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With strong focus and scrutiny from regulators, getting financial crime compliance wrong, can have serious economic and reputational consequences.

We don't recite regulations. We have the tools to help you interpret the rules and implement controls, with a custom fit for your products and services. Your compliance framework will be verified by experts, meaning your firm will be in the best position to avoid any big surprises.

Solutions tailored to you

We apply our detailed knowledge of regulation, industry best practice and financial crime risk to create practical tailored solutions for your firm. Our financial crime experts and flexible resources are here to help throughout your journey as you grow, transform and deal with emerging threats and challenges.

Audits and Assurance

  • Financial crime audits and health checks
  • Skilled person reviews
  • Specialist assurance
  • Systems testing

Advisory

  • Policy, procedures and risk assessments
  • Operational enhancements
  • Technology implementation
  • Regulatory enforcement support and remediation
  • Training and MLRO hotline

People and Outsourcing

  • Flexible financial crime resources
  • File remediations and backlogs
  • Outsourced onboarding

We can support you in these areas of legislation and guidance

Anti-Money Laundering

A firm should demonstrate its commitment to opposing the risk of money laundering by implementing a robust oversight and framework structure considering the following guidance:

●  The Money Laundering Regulations
●  Proceeds of Crime Act
●  Joint Money Laundering Steering Group Guidance
●  Wolfsberg Guidance
●  Industry-specific HMRC guidance

Anti-Bribery, Corruption, and Facilitation of Tax Evasion

It is illegal to offer, promise, give, request, agree to, receive or accept bribes - an anti-bribery policy can help protect your business. As a minimum, a firm must consider the following when implementing robust controls:

●  Bribery Act 2010
●  Ministry of Justice Guidance
●  Criminal Finances Act
●  HMRC Guidance Notes

Sanctions and Counter-Terrorist Financing

The UK has a robust legislative framework which criminalises the financing of terrorism and engaging with sanctioned individuals and entities, and includes::

●  Terrorism Acts
●  Sanctions Acts

Fraud

Fraud is when trickery is used to gain a dishonest advantage, which is often financial, over another person. The following legislation and industry bodies are in place to help stop fraud:

●  Fraud Act
●  FCA Guidance
●  Action Fraud Guidance
●  PSR Guidance

What our clients have to say

'''Working with Thistle Initiatives has been an amazing experience.

Their team is professional, organised, supportive and highly knowledgeable in Financial Crime. Moreover, their approach to stakeholder management and communication within our organisation has been perfect at all stages.

Thistle conducted our annual AML Audit,  and their methodology, scope, and execution were carefully structured and well-timed.  The advice provided to our organisation was incredibly helpful. We look forward to collaborating with the Thistle team again soon."

One Money Mail Ltd
One Money Mail Ltd
“As Head of Compliance / MLRO, I found that from drafting the review scope from our initial RFQ and throughout the process, Thistle was very professional, and managed the review timetable so that that the review was completed on time and without delay.

The on-site visits and meetings were an efficient and effective way for the firm’s employees to demonstrate their knowledge and experience of AML, and AML Risks, and the one-to-one File reviews enabled both parties to complete the process and gain insights from the review teams experience.

Other all, I found the Thistle review team to be very knowledgeable, and I would have no hesitation in recommending them or using them again in the future.”
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Equiti

Your points of contact

Jessica Cath


Jessica Cath   linkedin-lead 1 mail

Partner, Financial Crime

Jessica is a financial crime leader, working with a range of firms to build, scale and assure all elements of the financial crime framework.

Jess has worked with start-ups to Tier 1 Banks to transform controls through growth phases or when facing regulatory enforcement.

Jess has also conducted multiple US monitor and s166 Skilled Person reviews globally.

Jess has a Masters in Intelligence and International Security and holds an ICA diploma in Financial Crime Prevention.

James Dodsworth
James Dodsworth
Senior Manager

James has worked in financial crime compliance across a range of sectors for over 20 years and is a certified fraud investigator. James has extensive expertise in both fraud and sanctions compliance, having led multiple large fraud and sanctions reviews.

Leanda_Mark-Ihama-760670
Leanda Mark-Ihama
Senior Manager

Leanda has over 14 years financial crime experience, including in the banking industry and at the FCA, and has completed the CAMs certification, ICA Financial Crime Prevention Diploma and ICA Anti-corruption certificate. Leanda has extensive expertise in both AML and ABC, building and assuring frameworks.

Ilaria Iodice
Ilaria Iodice
Senior Manager

Ilaria has deep understanding of financial crime compliance through extensive monitor and skilled person experience, as well as deployment of large remediation programmes. Ilaria leads Thistle’s remediation and managed resource offering.