Course overview
Given the plethora of compliance tasks and responsibilities that MLROs need to shoulder in such a complex regulatory landscape, this course will walk attendees through in-depth view of evolving AML/CFT, sanctions & proliferation risks that required direct involvement of MLROs for efficient mitigation. Topics to be covered include: personal liability, senior management regime, case management, STR filing, pillars of the compliance program, Anti-Bribery & corruption measures, sustaining correspondent banking relations, sanctions risks, and the intricacies of restricted goods and proliferation finance. Also, the course will simulate real-life compliance case studies and polling questions to assess and validate attendees understanding and engagement.
Course Objectives
The course will aim at providing trainees with the necessary tools and insights on how to cope and carry out successfully the complex mandates of the compliance functions in order to protect the integrity of their institutions. In addition to the above-mentioned themes, the course will also offer a deep dive into evolving sanctions risks, new AML/CFT requirements for investment advisers and company service providers, and managing financial crime risks emanating from Citizenship and Residency by Investment (CBI/RBI) schemes. Finally, the course will address the reporting lines of the MLRO with competent authorities and board of directors as well as shed light on how to manage blocked assets & dig for the ultimate beneficial owner in complex corporate structures.
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Comprehend the immense responsibilities of MLROs in this era
- Acquire 360-degree vision on the diverse risks of financial crimes
- Identify loop holes in internal controls and compliance systems
Profile of participants
MLROs, AML/CFT and compliance officers, Board members and secretaries, Regulators and examiners, Internal audit, Operations department (transfers, branch managers, trade finance), Customer service, Risk officers, External auditors, RMs & Mid-management in Financial Institutions departments, Government agencies and law enforcement, Lawyers, Supply chain, and procurement managers.
Outline
- Reporting lines for MLRO & MLRO Skill Set & Qualities
– Keeping the Board of directors updated on major compliance KRIs
– The buy-in from the board of directors
– Governance and compliance structure
- AML/CFT & sanctions risks in financial transactions
– TBML & wire-stripping risks
– Dealing with dual-use and prohibited goods
– Sanctions investigations and screening challenges
– New EU sanctions regulations affecting ownership and control
– Enhancing KYC operations
– Role of the BIS/US in export privileges
- Laying the foundations of the Compliance Program
-KYC, KYE, & KYV policies
-The on-going due diligence process
-Independent 3rd line of defense
-Training and upskilling
-The role of compliance and risk officers
- Risk Assessment
-Inherent Risk Matrix: Customer, Product, Geography, and Delivery Channels
-AML/CCFT & sanctions risk quantification and scoring
-Sanctions Due Diligence and Evolving Sanctions Risks
-Compliance with UNSCRs, OFAC & EU sanctions regimes
– Licensing programs: General and special license across OFAC, UK, and EU
- Dealing with correspondent banks, regulators, internal and external auditors
– Independence of internal auditors does not mean isolation
– Avoiding de-risking in correspondent banking services
– Promptness and transparency in dealing with regulatory authorities
– Remediation of audit findings should be a priority and must be discussed with Audit board committees
- Anti-bribery & corruption (ABC) policy
-Extraterritoriality of bribery offence
-Supply/demand side bribery
-Bribing a foreign public official (PEP)
-Gifts & hospitality policy
Lecturer
Shawki Ahwash, CAMS
Shawki has a distinguished career profile within the AML/CFT space as a banker assuming a compliance function and as a trainer. In addition to his CAMS designation, Shawki holds a Combating Financial Crime (CFC) certificate from Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI)-London. Alongside the current MLRO function, Shawki is a lecturer at ESA Business School & speaker at Union of Arab Banks (UAB), ACAMS, and other institutions tasked with countering money laundering and terrorist financing.
As Subject Matter Expert, he has conducted many consultancy training workshops aimed at building and strengthening capacities of FIUs and reporting entities to counter illicit financial flows and mitigate financial crime risks across Europe, MENA, GCC & East Africa regions.
Shawki’s contributions to the anti-financial crime literature are also reflected in his articles published by KYC360-UK addressing a myriad of compliance topics. On the academic level, he holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the American University of Beirut (AUB).
Course dates and duration
12 teaching hours, on 20-21-22 May 2025, from 15:00 to 19:00
Course delivery
Online, on Zoom.
Language of delivery: English.
Certificate
Participants will receive a certificate issued by RBI, under the aegis of our founding members, the National Bank of Romania and the Romanian Association of Banks.
For further information and enrollment, please contact:
Emilia Frunza, Training Manager
0748 88 68 34, emilia.frunza@ibr-rbi.ro