5 reasons to be excited for Compliance Week 2021
Editor in Chief Dave Lefort shares what he’s most looking forward to ahead of Compliance Week’s 16th annual National Conference from May 11-13.
Risk matrix breaks down problem areas of blockchain technology
The use of blockchain technology brings with it a number of risks that prudent auditing and accounting professionals must smartly manage. It’s all described in a new risk matrix released jointly by the ISACA, AICPA, and CIMA.
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Cancel culture stresses need for senior execs to practice mindfulness
Given the “cancel culture” era we are in today, writes Jaclyn Jaeger, the need for senior executives to be mindful about the things they say and do outside the workplace is more critical than ever before.
LRN survey: Compliance and ethics rose to challenge of COVID-19
LRN’s “2021 Ethics & Compliance Program Effectiveness Report” highlights the strengthening of ethical culture that has occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.
‘Coming Clean’ case study not just a Volkswagen story
Volkswagen’s recently concluded three-year monitorship is chronicled in CW’s latest in-depth case study: “Coming Clean: Volkswagen’s Dieselgate scandal and compliance monitorship.” It will be published for members during the week of May 17.
Bracing for impact: Supply chain risk management post-Suez Canal blockage
A month has gone by since a 1,300-foot cargo ship ran aground and blocked one of the busiest waterways in the world. For many industries, the ripple effects will continue to batter global supply chains for weeks to come, absent having in place a sound supply chain risk management program.
Six best practices for managing cyber-security upon return to office
The hybrid work environment many organizations are expected to utilize as part of the gradual return to the workplace presents numerous cyber-security risks that require proactive attention.
Study: How compliance managed COVID’s effects on incident reports
The coronavirus pandemic dramatically altered incident reports and investigations in 2020. Despite facing unprecedented challenges, as analyzed in NAVEX Global’s latest benchmark study, compliance officers met the moment.
Three tips for beginning a career in compliance
Substantial investments from industries like financial services have helped raise the status of compliance as a rewarding career path. Jason Morris of the ICA provides insight on where aspiring compliance officers can get started.
Compliance lessons, regulatory fallout from Archegos meltdown
There are plenty of unanswered questions following the recent meltdown of family office Archegos Capital Management—and plenty of compliance lessons to be learned, writes Aaron Nicodemus.
Data breach disclosures drop in 2020, report says
Cyber-breach disclosures in 2020 were down 19 percent from 2019—the first drop in the statistic in five years, according to a new report from Audit Analytics.
Michaela Ahlberg: Building a compliance program amid an FCPA probe
Michaela Ahlberg created a compliance program from scratch when she was hired by Swedish telecom Telia following allegations of corruption in its foreign business dealings. She shared what she learned with the audience at CW’s Financial Crimes virtual event.
IIA survey: COVID-19 impact on internal audit smaller than expected
The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on internal audit was not nearly as severe as it was for organizations overall, states a new report from the Institute of Internal Auditors.
Robert Mazur: Old tricks still work for launderers; new policies could help
Former federal agent Robert Mazur revealed secrets of the money-laundering trade to attendees of CW’s Financial Crimes virtual event and proposed two solutions for financial institutions in the fight against bad actors.
Study: Financial services leads way in COVID-related CAMs
More than a quarter of companies citing COVID-19 in their critical audit matters filed with the PCAOB are part of the financial services industry, according to research from Audit Analytics.
SPACs are big-risk, big-reward investments that can give compliance fits
Once a moribund and little-used method to bring a private company public, SPACs dominated the market in 2020 and the first three months of this year. With the trend have come new risks for compliance.
Internal audit’s role in cyber-security testing: Where to start
Nathan Anderson, senior director of internal audit at McDonald’s, discusses ways internal audit can better answer management questions about cyber-risks and become a more independent cyber-security testing function overall.
Study: Racial diversity still lacking among Russell 3000 board members
A new board diversity report by BoardProspects reveals companies in the Russell 3000 are at a major inflection point regarding racial equality on their boards, but most (60 percent) still have no Black board members.
TRACE: U.S. bribery enforcement declined in 2020
Despite a banner year for resolutions under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act in 2020, U.S. enforcement of the anti-bribery law dropped 29 percent when compared to 2019, according to the latest Global Enforcement Report by TRACE International.
GDPR fines by industry: Telecoms far outpace Big Tech
Since the GDPR came into force in 2018, Big Tech firms have not been on the receiving end of fines as frequently as expected. Meanwhile, other industries have shown to be more prone to data privacy violations, namely telecommunications.
Ethics survey: Employee pressure on the rise amid COVID-19
A new global business ethics survey conducted by the Ethics & Compliance Initiative found employees are experiencing more work-related pressure as compared to before the coronavirus pandemic.
Audit client turnover 2020: EY ends Deloitte’s streak; PwC, KPMG lag behind
Ernst & Young and Deloitte each had net increases in new public company audit engagements in 2020, while Big Four peers PwC and KPMG saw net decreases, according to the latest annual study.
Four ways you can support diversity and inclusion at your company
Diversity and inclusion leaders from Procter & Gamble and The Hartford share key elements for successfully achieving and sustaining a work environment that respects and fosters diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Ask a CCO: Are you in favor of federal data privacy legislation?
It’s a clean sweep: All five CCOs we spoke with are in favor of U.S. federal data privacy legislation. Read on for the reasoning behind their answers.
‘An invaluable asset’: Participants praise opportunity for feedback via GDPR sandboxes
Regulatory sandboxes launched by EU data protection authorities provide firms the opportunity to collaborate and make use of the regulator’s expertise to reduce GDPR compliance risks.
Ask a CCO: How has your company prioritized data privacy compliance?
Five senior compliance practitioners tell us how their companies have reacted to recent privacy legislation like the GDPR, CCPA, and other state regulations in the pipeline.
Ask a CCO: What’s your strategy for preventing and detecting data breaches?
Five senior compliance practitioners outline their strategies for protecting their firms from data breaches.
Study: Goodwill impairments drop in 2019; spike projected in 2020
Goodwill impairment recorded by U.S. public companies fell 10 percent from 2018 to 2019, according to Duff & Phelps’ latest study. An early look at 2020 figures suggests a big rise in next year’s results as a result of the pandemic.
Ask a CCO: How is your company reacting to cyber-risks introduced by COVID-19?
Five senior compliance practitioners tell Compliance Week how their organizations are reacting to new cyber-threats introduced by the pandemic.
Ask a CCO: What’s your role in creating/implementing cyber-security policies?
Five senior compliance practitioners share insights on their roles in implementing and overseeing cyber-security policies and procedures.
Special report: Compliance, infosec & battling cyber-threats
LifePoint Health’s VP for Compliance Program Operations/Chief Privacy Officer Ellen Hunt and VP/CISO Andy Heins share how they work ”hand in glove” to protect their company’s data from bad actors.
FERF study: Average audit fees inch higher in 2019
In the 11th edition of its annual public company audit fee study, the Financial Education & Research Foundation reported an increase of 6 percent in average audit fees largely due to expanded scope.
Best practices for navigating political discussions among coworkers
It’s not realistic to outright ban talk of politics with coworkers, but in today’s polarized climate it’s smart to set policies and educate employees about lines that should not be crossed.
Cyber-insurance: Why you need it and how to choose the right plan
As cyber-attacks surge, the need for cyber-insurance is growing more urgent. But it’s critical for companies to first familiarize themselves with how to navigate the labyrinth of cyber-insurance products on the market so that they are properly covered.
Done right, outsourcing compliance can be rewarding
Should you consider outsourcing some of your firm’s compliance functions? Perhaps, even, all of them? The answer is complicated and requires a thorough analysis of the risks and rewards.
A critical look at pandemic-related executive compensation changes
With 2021 proxy season underway, a new analysis by Compensation Advisory Partners reveals what impact proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services will have on say-on-pay concerning executive compensation actions made in response to the pandemic.
Survey: Firms enhanced cyber-security in 2020, but not enough
Companies forced to pivot to remote work in a global health crisis spent the bulk of 2020 grappling with heightened cyber-security risks. A year later, compliance practitioners say their companies’ cyber-security postures are better for it—even in the wake of the stunning SolarWinds hack.
ACAMS survey: FinCEN Files leak a positive for financial industry?
Many compliance professionals in the financial industry believe last year’s leak of 2,100 suspicious activity reports from FinCEN had an overall positive impact on global efforts to fight financial crime, according to an ACAMS survey.
Companies not reporting ESG initiatives are in the minority
Several reports highlight the growing trend of companies recognizing the value of aligning their business models with ESG concerns, acceding to the demands of shareholders, activists, the market, and the public.
Q&A: Global Widget CCO says CBD industry at regulatory ‘tipping point’
Global Widget Chief Compliance and Legal Officer Margaret Richardson talks with Compliance Week about how the company’s focus on federal and state compliance lends to leading the way in the currently unregulated cannabidiol industry.
PCAOB 2019 inspection reports: Deloitte still tops; PwC deficiency rate rises again
Three of the Big Four audit firms—Deloitte, EY, and KPMG—improved their year-over-year deficiency percentage in the PCAOB’s 2019 inspection reports, while PwC’s deficiency rate increased for the third straight year.
FINRA report: Top risk areas for AML, cyber-security
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has published a new report designed to help inform member firms’ compliance programs by providing annual insights from its examinations and risk monitoring programs.
Survey: Pandemic pervades executives’ top 10 risks for 2021
The aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic dominates the top risks that will keep boards of directors and executive management teams on their toes in 2021, a new survey by Protiviti and NC State’s ERM Initiative finds.
Anti-corruption developments in 2020: China, India make strides
A global panel of experts with law firm Gibson Dunn share insights around recent anti-corruption developments in some of the world’s largest regions, including China, India, Latin America, and Africa.
SolarWinds hack turning into Pandora’s box of cyber-risk
The more we learn about the SolarWinds hack, the more troubled compliance officers should be by the scope and breadth of the risks their companies might have incurred.
NYDFS regulation a best-practices model for cyber-security training
Companies must make cyber-security a continuous priority as threats evolve, often more quickly than the technology and regulations to counter them. That’s why the New York Department of Financial Services, under Maria Vullo, developed a policy that should act as a model for organizations.
Transparency International index: Pandemic tests anti-corruption efforts
Corrupt activity bolstered by the coronavirus pandemic features heavily in the findings of Transparency International’s 2020 Corruption Perceptions Index, with even some of the highest-scoring countries having their share of challenges.
CPE Webcast: Compliance considerations to prepare for returning to the office
With the pandemic lingering and the coronavirus vaccine shipping in the United States, we are hopefully beginning to turn the corner on the pandemic.
Survey: KYC, risk profiling key problem areas for finance amid pandemic
A new survey by LexisNexis Risk Solutions examines the rising costs and emerging risk areas faced by compliance at U.S. and Canadian financial institutions amid the coronavirus pandemic.