ACAMS Germany Chapter: 2019 in Review

The ACAMS Germany Chapter hosted a variety of engaging events throughout 2019. The year began with an event on anti-financial crime and fintech in January. Experts from German fintech Fidor Bank, investment bank Baader Bank and UniCredit discussed fintech company challenges in implementing adequate financial crime prevention frameworks and the importance of a tailored risk assessment approach. Additional points of discussion included the opportunities provided by using regtech solutions.

In February, experts from industry associations and banks in Frankfurt discussed the Federal Financial Supervisory Authority (BaFin) regulatory guidance for interpreting and implementing the Fourth AML Directive (Auslegungs und Anwendungshinweise) published in late 2018. The focus of the guidance was on implementing risk-based customer due diligence measures. Key points of discussion included the challenges around identifying the ultimate beneficial owner based on the new regulatory requirements and the introduction of the transparency register.

In March, the chapter held an event titled Innovative Approach by Anti-Financial Crime Investigations and Transaction Monitoring. Financial crime experts who have been part of large-scale remediation processes presented best practices and innovative approaches to managing some of the most challenging financial crime risks, such as trade-based money laundering and terrorist financing. The real estate sector was also discussed and will receive increased attention during events in 2020.

Over the course of the year, four events in Frankfurt sponsored by various solution providers, including Oracle, SAS Institute, BAE Systems Applied Intelligence and Accuity, presented use cases on transaction monitoring and financial crime investigations. These presentations were complemented by experts from financial institutions who discussed their approach to these topics. In addition, these experts shared operational challenges they face regarding regulatory requirements and technological constraints.

The ACAMS Germany Chapter greatly appreciates the time and effort of all participants in sharing knowledge with the anti-financial crime community in Germany. In addition, the chapter would like to thank sponsors Deutsche Bank, Transcendent Group, Berlin Risk, Deloitte, KPMG, Oracle, SAS Institute, BAE Systems Applied Intelligence, Accuity and media partner Compliance Channel for supporting the events and making the very fruitful exchange possible! Last but not least, a big thanks to the following speakers:

  • Dr. Sabine Scholz-Fröhling, chief compliance officer/head of legal, FidorBank
  • Matthias Motz, deputy compliance/money laundering reporting officer, Baader Bank
  • Albert Schlund, lawyer, compliance officer, UniCredit
  • Tobias Frey, in-house legal counsel, Association of German Banks
  • Matthias Täubner, head of department, deputy money laundering reporting officer, KfW
  • Elke Weppner, vice president legal and international affairs, Association of Foreign Banks in Germany
  • Ilka Brian, head of global standards AML, Commerzbank
  • Sevgi Dursun, head of compliance and AML Germany, BBVA Corporate & Investment Banking
  • Jeannette Fleißner, deputy money laundering reporting officer, IKB Deutsche Industriebank
  • Nadine Wolf, AML manager, ING-DiBa
  • Matthew Long, director, financial crime and compliance solutions consulting, Oracle
  • Thomas Hald, sales director, financial crimes and compliance, Oracle
  • Max Tappeiner, EMEA head of transaction monitoring strategy, UBS
  • Dr. Hans-Jakob Schindler, senior director, The Counter Extremism Project
  • Alexey Becker, divisional head, compliance coordination unit, Commerzbank
  • Mariola Marzouk, regulatory compliance product manager, BAE Systems Applied Intelligence
  • Katharina Stoll, lead auditor, group audit compliance AML/sanctions, Commerzbank
  • Detlef Thomann, head, group audit compliance AML/sanctions, Commerzbank
  • Anna Pause, senior consultant, Deloitte
  • Christoph Wronka, senior manager, Deloitte
  • Tommas Kaplan, head of compliance and HR, Poll Immobilien GmbH
  • Aneta Klosek, anti-financial crime business solutions consultant, Accuity
  • Christopher Ghenne, global lead, banking/compliance solutions, SAS Institute
  • Eric Malherbe, EMEA regulatory compliance solutions expert, SAS Institute
  • Emanuel Gedeon, chief executive officer, Transcendent Group
  • Dr. Vincent Bader, department head data and analytics, group audit, Commerzbank

For additional information on Germany Chapter events, membership details and upcoming events, please visit the chapter page: http://www.acams.org/acams-chapters/germany.

To reach the chapter directly, email germanychapter@acams.org. In addition, an overview of Germany Chapter activities since 2016 can be found at: http://www.acams.org/acams-chapters/germany.

Jennifer Hanley-Giersch, CAMS-Audit, managing partner, Berlin Risk Advisors GmbH, Berlin, Germany, jennifer.hanley@berlinrisk.com

Jennifer Hanley-Giersch, CAMS-Audit, managing partner, Berlin Risk Advisors GmbH, Berlin, Germany, jennifer.hanley@berlinrisk.com

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