Compliance Induction - 14 April 2021
This course is designed to assist Senior Management to embed a compliance ethos in the individual and a strong compliance culture throughout the firm.
Online Training
ESG Advisory Services
Gain clarity on your firm’s ESG requirements and build a strong compliance program with our dedicated ESG advisory practice.
Behind the increased demand for environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investing is a heightened regulatory focus and a greater need for transparency and standardization. The ESG landscape is evolving at a rapid pace and requires additional resources to meet investor and regulatory expectations.
Our dedicated advisory practice helps firms of all sizes develop and monitor ESG programs to mitigate risk, make informed choices, grow profitably and sustainably, and combat greenwashing in the process.
What is ESG?
Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) is a lens that can be applied to any form of investing to consider non-financial factors that are not traditionally reported to assess an investment’s overall worthiness.
In recent years, firms increasingly add ESG metrics to their investment processes to provide for more complete analyses and support better investment decision-making. Discussion of ESG activities is also being added to annual reports and, in some cases, being built into standalone ESG reports.
Environmental (E)
Covers themes that impact the Earth, both positively and negatively. Includes climate change, natural resources scarcity, pollution and waste, permitting, and environmental opportunities.
Governance (G)
Encompasses items relating to the firm’s leadership and board as well as the firm's implementation of ESG policies. Includes board composition, diversity of the board, ethical business practices, lobbying, political contributions, account and tax transparency, and relationships with the SEC and other regulatory bodies.
ESG by the numbers
According to the Morningstar Global Sustainable Fund Flows Report as of October 2020:
Global inflows into sustainable funds were up
14%
in the third quarter of 2020 to USD 80.5 billion
Assets in sustainable funds climbed 19% to
$1.2T
in 2020
The number of global sustainable funds launched in 3Q 2020 was
166
breaking the record of 159 launches in Q4 2018
Why work with us?
- Unmatched Expertise: Benefit from a trusted and experienced partner with in-depth knowledge of the market and regulations
- Comprehensive ESG Solution: Support across the spectrum of ESG program maturity in one comprehensive offering
- Stay Ahead of the Shifting Landscape: Balance demands from investors, regulators, and stakeholders while keeping up with constant changes in the ESG space
- Fee Transparency: Predictable fee model helps avoid scope creep – more fee transparency where others may have a daisy-chain of SOWs
Latest insights
SEC Turns Watchful Eye on ESG
A recent flurry of activity from the (SEC has made it crystal clear that ESG will be a top priority in the near and long term.
Compliance Alert
- ESG
- Compliance
- SEC
FAQ: Implementing the Updated PRI Framework
Our ESG advisory team answered a few of the most common questions that firms asked during the recent webcast Implementing the Updated PRI Framework.
Article
- ESG
2021 Regulatory Reminders and Upcoming Deadlines for European firms
A summary of key tasks for compliance teams with a European presence, along with a summary of FCA’s priorities during 2021, our analysis of key regulatory developments and an outline of longer-term trends.
Article
- Compliance
- Brexit
- Cybersecurity
- Regulatory Technology
- Mirabella
- ESG
Highlights from ESG and the Year Ahead
Following the launch of ACA’s ESG advisory practice, our webcast ESG and the Year Ahead recently discussed ESG trends and how to better address sustainability and responsible investing issues in the year ahead. Summarized below are four themes to consider throughout this year as you build out and enhance your ESG program.
Article
- ESG
New PRI Framework Could Catch Signatories Off Guard
All PRI signatories must report on their responsible investing activities by April 29, 2021. On November 12, 2020, PRI released the newest version of the reporting framework, which is a major overhaul of the prior reporting framework.
Article
- ESG
Featured webcast
ESG and the Year Ahead
Investors and regulators continue to have a growing interest in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues in both the U.S. and internationally. Now more than ever, investment advisers are under increased pressure to integrate ESG and sustainability factors into their investment process.
Meet ACA’s ESG Advisory specialists to discuss today’s ESG trends and how to better address sustainability and responsible investing issues in the year ahead.
Our leadership team
Dan Mistler
Partner
Dan is a Partner and senior practitioner heading the ESG advisory practice.
Crista DesRochers
Partner
Crista is a Partner overseeing the ESG advisory practice and brings over 15 years of experience in investment performance consulting.
Alyssa Briggs
Managing Director of Client Development
Alyssa is a Managing Director of Client Development leading growth and client engagement for ACA’s ESG advisory practice.
Jessica Bonsall
Director, Environmental Lead
Jessica is a Director and the technical lead on all environmental work undertaken by the ESG team.
Peyun Kok
Director, Social Lead
Peyun Kok is a Director and the technical lead on all social work undertaken by the ESG team.
Dani Williams
Principal Consultant, Governance Lead
Dani is a Principal Consultant and the technical lead on all governance work undertaken by the ESG team.
News
Russell Investments Selects ACA Group’s ComplianceAlpha to Modernize Their Risk and Compliance Program from a Single Platform
Russell Invesments has selected ACA's ComplianceAlpha® to help modernize and streamline their compliance program.
We Are Now ACA Group
This week, ACA Compliance Group made the move to ACA Group, better known to our clients and industry partners as ACA.
Five Reasons to Attend ACA Regulatory Horizon 2021 | Navigating Evolving Risks
There is just one week to go until Regulatory Horizon 2021 | Navigating Evolving Risks, our free-to-attend European based conference for financial services firms is running from 2-4 March. We outline five reasons why this event is worth adding to your calendar.
Upcoming events
Money Laundering Reporting Officer: The Role and Responsibilities - 12 May 2021
The role of the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) is a mandatory position in all firms in the Financial Services Industry. This reflects the statutory objective that the Regulator(s) have for ensuring that firms behave with “Integrity”, particularly relating to financial crime prevention. The MLRO therefore plays a significant role in assisting Senior management to ensure that systems and controls relating to anti-money laundering (AML) and countering the risk of terrorist financing (CTF) are appropriate and effective. This course provides practical advice and guidance on the responsibilities of the MLRO, what is expected by the Regulators, both of the Senior Management and the MLRO, and how those responsibilities can be achieved. It should be noted that attendance at this course does assume a good knowledge of the UK’s AML/CTF regulations.
Online Training
Compliance Officer: The Role and Responsibilities - 13 May 2021
The role of the Compliance Officer is a mandatory position in all firms in the Financial Services Industry. They play a major role in assisting Senior Management to ensure that appropriate and effective systems and controls are in place to achieve and maintain compliance with the applicable Rules. While the nature of the Compliance Function is likely to differ from one firm to another, this course provides an easy to follow breakdown of what the Regulator expects of a Compliance Officer and explains, in practical terms how the regulatory expectations and those of Senior Management can be achieved.
Online Training
Social (S)
Consists of people-related elements both within the firm and society as a whole. Includes labor issues, human rights, customer satisfaction, data protection and privacy, and diversity and inclusion.