UAE Central Bank Issues New Anti-Money Laundering Guide on Dealing with Politically Exposed Persons

The Central Bank of the UAE (CBUAE) has issued a new anti-money laundering (AML) guide and combatting the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) for licenced financial institutions (LFIs) on risks related to politically exposed persons (PEPs), the regulator announced on Tuesday (2 August 2022). This set of guidelines comes to effect immediately.

Globally, money laundering activity is projected to more than double to $5.8 billion by 2027 from an estimated $2.8bn in 2022, research company Markets and Markets said in a report last month. The anti-money laundering task force imposed fines of more than Dh41 million ($11.16m) in the first six months of 2022 as it continues to rein in illicit financial activity. UAE imposed $11.2 million in penalties for anti-money laundering cases during the first half of 2022

Are you Following the UAE Anti-Money Laundering New Guide?

Licensed financial institutions (LFIs) offering services to politically exposed persons (PEPs) have been asked to develop “risk-based policies.” According to the state news agency, WAM, the guidelines consider Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards and require LFIs to comply with its requirements within one month.

Under the new CBUAE guidelines, customers that are PEPs and transactions involving PEPs may expose LFIs to a heightened risk of terrorism financing, money laundering and other illicit finance – and these guidelines follow CBUAE’s recently introduced AML/ CFT guidance for licensed financial institutions on payment risks. The new guidance “will assist LFIs’ understanding of risks and effective implementation of their statutory AML/CFT obligations, and takes Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards into account,” WAM said in a statement, adding that LFIs must comply with the regulator within a month.

PEPs and transactions related to them may expose LFIs to a higher risk of money laundering and terror financing, the lender said.

The guidance enables LFIs to do due diligence on PEPs and their direct family members or close associates.

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Governor of the CBUAE, Khaled Mohamed Balama, said, “We are keen to ensure that all LFIs comprehensively understand their role and responsibilities in mitigating relevant AML/CFT risks and safeguarding the UAE financial system from illicit activities. This guidance provides LFIs with further requirements and measures they must fulfil before and after initiating business relationships with politically exposed persons to stay anti-money laundering compliant. We will continue our efforts to issue similar regulatory guidelines, to enhance the efficiency and robustness of our financial system in line with international standards related to anti-money laundering and the financing of terrorism.”

Balama added this guidance provides LFIs with further requirements and measures they must fulfil before and after initiating business relationships with PEPs to stay compliant with anti-money laundering.

LFIs providing services to PEPs must develop risk-based policies, the lender said, adding this would ensure accurately identified PEPs or related customers before the start of the business relationship, risk rating and applying equivalent customer due diligence.

UAE has made positive advances in anti-money laundering, anti-financial crime: global watchdog

The regulator also said LFIs must constantly monitor business relationships and maintain a transaction monitoring system to track suspicious transactions.

Any unusual activity would then be reported to the UAE’s financial intelligence unit using the ‘goAML’ portal.

The UAE has announced various measures to fight and prevent money laundering in the country, including renewing anti-money laundering policies for payment risks.

ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING (AML) SERVICES – AML ADVISORY SOLUTIONS MADE EASY!

There are many advantages to outsourcing portions of your Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance program to CRI Group™. CRI™ Anti-Money Laundering (AML) advisory services can help analyse systems and develop effective solutions that reduce your company’s risk of falling prey to employee, supplier or outside corporate and financial crimes.

An effective AML framework is a testament to your organisation’s position against crime. Our unmatched investigative capabilities, worldwide presence and long-standing 32 years of reputation for independence and integrity make us uniquely qualified to resolve regulatory concerns.

Our vast Compliance and Anti-Corruption network gives you much-needed protection when making critical bottom-line decisions crucial to your organisation’s success. Ensure you have the 360-degree analysis of your challenges – get in touch with the experienced CRI Group’s AML team for a bespoke quote. Leave it to the experts to provide you with the protection you need.

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Let’s Celebrate Human Resources Appreciation Week

Being in Human Resources (HR) can be difficult to handle. After all, the HR department plays an integral role in ensuring the success of organisations by nurturing and developing human capital. However, they do not get enough credit. Human Resources Appreciation Week is a holiday to change people’s HR perspective and learn why their job is valuable for businesses.

History of Human Resource Professional Day

Governor-General Sir Patrick Allen referenced Human Resource Professional Day (HR Professional Day) in October 2013. He created this day to recognise and celebrate HR professionals.

HR professionals carry out multiple tasks in an organisation. They have to follow important legislation, help co-workers get paid, and get to plan those fun company parties after a long year’s work. It was not until Governor-General Hon Steadman Alvin Ridout Fuller declared it an official holiday in Jamaica in 2018 that HR Professional Day came into the spotlight. Human Resource Professional Day is designed to tribute to those working in HR departments worldwide.

Human Resources Appreciation Week is an opportunity to learn about what HR does to improve employees’ lives and allow people to join the HR industry. Human Resources Appreciation Week is about thanking and appreciating the hard work of HR staff since they handle the most difficult situations, such as staff negotiations, corporate liaison, and legislation interpreting.

HR Professionals Day-to-Day

Becoming an HR officer is great for someone with strong interpersonal skills, who likes helping others, and who is self-motivated. Working in HR means implementing policies, advising on, and developing plans relating to how staff are used and operate within a business.

Your role is to ensure that you have the right balance of workers in terms of experience and skills and that development and training opportunities are available so that colleagues can achieve their corporate aims and improve their performance.

Several different activities are covered in the HR department. This involves working practices, recruitment, pay, negotiation with work-related external agencies, diversity and equality, and conditions of employment too.

There are many different skills that HR professionals are expected to have. This includes the potential to cope with a leadership role, negotiate and influence effectively, so personnel policies are implemented, and have good organisational skills, management skills, and business awareness.

Aside from this, working in HR demands someone who has a willingness and curiosity to challenge organisational culture where needed, approachability and integrity, and interpersonal skills so that effective working relationships can be formed with people at all levels.

Celebrate Your HR Professionals in This Human Resources Appreciation Week

As you can see, being involved in HR is not easy, and a lot will be demanded of you. This is why Human Resources Appreciation Week is so important. It is a great chance to honour everyone working in this industry. Express your gratitude to HR professionals that work so hard for you.

It is also a great day to raise awareness about this job role and share information about what it is like to be part of the HR community. If you’re interested in working in HR, you should be able to find a lot of great information online during this period too, but here are a few articles you can here:

• What is continuous background screening?
• Employee Fraud: Why are human factors so important in risk management?
• Employee Screening During COVID-19: It doesn’t have to be complicated
• The consequences of neglecting background screening
• Employee Background Checks: A requisite for all businesses
• How to Identify and Prevent Employee Fraud?

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What is BS7858 Standard? And Why it is Important?

What is BS 7858 Standard?

The British Standards Institution (BSI) has recently revised the British Standard for Security Screening of Security Personnel (BS7858:2004). The new code of practice BS7858:2019 came into effect at the end of September 2020, substituting the revoked BS7858:2012 revised standard, which was rescinded on the 31^st  March 2020. The BS7858 standard has become progressively more crucial when it comes to the protection of individuals, goods & services, estate, and personal data. The BS7858 safeguards such elements by guaranteeing that the veracity of the person authorized to access such sensitive data is certified and retains as such.

There is a lot of misrepresentation circulating regarding the changes to BS7858 Standard which CRI Group, as the only company in the Middle East and Asian region with an implemented BS 7858:2019 standard and BS 102000:2018 code of practice for investigative services and ISO27001 (Information Security Management System) certification, want to help clean up.

Why is the standard so important? 

It is no secret that confidence is key when it comes to the mass of decision ruling. Instilling confidence in its personnel is critical for all organizations and their triumph, particularly when said personnel oversees susceptible individuals, valuable resources or data protection. Organisations have to be able to guarantee that their security personnel have been subordinate to the best meticulous screening process. This ensures pleased clients, as well as pleased personnel as the foundation to a fortunate and reliable organization, begins from within. The BS7585 aids organizations to avoid scandals such as:

• British Airways (BA): fined £20 million by the UK’s data protection authority over data security failings which permitted unauthorized access to be acquired to private data and payment card information concerning more than 400,000 of its consumers
• Sina Weibo: when hackers stole the private data of 172 million users – this included real names, site usernames, gender, location, and phone numbers. The data was sold on the dark web for a mere  ¥1,799 ($250) but caused considerable harm, distress and chaos to the daily lives of Weibo’s users.
• Canva: the Australian graphic design tool suffered an attack that exposed 137 million users email addresses, usernames, names, cities of residence. The hackers also managed to view, but not steal, files with a partial credit card and payment data.

The revised BS7858 has been made clear that the responsibility and accountability for the security and effectiveness of the vetting process rest with the organization itself and leading management. The BS7858:2019 connects with the move we have seen worldwide to corporate social responsibility and compliance and follows that trend. Other occurrences of the movement consist of instances such as the GDPR (April 2016) and the FCA (Dec 2020) which both expect leading management to be practical in their approach to compliance.

As a significant volume of data requires authentication in a screening process, several organizations may find executing an employee screening and vetting process to be highly complex. Additionally, the degree of evaluation of the applicant’s provisional data must be carried out effectively as well as promptly and include specific checks, such as credit checks or checks against the Financial Services Register.

BSI brought the BS7858 Standard to 2021 with the inclusion of:

Right to Work checks in line with Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) identity requirements:

In antithesis to common acceptance, the BS7858-compliant vetting checks do not need to include DBS checks. This is due to the fact that the Security Industry Authority (SIA) oversees these criminal record checks as part of an individual’s registration process. Nevertheless, they do continue to be a measure of best practice, and the revised Standard firmly contends in its favour. See 7.3.2 (c) and 7.7. (j) in the 7858 Standard. Organizations can also refer to the SIA’s ‘Get Licensed’ handbook which asserts that when an operative is in connection with children or susceptible adults, the Standard or an alternate heightened degree of admission should be deemed essential.

Global watchlist checks during the application process

7.4 (c) of the BS7858 Standard comprises the compulsory requirement to examine a variety of international watchlists, sanctions and fraud databases. Hitherto to this, the Standard simply asked the examining of the HMG sanctions list.

Social media checks as an advised best practice for pre-and post-employment

Personnel social media posts could generate problems for organisations that are operational in protected and regulated conditions; BSI has updated the BS7858 Standard to consider this matter. The BS7858:2019 Standard urges organisations to complete social media screening pre and post-employment.

Searching for supplementary data utilizing best practice social media and additional open-source internet checks can support your organisation with superior perceptions and decrease your employee risk.

For extra assistance on social media and further knowledge on the perils of social media within your organisation, please see our article and free playbook on “Risks of Cybercrime & Social Media“. A complete Guide on How to Protect Your Organisation and Team!

Other significant changes of the BS7858 Standard:

• Removal of character references
• Approval to passing on pre-employment screening records from vocation to vocation.
• Conditional Offer: Formerly, there were two steps an employer was obliged to follow before making an offer of conditional employment; fulfilling the stipulated preliminary checks and adequately fulfilling limited screening on the subject. The new standard initiated the third element on top of the other two conditions – to commence a risk review and confirm that “the degree of risk in the envisioned employment has been evaluated and is deemed to be acceptable and documented” and consequently, the organization is happy to extend the offer based on their evaluation and the candidate’s risk profile.
• Preservation of candidates’ background screening records during their employment. Ineffective applicants records can be retained for 12 months while for ex-employees, particular records can be kept for an additional seven years after the employment ended.
• All groups involved in carrying out BS7858 vetting should be prepared for envisioned obligations.

It is clear to see that the BS7858 standard is crucial for employment in not only the security region but each region of employment; pre-employment screening expending the updated BS7858 standards promises that each member of the public, from manual laborer’s to office workers, can maintain life in a safe environment.

If the new standard still feels a little daunting to you, why not consider booking a free 30-minute consultation with one of our experts here at CRI Group? Our specialists have years of experience and are qualified to offer your organization personalized guidance to fit your professional requirements. Don’t hesitate, get in touch today and stay ahead of the vetting rules and regulations.

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Author bio

Zafar I. Anjum, is Group CEO of CRI Group (www.crigroup.com), a global supplier of investigative, forensic accounting, integrity due diligence and employee background screening services for some of the world’s leading business organizations. Headquartered in London, with offices in UAE, Pakistan, Qatar, Singapore, Malaysia, Brazil, China and USA, CRI is licensed by the Dubai International Financial Centre-DIFC, the Qatar Financial Center-QFC, and the Abu Dhabi Global Market-ADGM.

Contact Details

Zafar Anjum, MSc, MS, LLM, CFE, CII, MABI, MICA, Int. Dip. (Fin. Crime), Int. Dip. (GRC)
CRI Group Chief Executive Officer
37th Floor, 1 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AA, United Kingdom
t: +44 207 8681415 | m: +44 7588 454959 | e: zanjum@crigroup.com

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Review and Reassess Your Organisation’s Third-Party Relationships

Is it the Time to Review and Reassess Your Third-Party Relationships? 

The global pandemic is rattling economies worldwide, disrupting supply chains, interrupting production, wreaking havoc on industry sectors and shuttering businesses; this impacts third-party relationships businesses have. At some point, organisations that affiliate with outside providers will eventually have to deal with any number of operational interruptions resulting from a third-party relationship-related issue. And while the risks involved in partnering with outsiders haven’t changed over time, the potential level of liability has been ratcheted up several notches.

International Borders have been ripped down. Technology has improved the way businesses communicate. Easy access to data and information enables the media to report on business news before a business can respond. Consequently, the markets are quick to react based on this 24/7 on-demand news cycle. The result of this increased liability can be highly problematic:

• Business litigation has skyrocketed.
• Corporate reputations are negatively impacted due to the fallout from the current global pandemic.
• Risk management frameworks are continually evolving to acclimate to changing business environments.
• Board members are becoming increasingly subjected to intense scrutiny from outside critics.

THE CHALLENGE: The Global Business Climate is Changing. So Are Your Third-Party Partners.

• Organisations suffer financial loss as the supply chain falters and loses customers because of poor-quality service from a third party.
• Company data systems are exposed and breached because of poor security practices by third parties.
• Companies are experiencing supply chain issues due to poor disaster recovery procedures by third parties.
• Organisations are increasingly being exposed to litigation because relationships with an outside provider significantly violated contractual terms, potentially resulting in regulatory exposure.

If your organisation requires any of the following within your compliance checklist, then you must consider a third-party risk management solution:

• Have a lack of visibility or understanding danger of the risks posed by your relationships with many types of third parties?
• Want greater visibility into third-party performance and risks?
• Need to improve operational costs, process, efficiencies, and organisational agility associated with your third-party relationships?
• Need to gain greater control over the related risks?
• Want to be confident that third parties are compliant with your business’ policies and their own based on government regulations and industry requirements?

The role or size of the third party is not as important as the nature of the relationship they have with your business. Think of your third-party access to your sensitive data or property! A cleaning company with access to your filing cabinet represents a different but still significant risk. And remember, you are accountable for the inappropriate actions of any of your third parties.

THE SOLUTION: 3PRM: A Third-Party Certification Program; Qualify Your Partners. Protect Your Organisation.

Corporate Research and Investigations Limited (CRI Group™) is pleased to announce the rollout of its 3PRM-Certified™ program, specifically designed for organisations across the Middle East, Europe and Asian regions. 

This highly specialised Third-Party Risk Management assessment and certification program was developed to help organisations accurately determine the legal compliance, financial viability, and integrity levels of outside partners, suppliers, and customers who seek to affiliate with and represent your business.

Download our 3PRM™ Brochure 

The 3PRM-Certified™ program consists of gap analysis and investigative due diligence on targeted third-party partners, suppliers and agents seeking to affiliate with your organisation. This highly thorough program can reveal any anti-corruption, compliance and risk management deficiencies associated with the international regulatory framework.

CRI® Group employs a network of locally qualified, subject-specific auditors, investigators, certified fraud examiners and industry-specific professionals across the Middle East, European and Asian regions who can provide expert counsel in offering 3PRM-Certified™ strategies as an effective pre-emptive measure. 

OUTCOMES – Identifying red flags

• Undisclosed third-party transactions
• Material misrepresentations or omissions
• Unreported financial liabilities
• Criminal or regulatory sanctions
• Prior bribe or corruption allegations
• Undisclosed legal or bankruptcy proceedings
• Politically Exposed Persons (PEPs)

RESULT: A highly educated market responds immediately with their pocketbooks.

Has your organisation vetted its third-party relationships lately? CRI Group’s 3PRM™ Third-party risk management strategy can safeguard your organisation against unwanted business dealings and risks from the third party. Contact CRI Group to learn more about our 3PRM-Certified™ third-party risk management strategy program and discover an effective and proactive approach to mitigating the risks associated with corruption, bribery, financial crimes and other dangerous threats posed by third-party partnerships.

We look forward to assisting you. Feel free to reach out to our CEO, Zafar I. Anjum, MSc, MS, LLM CFE, CIS, MICA, Int. Dip. (Fin. Crime), Int. Dip. (GRC), MBCI, CII Int. Dip. (AML) | e: zanjum@crigroup.com | t: +44 7588 454959

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Who is CRI Group™?

Based in London, CRI Group™ works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, Due Diligence and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. We have the largest proprietary network of background-screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI Group™ also holds BS 102000:2013 and BS 7858:2012 Certifications, is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle.

We’d like to share with you 10 great reasons to partner with CRI Group™ today:

1. CRI Group’s Personal Touch: Our high level of service sets us apart from our competitors: As your partner, our team become members of your team – working for you with our “boots on the ground” approach to gathering information. Our experts excel at deterring, detecting and investigating fraud and other crimes against businesses.
2. Our Vast Business Intelligence Network: We access information from 180 countries, gathering local knowledge in places our competitors cannot. Our presence in Pakistan, Oman, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Qatar, Egypt, Kuwait, Bahrain, as well as other countries in Africa and the whole of Southeast Asia, means that many of our competitors contact us for information from those countries.
3. Competitive Pricing: CRI Group™ does not maintain the high overhead of larger firms, many of which lack our specialisation and level of individual client attention. We work within your budget, as CRI Group’s prices are consistently lower than our competitors’ rates.
4. “3PRM” – Our Third-Party Risk Management Strategy™: At CRI Group™, we have developed our own comprehensive service for helping clients manage third-party risks. Our team of experts provide the highest level of protection for companies worldwide.
5. CRI Group’s Wide Knowledge Base: Our experts come from a variety of professions and possess industry knowledge and experience serving clients spanning the oil and energy, banking, investments, international finance, and public and privately held multinational business sectors. CRI Group™ professionals work closely with your business to analyse systems and develop effective solutions that reduce the risk of your company falling prey to employees, suppliers or outside crime.
6. Our Background Checks Catch Everything: CRI Group’s background screening and pre-employment screening services expose vulnerabilities and threats within your organisation and can significantly reduce the potential of business and financial crime, fraud and malpractice from occurring within your workplace.
7. We’re Recognised and Acclaimed: As well as winning awards for “Anti-Fraud Advisor of the Year,” “Leading Adviser in UAE”, and “Business Due-Diligence Firm of the Year,” CRI Group™ is also working towards the “Investors in People” accreditation.
8. We are Discreet: Let’s face it; there are some problems you just don’t want announced to the world. Fraud, internal investigations, due diligence or liability issues – CRI Group’s experts are trained to maintain the highest levels of client confidentiality. We keep your private business private.
9. Our Updates Keep You in the Know: As industry experts, we offer a publication called Fraud 360, which is produced on a quarterly basis, with monthly email updates offering awareness, knowledge, latest trends and helpful advice for companies on fraud. If you would like to be on our mailing list, please subscribe here.
10. CRI Group™ is Truly International. We maintain offices in UAE, Turkey, Pakistan, Qatar, Singapore, Hong Kong, the United States and the United Kingdom. For more information, please visit www.crigroup.com.

Check out our Why Partner With CRI Group™ InfoPack

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WEBINAR | Compliance and Adequate Due Diligence for Third-Party Risk Managements

Building a Culture of Compliance and Trust Through ISO 37301:2021 CMS: Compliance adequate Due Diligence for Third-Party Risk Management – corporate compliance program

Free Webinar | 4 August 2022 | 2 pm – 3 pm UAE Time | in collaboration with ABAC™

CRI Group™ is hosting a free webinar on August 4th in collaboration with sister brand the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC™) Center of Excellence. Our intention is to be able to provide resources on corporate compliance and due diligence to organizations around the globe that will aid them in expansion and an ethical working environment. Take advantage of this free webinar on compliance and adequate due diligence for Third-Party Risk Management.

Compliance in the Workplace

The compliance standard directs an organization to establish ideals and ethics. It involves the organization to illustrate those ideals and ethics adequately in a manner in which team members can recognise them and submit to them. A compliance standard necessitates that an organization train team members on ideals and ethics and demands that the organization hold team members liable for their conflicts and behaviors. In other words, compliance helps to define the force in the wake of the organization and its motivational efforts. However, many authoritative figures view compliance as intrinsically fundamentalist as they assume that the objective of compliance is to rein in conduct that couldn’t be further than the truth. Compliance provides a compelling instrument of prolonged adjustment. If everyday behavior branches from education and codes of conduct, and codes of conduct branch from ethics, expression, and alteration; over time, these said principles can intensely influence administrative behavior. Standards can be deemed as a leveraging point, and in the long run, compliance centers on the driving principles of an organization therefore, it is incredibly important to implement them into your corporate culture which is what we intend on discussing in our webinar.

Discussion points

• Most individuals are vaguely aware of what fraud prevention entails but many cannot fully comprehend how intensive and impactful a proper fraud prevention strategy can be. Our speaker will be looking at the following points.
• What does compliance mean?
• Compliance obligations
• Compliance related areas
• What is ISO 37301:2021 Compliance Management Systems
• Common elements of the framework
• Compliance risk assessment
• The process: Top management
• Questions to ask when developing a compliance management policy
• The involvement of third parties
• The results: the pay-off of good governance
• The results: long-lasting benefits integration with ISO 37001
• Anti-Bribery Management System, ISO 37000:2021 Governance of organizations, and ISO 37002:2021 Whistleblowing Management systems  

Meet our speaker, Samia El Kadiri

Consultant, Author & Trainer, 6σGB |IRCA- QMS Lead Auditor | TOT | Auditor | Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC™) Center of Excellence

She brings in over eight years of progressive experience working in private and government owned entities in compliance, management, quality assurance and excellence functions. Possess keen understanding, oversight and reporting mechanisms on Financial Crimes – Anti-Money Laundering, UAE Central Bank regulations, Dubai and UAE federal government mandates. She Developed and delivered various number of workshops and awareness sessions to leaders and decision makers on “Good Corporate Governance Practices”, “Development of Strategic Plan and Effective Policies” and “Financial Ethics” (AML&CFT according to local Guidelines). She authored reports and research papers on Compliance and the evolution of CG in the MENA region. She participated in the ESG Index; MENA wide Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) Index in cooperation with Standard & Poor’s with the support of the International Finance Corporation (IFC). She is a Consultant at DIFC – Hawkamah Institute for Corporate Governance charged with leading entities consultancy and advisory engagements in identifying the relevant controls, processes and frameworks and recommend areas of improvements. She works closely with clients in assessment and development, advisory and succession planning across multiple industries (Dubai and Federal Government entities, Healthcare, Financial institutions including Banks, and Real Estate) and functional topics (Ethics, Strategic excellence, ESG, Clinical Governance, Regulatory Compliance, Audit & Risk , Policies & Procedures…etc.). Prior to joining Hawkamah she was the Regulatory Compliance Officer and Chief Editor of Compliance newsletter at Wall Street Exchange, a member of Emirates Post Group where she developed systems, policies and procedures for compliance of relevant UAE laws. Prior to that she worked with the American Clinics for Psychiatry and Neurology where she focused on health care compliance of Dubai Healthcare Authority’s mandates. Prior to ACPN she worked at Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai where she focused on government excellence, quality management, and customer happiness. She is Graduated with a BSC in Economics. She is a Certified Train the Trainer – Institute of Leadership and Management (UK), In addition to other accreditations related to Anti-Money Laundry (AML) and Counter Financing Crimes. She is fluent in English, Arabic and French.

Who should attend?

By Job Title:

• Investigation Director/Manager
• Internal Audit Director/Manager
• Internal Control Director/Manager
• Chief Compliance/Legal /Ethics/Financial/Risk Officer
• Compliance & Ethics Director/Manager
• General Counsel/Legal Director
• Legal Manager /Legal Counsel
• BD & Commercial Director/Manager
• Purchasing Director/Manager
• …

From Accounting Firms & Consulting:

• Managing Director
• Executive Director
• Partner
• Associate Attorney & Attorney
• …

Why ISO?

Issued in April 2021, the ISO 37301 framework offers a certifiable global benchmark for compliance systems and explains in detail how to construct a compliance management system to comply with international official standards and regulations. This standard is also acknowledged to indicate compliance with social and ethical principles across the globe. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) is an independent, non-governmental body that has developed and implemented the ISO 37301. Corporate compliance continues to be one of the utmost risk interests for management – to which the key solution in preserving integrity and confidence within an organization and third-party representatives is to implement a robust compliance program. The ISO 37301 further urges organizations to place emphasis on the methodical implementation of an organization-wide compliance system as a means of efficiency and compliance understanding the workplace. Like other ISO standards for management systems, such as the ISO 37001 standard for anti-bribery management systems, the ISO 37301 pulls on the founded ISO value of “Plan-Do-Check-Act” (PDCA) – a standard which necessitates those certified organizations to operate within an unremitting development progression sequence.

About CRI Group™?

Based in London, United Kingdom, CRI™ is a global company with experts and resources located in key regional marketplaces across the Asia Pacific, South Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, North and South America. We have experts’ speakers who know the industry inside out and have worked in the field for years and are dedicated to our mission of safeguarding the corporate world by detecting and exposing those elements that can cause irreparable harm to an organization while standing up against the outside forces, who through corruption, collusion, coercion, and fraud, can cause financial, organizational, reputational, and legal harm to our global clients. CRI Group™ also holds BS 102000:2018 and BS 7858:2019 Certifications, is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle. Our webinars, resources and other events are always designed with our clients in mind. Expect to be provided detailed insights and expert opinions to all your questions and queries regarding compliance adequate due diligence for third-party risk management, corporate compliance program and what it means for your organization. CRI Group™ has safeguarded businesses from any risks, providing investigations (i.e. insurance fraud), employee background screening, investigative due diligence, business intelligence, third-party risk management, forensic accounting, compliance and other professional investigative research services. In 2016, CRI Group™ launched the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC™) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body established for ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management, providing training and certification. ABAC™ operates through its global network of certified ethics and compliance professionals, qualified auditors and other certified professionals.

CRI Group™ invites you to schedule a quick appointment with us to discuss in more detail how our risk management solutions can help you and your organization.

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What is Fraud Investigation?

Fraud is one of the biggest and most damaging risks businesses face. The headlines are full of organisations both in the private and public sectors affected by fraud, irregularity or other wrongdoing – either as a victim or accused. Statistics show that the threat of Corporate Fraud increases markedly in a down economy. And when such fraud occurs, it takes an average of 18 months to detect. In that timeframe, the damage to your business can be both widespread and irreversible. The hidden costs related to corporate fraud drains an estimated five per cent of revenue from corporations worldwide.

Fraud Risk Assessment and Fraud Risk Management: A Proactive Approach to Prevention and Detection

Historically, most major corporate fraud cases have been perpetrated by senior management who can circumvent internal controls and often work in collusion with other employees. By establishing a strong workplace environment that promotes ethical behaviour, deters wrongdoing and encourages all employees to communicate any known or suspected activity to the proper authority, you would be taking a proactive approach to prevention and detection.

What is the Fraud Investigation Process?

When fraud is suspected within the organisation, CRI Group’s experienced fraud analysts use proven techniques to aggressively investigate the case, collect evidence and determine the facts. Once the type of fraud is determined, a process of gathering all evidence possible to bulk out the investigation case starts. Evidence can be collected through a variety of means and methods.

These methods include conducting detailed asset checks, background verifications, surveillance checks and stylised forms of investigation and analysis; including employee investigations and investigations of an entire business. Subsequently, the victims and potential fraudsters will be interviewed.  Our analysts work with your management, internal security and legal teams to uncover the truth and bring proper closure to the case.

Are You Auditing Your Fraud Prevention Program Regularly?

• Review and assessment of your current fraud risk management program, including policies, procedures, controls, reporting functions, responsibilities assignment and investigative requirements to identify the organisation’s susceptibility to fraud and vulnerability by the department.
• Developing fraud prevention measures and implementing Anti-fraud controls.
• Defining detection methods that encompass internal audits, suspicious transaction reporting, whistle-blower strategies, and program enforcement.
• Re-engineering targeted job functions or internal controls to mesh with fraud risk management program refinements.

Take Extra Precaution with Fraud and White-Collar Crime Investigations

Fraud and white-collar crime investigations and risk consulting services have helped financial institutions, corporations, partnerships, and individuals worldwide minimise fraud and thereby satisfy capital markets, reduce legal costs, and maintain their reputation and brand equity. CRI Group’s global team of Certified Fraud Examiners are trained in virtually every aspect of corporate fraud, including:

• Money Laundering
• Intellectual Property Crimes
• Embezzlement
• Check & Credit Card Fraud
• Online Cybercrime
• Accounting Fraud
• Cash Theft
• Asset Misappropriation
• Bribery
• Corruption
• Contract & Procurement Fraud
• Payroll Fraud

CRI Group™ develops preventative measures that have helped organisations worldwide identify a material weakness in internal controls to mitigate collusive activity and reduce the liabilities associated with corporate fraud. Our trained investigators leverage our collective investigative experience, leading technology tools, global reach and credibility with regulators to bring you insights with precision and speed.

Our international team of Certified Fraud Examiners (CFEs) work with companies to analyse and assess fraud prevention measures, develop solid risk management programs, provide training for executives, board, management and staff, establish effective communications strategies for reporting suspicious behaviour, and implement investigation and corrective action policies that meet regulatory and compliance requirements.

CRI Group™ professionals work with your organisation on an unbiased level, strengthening your fraud risk management program by:

• Adhering to the organisation’s written code of conduct
• Reviewing existing fraud risk management programs
• Training employees to properly identify fraud
• Developing internal and external reporting channels
• Identifying senior management, board and employee responsibilities
• Conducting and monitoring the progress of investigations
• Providing thorough reporting of investigative results
• Testifying as expert witnesses, if required

Who is CRI Group™?

Based in London, CRI Group™ works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, Due Diligence and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. We have the largest proprietary network of background-screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI Group™ also holds BS 102000:2013 and BS 7858:2012 Certifications, is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle.

CRI Group™ invites you to schedule a quick appointment with us to discuss in more detail how our risk management solutions can help you and your organisation. 

BOOK A MEETING NOW!

Why CRI Group™?

• CRI™ has one of the largest, most experienced & best-trained integrity due diligence teams in the world.
• We have a flat structure which means that you will have direct access to senior members of staff throughout the due diligence process.
• Our multi-lingual teams have conducted assignments on thousands of subjects in over 80 countries, & we’re committed to maintaining & constantly evolving our global network.
• Our solutions are easily customisable, flexible & we will tailor our scope to address your concerns & risk areas; saving you time & money.
• Our team of more than 50 full-time analysts is spread across Europe, Middle East, Asia, North and South America & is fully equiped with the local knowledge to serve your needs globally.
• Our extensive solutions include due diligence, employee pre & post background screening, business intelligence & compliance, facilitating any decision-making across your business no matter what area or department.

In 2016, CRI Group™ launched the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC™) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body that provides education and certification services for individuals and organisations on a wide range of disciplines and ISO standards, including ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management- Guidelines; ISO 37000:2021 Governance of Organisations; ISO 37002:2021 Whistleblowing Management System; ISO 37301:2021 (formerly ISO 19600) Compliance Management system (CMS); Anti-Money Laundering (AML); and ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems ABMS. ABAC™ offers a complete suite of solutions designed to help organisations mitigate the internal and external risks associated with operating in multi-jurisdiction and multi-cultural environments while assisting in developing frameworks for strategic compliance programs. Contact ABAC™ for more on ISO Certification and training.

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Supply chain due diligence act will enter into force on 1 January 2023, are you ready?

The German Parliament (“Bundestag”) adopted the “Act on Corporate Due Diligence in Supply Chains” (Supply Chain Due Diligence Act – “Act” or “LkSG”), and the act will enter into force on 1 January 2023. Originally adopted on 11 June last year, 2021, the act aims to improve the protection of the environment and international human rights by setting binding standards for large companies and their value chains. 

Background

Following the 2011 UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), Germany adopted a National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights, which recalled (but without setting legal standards) that companies should respect human rights in their operations, their value chains, and it is a well-known fact that most human rights violations occur at the beginning of the supply chain. But, and unsurprisingly, ten years after the adoption of the UNGPs, according to a study commissioned by the government:

• only 13-17% of German companies were considered to be “in compliance” with their obligations
• while 83-87% were not, and
• less than 1% were classified as “companies with an implementation plan” concerning these obligations.

As part of the fight against human rights violations and environmental degradation, the LkSG act notably aims to protect people from modern slavery, forced labour, human trafficking, hazardous work and exploitation under the standards of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the relevant articles of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (UN Social Covenant). 

The LkSG act is the first in Germany to establish binding standards for companies concerning human rights and the environment. This is a huge milestone as it marks a shift away from the voluntary standards and self-regulation principles. 

Who is affected?

• From 1 January 2023 onwards: All companies with at least 3,000 employees that have their head office, administrative seat or statutory seat in Germany OR companies that have a branch in Germany and usually employ at least 3,000 employees in this branch;
• From 1 January 2024 onwards: All companies with at least 1,000 employees that have their head office, administrative seat or statutory seat in Germany OR companies that have a branch in Germany and usually employ at least 1,000 employees in this branch.

Even if companies with fewer employees are not addressees of the LkSG Act, they may still be indirectly affected; therefore, due diligence obligations could still apply. This is because the companies directly affected would be obliged to enforce compliance to the best of their ability with human rights in their supply chain. The measures necessary for this can have a direct impact on their suppliers, for example, through the implementation of a code of conduct. In addition, the directly affected companies will often be dependent on the active support of their suppliers and thus have this support be contractually assured, e.g. in the form of reporting obligations as part of their risk analysis.

New risk management and reporting duties for businesses

With newly imposed due diligence obligations on environmental protection and on human rights, businesses must introduce iterative and ongoing, or in certain circumstances ad hoc, due diligence processes specified by the LkSG.

Identification and management of an organisation’s supply chain and the risks that come with it require the implementation of due diligence processes. The term “supply chain” refers to all products/services of a business, including all manufacturing and services, in Germany and/or abroad, from the extraction of raw materials to their delivery to the end customer. Furthermore, due diligence processes should implement the following criteria: 

• type and scope of the business activities of the company subject to the due diligence obligations,
• the ability of the company subject to the due diligence obligations to exert influence (so-called leverage),
• typically expected severity of the violation, and
• type of contribution by the company subject to the due diligence obligations to cause a violation. 

Who is CRI® Group?

Based in London, CRI® Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, TPRM, Due Diligence, Compliance Solutions and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. We have the largest proprietary network of background-screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are, we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI® Group also holds B.S. 102000:2013 and B.S. 7858:2012 Certifications and is an HRO certified provider and partners with Oracle.

In 2016, CRI® Group launched the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC®) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body that provides education and certification services for individuals and organisations on a wide range of disciplines and ISO standards, including ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management- Guidelines; ISO 37000:2021 Governance of Organisations; ISO 37002:2021 Whistleblowing Management System; ISO 37301:2021 (formerly ISO 19600) Compliance Management system (CMS); Anti-Money Laundering (AML); and ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems ABMS. ABAC® offers a complete suite of solutions designed to help organisations mitigate the internal and external risks associated with operating in multi-jurisdiction and multi-cultural environments while assisting in developing frameworks for strategic compliance programs. Contact ABAC® for more on ISO Certification and training.

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Why Partner with CRI Group™? We’re Glad You Asked

Since 1990, Corporate Research and Investigations Limited “CRI Group™” has safeguarded businesses from fraud and corruption, providing insurance fraud investigations, employee background screening, investigative due diligence, third-party risk management, compliance and other professional investigative research services. CRI Group’s expertise will add to the diverse pool of business support services available within your region. We’d like to share with you 10 great reasons to partner with CRI Group™ today:

1. CRI Group’s personal touch

Our high level of service sets us apart from our competitors: As your partner, our team become members of your team – working for you with our “boots on the ground” approach to gathering information. Our experts excel at deterring, detecting and investigating fraud and other crimes against businesses. We also have a flat structure which means that you will have direct access to senior staff members throughout the due diligence process.

2. Our vast business intelligence network

We access information from 180 countries, gathering local knowledge in places our competitors cannot. Our presence in Pakistan, Oman, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Qatar, Egypt, Kuwait, Bahrain, and other countries in Africa and the whole of Southeast Asia, means that many of our competitors contact us for information from those countries.  

3. Competitive pricing

CRI Group™ does not maintain the high overhead of larger firms, many of which lack our specialisation and level of individual client attention. We work within your budget, as CRI Group™’s prices are consistently lower than our competitors’ rates.

4. “3PRM” – Our Third-Party Risk Management Strategy™

At CRI Group™, we have developed our comprehensive service for helping clients manage third-party risks. Our extensive solutions include due diligence, employee pre and post background screening, business intelligence and compliance, facilitating any decision-making across your business no matter what area or department. Making our solutions easily customisable flexible, we will tailor our scope to address your concerns and risk areas, saving you time and money.

5. CRI Group™’s wide knowledge base

Our experts come from various professions and possess industry knowledge and experience serving clients spanning the oil and energy, banking, investments, international finance, and public and privately held multinational business sectors. CRI Group™ professionals work closely with your business to analyse systems and develop effective solutions that reduce the risk of your company falling prey to employees, suppliers or outside crime.

6. Our background checks catch everything

CRI Group™’s background screening and pre-employment screening services expose vulnerabilities and threats within your organisation and can significantly reduce the potential of business and financial crime, fraud and malpractice from occurring within your workplace.

7. We’re recognised and acclaimed

As well as winning awards for “Anti-Fraud Advisor of the Year,” “Leading Adviser in UAE”, and “Business Due-Diligence Firm of the Year,” and to ensure the best quality of the services, CRI Group™ is always seeking the highest level accreditations, certifications, and maintains relationships with leading global organisations in the fields of due diligence, fraud investigation such as PBSA, DQG, Fraud Advisory Panel, BS 102000:2018; BS7858:2019; ACFE; CIFAS and more

8. We are discreet

Let’s face it; there are some problems you just don’t want announced to the world. Fraud, internal investigations, due diligence or liability issues – our team of experts provide the highest level of protection for companies worldwide. CRI Group™’s experts are trained to maintain the highest levels of client confidentiality. We keep your private business private.

9. Our updates keep you in the know

As industry experts, we offer a publication called Fraud 360, which is produced quarterly, with monthly email updates offering awareness, knowledge, latest trends and helpful advice for companies on fraud. If you would like to be on our mailing list, please subscribe here.

10. CRI Group™ is truly international

We are based in London, but we maintain offices in UAE, Turkey, Estonia, Pakistan, Qatar, Singapore, Hong Kong, and the United States. Our multi-lingual teams have conducted assignments on thousands of subjects in over 80 countries, and we’re committed to maintaining and constantly evolving our global network. For more information, please visit www.crigroup.com. 

Matters surrounding risk management and compliance can be daunting, so why not contact CRI™? Our experts have years of experience and have been trained to provide your business with bespoke advice that fits your organisations’ needs. Don’t hesitate. Implement preventative measures in your workplace today and guide your team to an ethical and correct way of working. 

GET IN TOUCH

Who is CRI Group™?

Based in London, CRI Group™ works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, Due Diligence and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. We have the largest proprietary network of background-screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI Group™ also holds BS 102000:2013 and BS 7858:2012 Certifications, is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle.

In 2016, CRI Group™ launched Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC™) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body that provides education and certification services for individuals and organisations on a wide range of disciplines and ISO standards, including ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management- Guidelines; ISO 37000:2021 Governance of Organisations; ISO 37002:2021 Whistleblowing Management System; ISO 37301:2021 (formerly ISO 19600) Compliance Management system (CMS); Anti-Money Laundering (AML); and ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems ABMS. ABAC™ offers a complete suite of solutions designed to help organisations mitigate the internal and external risks associated with operating in multi-jurisdiction and multi-cultural environments while assisting in developing frameworks for strategic compliance programs. Contact ABAC™ for more on ISO Certification and training.

OUR MISSION AND VISION

• CRI™ mission is to safeguard the corporate world by detecting and exposing those elements that can cause irreparable harm to a business.
• Stand up against the outside forces that, through corruption, collusion, coercion and fraud, can cause financial, organisational, reputational and legal harm to our global clients.
• Stand out as the preeminent provider of specialised investigative services that enable our clients to exhibit the highest standards of business integrity, ethics and behaviour.

Check out our Why Partner With CRI Group™ InfoPack

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2022 Investigations & White-Collar Crime POWER PLAYERS Issue Is Out Now!

2022 Investigations & White-Collar Crime

• 2022 Investigations & White-Collar Crime Power Players issue is out. Corporate Research and Investigations Limited were featured in this year Financier Worldwide’s Power Players issue.
• In this edition, CRI® Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Zafar Anjum, talks about his career’s achievements, what the organisation strives to demonstrate to clients and how he sees the investigations a white-collar crime market shaping up over the coming months and all the exciting trends or developments on the horizon.
• Having dedicated his career to background investigation, fraud prevention, protective integrity, security and compliance, Zafar Anjum is a distinguished and highly respected professional in his field.

As CEO of CRI Group™, Zafar uses his extensive knowledge and expertise to create stable and secure networks across challenging global markets. For organisations needing comprehensive project management, security, safeguard testing, background investigations, and real-time compliance applications, Anjum is the assurance expert of choice for industry professionals. Such expertise is increasingly important as a result of COVID-19 – with a long list of countries worldwide still facing significant economic disruption, insecurity and suffering, which has created an increased risk of bribery and corruption. News in the past years showed that many governments began to implement measures to combat these implications from the global pandemic:

Kenyan Anti-bribery and Anti-Corruption laws

“In 2020, it was reported [by Global Compliance News] that the Kenyan Government is in the process of implementing harsher corruption and bribery laws in an attempt to curb the current statistics within the country. The Kenyan Government is concerned with preventing bribery and corruption, perhaps to ensure the appropriate allocation of resources in these unprecedented times. A proposed amendment to the Bribery Act, which is currently being tabled in Parliament, seeks to allow for the imposition of a fine amounting to KSh 5 million (circa USD 46,939) or for a period of imprisonment not exceeding ten years, where an individual is aware of, or suspects bribery taking place and fails to report it.”

US Abuse of Power Prevention Act

In 2020, the House Judiciary Committee held a mark-up of a new bill, the Abuse of the Pardon Prevention Act, as US congress aims to eliminate the tolerance of alleged corruption and bribery undertaken by the current or former presidents. “Section Three of the bill amends the federal bribery statute to make clear that a (former) president can be prosecuted for accepting a bribe in exchange for a pardon… The House also introduced a related bill; the No President is Above the Law Act.”

French Compliance Legislation

The French government has also been working on implementing anti-bribery and anti-corruption legislation in 2020 for the first time since 2016 adapted and improved their white-collar crime standards. As stated in a Global Investigations Review by Lexology, “in anti-bribery compliance, in particular, the recently created French Anticorruption Agency (AFA) keeps building on Sapin II by providing guidance on specific topics, auditing compliance programmes and for the first time… bringing cases in front of its sanctions board.”

Against this backdrop, Financier Worldwide turns to come of the leading lights in their field (including our CEO), who share their stories. A pre-release version of “POWER PLAYERS Investigations & White-Collar Crime 2022 – Exceptional Experts” is now available to view. Please click here to access the file.

The Security Of Your Company Depends On Effective Risk Management

Background investigations are critical to any company’s success because working with qualified, honest and hard-working employees and other businesses is integral to thriving in the business community. What you don’t know can hurt you, and the simple act of one bad decision can result in an unprecedented loss for your company. 

From vendor and third-party screening to employment screening, CRI Group™ recommends background investigations as critical proactive measures to help keep your business safe. An effective background screening investigation will help screen for bad apples that can cause havoc down the road. Because we maintain a diverse talent base comprised of multilingual and multi-cultural professionals, CRI™ can traverse obstacles that often impede international background investigations. That’s why we are frequently contracted by our competitors to conduct background investigations in geographic regions not serviced or accessible by larger investigative firms. Contact CRI Group™ to learn more about its 3PRM-Certified™ third-party risk management strategy program and discover an effective and proactive approach to mitigating the risks associated with corruption, bribery, financial crimes and other dangerous risks posed by third-party partnerships.

Who is CRI Group™?

Based in London, CRI Group™ works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, Due Diligence and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. We have the largest proprietary network of background-screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI Group™ also holds BS 102000:2013 and BS 7858:2012 Certifications, is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle.

In 2016, CRI Group™ launched Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC™) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body that provides education and certification services for individuals and organisations on a wide range of disciplines and ISO standards, including ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management- Guidelines; ISO 37000:2021 Governance of Organisations; ISO 37002:2021 Whistleblowing Management System; ISO 37301:2021 (formerly ISO 19600) Compliance Management system (CMS); Anti-Money Laundering (AML); and ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems ABMS. ABAC™ offers a complete suite of solutions designed to help organisations mitigate the internal and external risks associated with operating in multi-jurisdiction and multi-cultural environments while assisting in developing frameworks for strategic compliance programs. Contact ABAC™ for more on ISO Certification and training.

ABAC™ is accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS CB number: 10613) against ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 Conformity assessment — Requirements for bodies providing audit and certification of the scheme’s management systems of ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems (ABMS). This makes ABAC™ Certification the leading accredited certification body specialising in global anti-bribery and anti-corruption, risk and compliance management system standards. ABAC™ experts audit any existing compliance and anti-bribery anti-corruption management systems to assess effectiveness and vulnerabilities while ensuring your organisation complies with Internal Standards, FCPA, UK Bribery Act, Anti-Money Laundering regulations, and all other global, regional and local regulations while maintaining a competitive edge in the world marketplace.

If you are seeking to validate or expand your existing compliance frameworks to maintain a competitive edge in the world marketplace, ABAC™ can help you. Our experts audit your existing compliance and anti-bribery anti-corruption management systems to assess effectiveness and vulnerabilities while ensuring your organisation complies with Internal Standards, FCPA rules, UK Bribery Act laws, Anti-Money Laundering regulations, and all other global, regional and local regulations.

Let’s talk

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What are Cultural Barriers in Background Screening Across the Globe?

Background Screening Cultural Barriers

Background screening cultural barriers: the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the expansion in wireless connectivity between personal and working communities around the globe; however, this has not come without the trials in upholding an operational and compliant employment background screening program in the globalization of the digital workforce. Background Screening plays a significant role in reducing bad hires by ensuring that your candidates are qualified to do the job they have applied for. This is important in safeguarding the reputation of an organization and the nature of how commerce is conducted.

CRI® Group surveyed to gauge the state of human resources in which it was revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic is raising fears of fraud and the protection of sensitive and confidential data since the implementation of virtual in work-from-home (WFH) arrangements.

It was estimated that roughly 88 per cent of the surveyed admitted that the pandemic is indeed having an impact on the way their HR operations are being carried out, while 65 per cent are considering new ways to hold on to employees during the crisis outside of government schemes, i.e., the furlough scheme in the UK. Alarmingly, a staggering 54 per cent of the surveyed admitted to not screening their employees for criminal, media, employment history perspectives before any work-from-home arrangement as they would have done if they were being asked to work from the office despite being these employees having access to sensitive information.

Before COVID-19, it was found that an estimate of 85% of organizations testified to conducting background screening of some type. On the same note, a vast 92 per cent stated that they trust their employees with confidential data but without the assistance of a background screening measure. Background screening is vital to organizations of all types and industries as it can assist in authenticating your employees track record and help avoid a bad hire.

Find out other ways COVID has impacted the hiring process or download our brochure.

Are Background Screening Checks Essential?

Background checks are essentially an inquiry into an employee’s/candidate’s character inside and outside their vocations. At CRI® Group, we offer a complete, in-depth background screening service for candidates and employees at all levels across the globe. Working with different cultures in different geographies raises background screening challenges that should be considered when conducting a thorough background check – to be able to conduct business successfully in a geographic location that you are unfamiliar with, it is crucial to consider these aspects to be able to integrate your organizations into the locality seamlessly; these are particularly important if you are considering a partnership with oversea organizations. 

CRI® is certified by British Standard Institute BSI for the scope of BS 7858:2019 Screening of individuals working in a secure environment, Code of practice and BS 102000:2018 Code of practice for investigative services. The BSI is the only BS 7858 accredited background screening services provider in the UAE and across the Middle East. Find out more about the BS 7858:2019 below or download the free playbook.

The Different Challenges of Background Screening Across the Globe

Regulatory policies

• The guidelines for background screening checks differ from country to country, with personal privacy and data protection being a universally passionate debate. The laws in the United States, for example, are not the same as those that impact investigations in the Middle East and the Middle East policies vary from the European ones. International Background Screening necessitates compliance with personal data protection regulations across regions where it is conducted. Background screening in the US typically must conform with the Fair Credit Reporting Act to conduct domestic background investigations. In the case of Europe, its GDPR effectively fell into force in 2018.

If you need more information on establishing GDPR procedures in your organization, read our guide on maintaining GDPR compliance.

• Other investigations outside of the West are considered far more complex. Middle Eastern countries have no prohibitive legislation governing employment screening or employee due diligence. This means that the process largely relies on consent from the applicants. Background screening industry professionals in the Middle East must follow strict data protection requirements (such as the GDPR, local Data Protection regimes, DIFC Data Protection, ADGM Data Protection and QFC Data Protection regulations) to process consensually based on personal data information. In contrast, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Data Protection standards allow for processing sensitive personal information, including criminal history, with signed consent from the data question for operative due to diligence necessities. Read more about compliance with privacy laws in the UAE. With this in mind, it is important to bear regulatory policies in mind and do further research on them when conducting these checks overseas.

Find out more about CRI Group’s compliance solutions below or contact us to get a free quote.

Local Practices

• Much like the regulatory policies, obtaining background screening data differs from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. The Middle East, for example, have background investigators journey to remote destinations to conduct interviews, find and use other resources and enlist local assistance to verify the information. Leading background screening firms often conduct investigations that regularly involve a thorough review of local press records and online and proprietary databases to locate the appropriate public records. This is not a requirement in the US as the data is digitized and available in official sources. In South Africa, on the other hand, such a procedure would require the candidate’s fingerprints due to the digital gap. Investigators would have to go through the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) in Australia.

Technology gap

• As mentioned before, the same technology is not available in all countries across the globe. The technology gap is an additional task that can impact the effectiveness of a comprehensive background screening check. The technology gap is an echo of local practices and regulatory policies; this solidifies the notion that auditors must adapt to meet the organization’s needs centered on the resources they have available to them. It is a good idea to collaborate with a screening firm in the designated country that an organization wishes to hire to make sure that no policies are being broken nor any obstacles, such as the technology gap, hinder the HR process.

Political Differences

• Political differences and solidarities should be considered during a screening as it means that the officials and authorities of the country may have different priorities than the organisation’s country of habitation. The cultural barrier index shows Africa and Middle East regions having unrest due to political instability as a significant challenge. Africa, for example, principally concentrate on preserving law and order leading to organizational processes such as verification being of lesser priority to them. In geographies where the socio-economic conditions are worse than the organization’s abode, there will certainly influence the turnaround time, which is why it is mandatory to implement the correct procedures in place – especially if you would like your organization to reap larger benefits of outsourcing.

Time differences and regional natural disasters

• This reason is not as easily recognized but is just as important for successfully performing background screening checks. The climate is known to fluctuate from one geography to another, which means that some regions are more prone to natural disasters. Some natural disasters such as earthquakes or typhoons in certain regions might impact the speed of conducting a background screening. Another important aspect to consider is the time difference and the difference in working days. The working week differs across regions, some dependent on societal expectations and others on religious understanding – this is more than likely to impact the turnaround time of completing a background check. While the working week in Europe is usually considered to be Monday to Friday, the offices in UAE shut their doors earlier, with the weekend starting on Fridays and the 5-day working week beginning on Sunday. As the UAE is a predominantly Muslim country, Fridays are typically a shorter day in the working week for devout observations such as Jumu’ah (Friday) prayers.

Local Festivities

• Replies from employees, employers, education institutions and even government officials may slow down during Christmas in the Western world, Ramadan in the Middle East region, or Lunar New Year in Asia. It is an effective strategy to bear the national holidays in mind when hiring or screening your candidates, and it prevents any further delays than what has already occurred.

Social behavior

• Social behavior can vary from one district to another within the same land, so any visitor, individual or corporation is anticipated to acknowledge the cultural norms and social behaviour of the country they are visiting and to respect it as a measure of good practice. In some areas, what could be considered normal practice might be disrespectful or offensive in others. For this reason, the cultural index was established. The cultural index is a directory that notes the different cultural barriers and their impact on various regions; it is typically measured on a scale of 1, known as “not a challenge” to 5, which is “highly challenging”. Social behaviour was rated as three across countries in APAC and the Middle East as was rated as two across other regions. Again, establishing a local team will ensure a seamless process due to their awareness of how to conduct HR processes.

Language

• Failure to read or the inability to translate documents required for any step of any HR procedure would increase the turnaround time for completing the background screening process. Europe is typically challenged in this aspect as it is a continent that is representative of several diverse official languages, and a background screening service that is not adaptable nor accommodating to several languages could lead to a language barrier, thus resulting in delays and data inaccuracy. Based on this, CRI® Group has implemented a ‘boots on the ground strategy and employs local experts in remote areas in the world, who are equipped with technical skills and local knowledge and understand the cultural subtleties to help set the tone at the top.

Next steps, Locating Reputable Screening Firms

It is crucial that your organization works hand in hand with a reputable screening firm to ensure the screening process is effective in the organization’s homeland and overseas – this will aid in minimizing most if not all of the cultural barriers we have discussed thus far. Most firms who work with partners overseas are likely to adapt to your organization’s work culture fast enough as they are used to the concept of outsourcing and malleability. The best way to go about locating a reputable screening firm in the country of your choice is by following the steps below:

1. Research home and overseas background screening firms supplied by the Professional Background Screening Association https://thepbsa.org/.
2. Research the local and regional laws beforehand and ask your firm how they conform to local and regional laws governing individual privacy and data protection.
3. Screening firms are also capable of outsourcing their cases to a third party. Avoid this by ensuring that the firm’s physical address is in the region in which you’re looking to conduct investigations.
4. Know how your chosen firm investigates and conducts background screening; it is best to steer clear of firms that investigate exclusively through media searches. This provides very little personal information on the candidate.
5. Auditors in your chosen firm should comply with GDPR and maintain Information Security Management System ISMS (ISO27001). This is important for data management and protection laws. It is best to avoid those with no (international) standards implemented.
6. Evade firms that specialize in checks of the International Terrorist Watch List and the OFAC watch list; these lists are available online at no cost to the general public.
7. Ask your firm how old the data collected is, and steer clear of firms that won’t supply you with the source of the records they have acquired.
8. Background checks must involve investigative research and not just press clippings. Make certain that your firm will merge in-depth field investigations with routine public records searches as part of its process.
9. Service delivery is essential in foreign investigations, so it is best to look into average turnaround times and get commitments from your chosen firm for delivery in advance.
10. Ask for references as you would from your potential employees.

Like any aspect of corporate conduct, background screening has its challenges, but that is not to say that they are impossible to deal with. By default, proper planning, research, and local knowledge can help your organization navigate the cultural barriers to successfully run services overseas. The more you invest in sourcing morally correct corporate conduct, the more you can expect to be rewarded with a catalytic action to grow and expand your organization.

Let’s Talk!

Don’t leave hiring to chance. Take a proactive stance with the highest level of background screening as a part of your essential corporate strategy. Contact us today to learn more about our full range of services to help your organization stay protected.

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Zafar Anjum, MSc, MS, CFE, CII, MICA, Int. Dip. (Fin. Crime) | CRI Group™ Chief Executive Officer

37th Floor, 1 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AA United Kingdom

t: +44 207 8681415 | m: +44 7588 454959 | e: zanjum@crigroup.com

Filed under: Employee Background Check, Global, Industry Insights, Resources by admin
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