EY report: Fortune 100 companies boost audit transparency, including on ESG
Many Fortune 100 companies continue to enhance their transparency about how their audit committees are executing their core responsibilities, according to the EY Center for Board Matters’ 10th annual review of voluntary proxy statement disclosures.
CPE Webcast: Protecting the workforce with advanced screening protocol solutions
As organizations return to pre-pandemic levels of on-site staff in their workplaces, there is a renewed focus on security and safety for employees, contactors and other contingent workers.
Honeywell records charge of $160M in FCPA probe
Honeywell International has recorded a charge of $160 million in accrued liability concerning an investigation by U.S. and Brazilian authorities as to whether the company’s use of third parties in Brazil violated the FCPA.
FATF adds Turkey to AML/CFT watchlist
The Financial Action Task Force has added three new jurisdictions, including Turkey, to its list focused on areas subject to increased monitoring for deficiencies in fighting financial crime.
Compliance Week National Conference is going back in person in May
Mark your calendars: Compliance Week’s National Conference in Washington, D.C. will be held in person for the first time in nearly three years from May 16-18, 2022.
FSOC report: Climate change ‘increasing threat’ to U.S. financial stability
In a report ordered by President Joe Biden, the Financial Stability Oversight Council urged market participants, public companies, and regulators to develop a common agenda to respond to climate change-related financial risk.
Swedish regulator to Danske Bank: Fix AML failings faster
Sweden’s financial regulator says Danske Bank is not addressing deficiencies in its AML/CFT protocols quickly enough, issuing an injunction ordering the bank to take remedial action.
Activision Blizzard compliance update: Personnel changes, transparency goals
Activision Blizzard announced the promotion of Jen Brewer to the role of senior vice president, ethics and compliance amid a series of other measures the embattled company is taking to enhance its culture.
Compliance tips for effectively presenting data to key stakeholders
Metrics can either strengthen or distract from compliance’s message to key stakeholders. Jennifer Lee, a risk and compliance manager at Caterpillar, shared tips for accomplishing the former at a recent industry event.
Treasury issues 5 recommendations for modernizing U.S. sanctions
The U.S. Department of the Treasury issued a series of recommendations as to how to “adapt and modernize” the government’s use of sanctions to enhance their effectiveness in supporting national security objectives.
FinCEN report: Ransomware SARs surge past 2020 totals
A Financial Crimes Enforcement Network report on financial trends in Bank Secrecy Act data found a greater number of SARs related to ransomware filed between January and June 2021 than during all of 2020.
SOS hand signal created for victims of modern slavery
U.K.-based philanthropic organization Stronger Together has created a new hand signal to empower victims of modern slavery to get help. Though developed for the construction sector, the signal can be adopted across any industry as a best practice.
New DOJ tip line created to fight corruption in Central America
The Department of Justice has created a tip line to assist its Anticorruption Task Force in fighting corruption in El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.
When academic studies and hoax hotline claims go ‘off the rails’
Imagine this: An anonymous hotline tip comes through that a senior executive has engaged in insider trading. This scenario happened this summer as part of academic research, effectively leaving hundreds of unwitting corporate subjects to foot the bill for unnecessary follow-up conducted.
How to respond to government’s renewed emphasis on cybersecurity
The Department of Justice’s new Civil Cyber-Fraud Initiative is the latest development to suggest companies’ cybersecurity defenses had better be up to snuff when doing business with the U.S. government or risk enforcement.
SEC enforcement head seeking company admissions in settlements
Gurbir Grewal, head of the SEC’s Enforcement Division, said it will be a priority under his tenure for companies to accept responsibility for wrongdoing in certain cases of public interest.
SEC investor advocate: ‘Gamification’ exposes holes in Reg BI
SEC Investor Advocate Rick Fleming said online platforms designed to make stock trading more easily accessible and exciting “expose what may be a significant flaw in Reg BI” regarding unsolicited transactions.
FINRA encourages proactive compliance with FinCEN AML/CFT priorities
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority is encouraging member firms to start proactively incorporating new AML/CFT priorities mandated by Congress into their risk-based compliance programs.
SEC commissioners clash on cryptocurrency securities debate
SEC Commissioners Caroline Crenshaw and Hester Peirce used recent speeches to stake opposite sides on the central debate of whether all cryptocurrencies are securities.
Pandora Papers exposed gaps in AML compliance. Is beneficial ownership registry the answer?
FinCEN’s upcoming ultimate beneficial ownership registry could help to combat some of the anti-money laundering deficiencies put on display by the Pandora Papers, but not until Congress gets serious about funding the initiative.
Fed recommends member banks perform climate change stress tests
The Federal Reserve will encourage financial institutions to assess the potential financial ramifications of climate change by conducting stress tests, similar to those performed following the 2007-09 financial crisis.
SEC’s Gurbir Grewal stumps for proactive compliance in first speech
In his first publicized speech as director of the Securities and Exchange Commission’s Division of Enforcement, Gurbir Grewal spoke to the importance of “modeling excellence” in compliance efforts.
Metals Technology Initiative issues new anti-corruption resources
The Metals Technology Initiative has launched a new website making its guidance on gifts and hospitality and third-party due diligence freely accessible.
Ask a CCO: How do you get leadership to support compliance?
Seven senior compliance practitioners impart how to get leadership to understand the value compliance offers the business and commit to supporting ethical initiatives.
DOJ to enforce False Claims Act in regulating contractor data breaches
The Department of Justice will use the False Claims Act to pursue cases of cybersecurity-related fraud by government contractors and grant recipients—including claims against entities that fail to report breaches and hacks in a timely manner.
Ask a CCO: How to ensure right things done for right reasons
How do you encourage employees to do the right things for the right reasons? Seven senior compliance practitioners share what they and their respective companies do to best get results.
Fed increasing LIBOR scrutiny as finish line nears
Financial institutions’ transition efforts away from the London Interbank Offered Rate will be intensely scrutinized by the Federal Reserve as the expiration deadline of the benchmark interest rate looms.
Ask a CCO: How do you prevent whistleblower retaliation?
Seven senior compliance practitioners detail the steps their respective companies take to ensure whistleblowers are not retaliated against when reporting potential misconduct.
Compliance implications of drugmakers’ $447M False Claims Act settlements
Three pharmaceutical manufacturers—Taro Pharmaceuticals USA, Sandoz, and Apotex Corp.—will pay a total of $447.2 million for alleged violations of the False Claims Act related to price-fixing.
Lessons learned from actions of Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen
Many whistleblowers are forced to take their complaints outside the company because their attempts to address the problems internally are rebuffed or ignored. Facebook is paying the price for that inaction.
Ask a CCO: What makes a good internal reporting system?
Seven senior compliance practitioners explain what they believe to be the key tenets of an internal reporting system that encourages employees to come forward with reports of potential misconduct.
Updated PhRMA Code addresses company-sponsored speaker programs
New voluntary standards issued by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America will soon take effect offering guidance related to company-sponsored speaker programs.
Pandora Papers: Takeaways for compliance
The “Pandora Papers” could open Pandora’s box for all businesses and organizations found to be entangled in its worldwide web of shell companies, offshore tax havens, and secret trusts.
Neiman Marcus data breach exposes personal info of 4.6M customers
Luxury retailer Neiman Marcus discovered last month a May 2020 data breach that exposed personal and financial information contained in the online accounts of approximately 4.6 million customers.
Ask a CCO: How do you encourage internal reporting?
Seven senior compliance practitioners share how they encourage employees to come forward with reports of potential misconduct in support of the greater mission of instilling a culture of compliance.
SEC charges ex-Goldman compliance analyst with insider trading
The Securities and Exchange Commission charged a former senior compliance analyst at Goldman Sachs who abused his position of authority unbeknownst to the investment bank with insider trading.
‘Raise Your Game, Not Your Voice’ a guide for ethics-minded professionals
Lisa Beth Lentini Walker and Stef Tschida’s guidebook teaches compliance practitioners how to win others over in the maelstrom without adding to the noise.
New SEC marketing rule offers opportunities, compliance challenges
The SEC’s new marketing rule allows certain types of advertising, endorsements, and testimonials that were previously prohibited. Investment advisers are “excited” about the new possibilities—but compliance officers must warn them of the risks.
Introducing: Cybersecurity training customized for compliance
The professor who created CW’s first-ever self-directed learning module explains what compliance practitioners can expect to get out of the course—and why it’s an essential tool in an evolving cyber-risk landscape.
On-demand training: Protect your company from cyber risks
Take this self-directed, interactive course to deepen your understanding of cybersecurity risks and learn about the latest regulations to keep your organization compliant and prepared for today’s dangerous cyber-environment.
KPIs and collaboration: How Vivint, Agilent handle data collection
Compliance leaders from Vivint and Agilent Technologies shared how they are successfully integrating data intelligence into their organization’s operations at a recent Diligent virtual summit.
SEC offers guidance on climate change disclosure shortcomings
A sample letter released by the Securities and Exchange Commission this week lays out common mistakes firms make with their climate change disclosures.
Anti-corruption leaders share upsides of remote compliance program
COVID-19 has altered how companies operate their anti-corruption compliance programs, but not necessarily for the worse, according to experts from PepsiCo and Cook Group who shared their experiences at a recent Diligent virtual summit.
Fed Chair Powell: Wells Fargo asset cap will remain in place
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Wells Fargo’s asset cap will remain in place until the bank has “comprehensively” fixed its governance and compliance deficiencies.
CMA’s Green Claims Code latest effort in greenwashing crackdown
Companies have until the end of the year to stop making misleading claims about the green credentials of their products and services or face regulatory action, the U.K. Competition and Markets Authority has warned.
ESG survey: Measure, monitor, and enhance your strategy
A Compliance Week and Fulcrum survey of more than 200 compliance, audit, legal, and finance executives worldwide revealed support for ESG initiatives, but uncertainty about how to monitor progress and measure results.
Big Four mishaps in U.K. underscore need to challenge auditors
Companies should question their auditors throughout the audit process, particularly in the wake of a spate of recent enforcement actions in the United Kingdom targeting the Big Four and other large firms for audit deficiencies.
Treasury sanctions virtual currency exchange as part of ransomware response
The U.S. Department of the Treasury announced “robust actions” to counter ransomware, including blocking the assets of a Russian virtual currency exchange that has facilitated payments for at least eight ransomware variants.
OCC raps MUFG Union Bank for risk management deficiencies
MUFG Union Bank, which has entered into agreement to be acquired by U.S. Bank, received a cease-and-desist order from the OCC for “unsafe or unsound practices regarding technology and operational risk management.”
With approach to Coinbase, SEC shows its hand on cryptocurrency
By reacting to Coinbase’s now-scrapped Lend program proposal with a Wells Notice, the SEC sent a message that cryptocurrency companies should not expect the agency to bend to their will.