Ask the expert: Predictions for the future of AML compliance
Anti-money laundering (AML) regulations are continually evolving in response to the threats of financial crime. But is there anything we should, and could, be planning …
AML compliance requires purposeful and continuous actions daily in order to remain effective. In order to ensure your AML program is compliant, you are required to test and review your AML policies, procedures and processes on a periodical basis.
The failure to determine the adequacy of your AML program has disastrous consequences for regulatory businesses; for example, financial fines, penalties and regulatory involvement which would inflict irreversible damage to your firm’s reputation and credibility.
To avoid such outcomes, compliance with AML regulations needs to be a priority for your organisation.
A comprehensive AML review could help your firm properly identity any deficiencies within your daily anti- money laundering operations. This will enable you to adopt a proactive approach to rectify any key weaknesses so that your AML measures could stand up to any regulatory examination or scrutiny.
The Money Laundering Regulations 2017 stipulates the need for regulatory firms to have adequate policies, procedures and processes in place to prevent money laundering and terrorist financing.
The five main areas include:
The regulations also legislate the need for effective internal controls. This includes the requirement to assess the effectiveness of your firms AML program via an independent audit function.
In practice, this means firms are required to perform a money laundering compliance review regularly to ensure that their AML controls and operations are efficient.
Remember that the main goal of a review is to identity any potential weaknesses within your current AML controls in order to ensure your efforts are as robust as possible.
Relevant documentation may include (but not limited to)
Assess your current efforts and ask key questions such as;
Clearly report your findings and make clear, measurable recommendations to improve your internal aml policies, control and procedures.
With these recommendations, create an actionable plan to tackle the deficiencies found.
As an AML compliance provider, we can offer robust, AML measures to enhance professional compliance and ensure your firm meets all your statutory needs.
With our services we can enhance your AML knowledge, methodology and procedures; helping you build the foundation to an efficient ant-money laundering approach.
We can also assist with organisations ongoing due diligence via our AML batch service which can be utilised as a means of regular client review.