggest money laundering cases of the last 30 years, I have been inspired to look into one of those cases in more detail. The case involved the Bank of Credit and Commerce International, or BCCI, and it has made for very interesting reading.....More

Top 5 Money Laundering Cases of the Last 30 Years

Money laundering and, conversely, anti money laundering (AML), continues to be a hot topic, especially within businesses and large corporations, as government agencies – particularly in the US (where an estimated £231 billion is laundered annually) – continue to crack down on money laundering and sanctions violations.

Single Criminality vs Dual Criminality

I came across an article recently that reported on a money laundering conviction in Thailand in which a Dutchman, Johan van Laarhoven, received a prison sentence of 103 years. Now, on the face of it Van Laarhoven elicits no sympathy from me, if you’re involved in money laundering you deserve to face the consequences, right?....More

Single Criminality vs Dual Criminality

I came across an article recently that reported on a money laundering conviction in Thailand in which a Dutchman, Johan van Laarhoven, received a prison sentence of 103 years. Now, on the face of it Van Laarhoven elicits no sympathy from me, if you’re involved in money laundering you deserve to face the consequences, right?

“The Beautiful thing about learning is nobody can take it away from you.”

Can you guess where this quote is from? The quote in itself is beautiful, don’t you think? It is not from Einstein, or Socrates, or even Gandhi who all have attributed to them great sayings about learning and wisdom. This quote is actually from B.B. King American blues singer and musician, who sadly died last week. For me, this quote encapsulates everything about why people engage in a journey of learning, it is more to do about something within you rather than something outside of your control. Because the reality of it is that once you embark on a course of study, for example a degree, or a postgraduate course or diploma of some sort, only you can determine the success of achieving that goal.....More

5 ways to maximise your workshop experience

For those of you who are based in a country where we offer workshops as part of your course, here are a few hints and tips on how you can maximise your workshop experience.

Barclays, Dahabshiil and De-risking

In May 2013 Barclays said it would close the bank accounts of Somali remittance company Dahabshiil and a number of other money transfer companies (between 100 and 250 depending on what you read). This was a considered decision as part of Barclays’ risk-based approach to its obligations under UK anti-money laundering legislation.....More

Will an ICA qualification help me get a job?

When I go to briefing sessions about ICA qualifications and speak to delegates about their career aspirations , one of the more frequent questions I get asked is “will the qualification get me a job in the area I am interested in?” Indeed in the last two or three years this question has increased significantly in popularity due to the rise in recruitment opportunities in compliance and related roles.

How to Enable Staff in Firms to Report Suspicious Activity

Is your firm identifying and reporting the appropriate level of suspicious activity in respect of money laundering? For many of the firms and AML professionals that I speak to the answer is a clear no.....More

What does a career in financial crime prevention involve?

The range of threats facing organisations means there are a multitude of career option in financial crime prevention. From anti-bribery and corruption specialists, to fraud analysts and cyber security experts there are a variety of challenging and rewarding roles out there. The roles on offer are very diverse but all require a combination of technical knowledge, understanding of business processes, products and services and the key vulnerabilities targeted by financial criminals.

HSBC money laundering failures: 5 points we must all learn - for a start AML is not just a process

Up to 1 Billion USD$ in fines. Group Head of Compliance David Bagley quits. Huge reputational fallout and remedial action required. A disastrous scenario for HSBC, and a time for all working in anti money laundering to take stock. What are the lessons to be learnt.....More

What is the difference between compliance and audit?

One question that I have often been asked during my compliance career, and that comes up quite regularly in workshops is “what exactly is the difference between compliance and audit?”

What is the difference between compliance and audit?

One question that I have often been asked during my compliance career, and that comes up quite regularly in workshops is “what exactly is the difference between compliance and audit?”....More

Top Ten reasons to be an MLRO

As a small child how many of us dreamt of becoming a Money Laundering Reporting Officer? None, that’s how many. We were shallow creatures weren’t we? Chasing the tawdry allure of the astronaut, fire fighter, rock star or ballerina (or in my case for a brief ill judged period a chef).