GRC Solutions for Mutual Funds, ETFs, and Other Investment Companies

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  1. Who We Serve
  2. GRC Solutions for Mutual Funds, ETFs, and Other Investment Companies

Our Investment Company Practice supports registered investment companies, as well as their advisers and sub-advisers, board of directors, and service providers to help them build, enhance and add controls to their compliance programs to meet Investment Company Act of 1940 requirements and SEC and industry standards.

We offer objective, innovative, and effective compliance reviews and solutions to prepare registered investment companies, as well as their boards, sponsors, advisers, sub-advisers, and service providers, for the rigors of SEC examinations. We provide solutions to assist firms with managing and mitigating related operational, regulatory, and reputational risks.

Our solutions

Anti-Money Laundering (AML) & Financial Crimes

Address financial crimes-related threats and regulatory concerns with our team of former regulators and auditors. Our team can support with independent money laundering reviews for mutual funds and transfer agents, AML compliance program reviews, and more.

Compliance Consulting

Strengthen your compliance program with our global team of compliance professionals.

Cybersecurity, Privacy & Risk

Build cyber and operational resilience across your firm with our team of cybersecurity and technology risk experts.

ESG Advisory

Gain clarity on your firm’s ESG requirements and build a strong compliance program with our dedicated ESG advisory practice.

Managed Services

Maximize your firm’s time and efficiency with our technology-powered managed services. Our team can assist with on- and off-site CCO support and outsourced mutual fund advertising and marketing reviews.

Performance Services

Stay in compliance with the GIPS® standards and investment performance rules with the world’s largest team of GIPS standards verifiers.

Compliance Education and Training

Our consultants can provide training on the many topics mutual funds, ETFs, and other investment companies need to comply with, or you can choose to use any of our online modules to train your staff.

Liquidity Risk Management Program Support

ACA’s Investment Company practice is dedicated to supporting our clients in navigating the SEC’s liquidity risk management program rule through educational resources and alerts, benchmarking insight, help with program management and development of policies and procedures, annual assessments, and more.

Request our 2020 Liquidity Risk Management Program Rule Survey Results here.

Regulatory Technology

Build a scalable and resilient compliance program with our ComplianceAlpha® regulatory technology  platform backed by managed services support.

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Who we work with

We provide solutions for the following types of firms.

Business Development Companies (BDCs)

We provides objective, innovative, and effective compliance reviews and solutions to assist business development companies, as well as their boards, sponsors, and service providers — with preparing for the rigors of an SEC examination.

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)

We provide objective, innovative, and effective compliance reviews and solutions to assist exchange-traded funds with preparing for the rigors of an SEC examination.

Registered Investment Companies

We offer diverse compliance review and compliance services, all scalable to individual client needs.

Variable Insurance Products

We help insurance companies and distributors understand and manage these complex compliance requirements and develop and implement the comprehensive, effective risk-based protocols necessary to meet regulators’ expectations.

Solution Spotlight

Investment company compliance solutions

Our team includes former regulators along with former along with former chief compliance officers and senior compliance managers from prominent financial institutions. Our team helps you to navigate the evolving regulatory landscape while considering the complexity of your firm’s unique compliance requirements.

Compliance solutions can include:

  • Adviser and fund policy and procedure customization and development
  • Mock SEC reviews
  • Rule 38a-1 compliance program reviews
  • Enhanced annual adviser compliance program reviews that is specific to Company Act requirements for advisers/sub-advisers
  • Customized focus reviews (e.g. liquidity risk management program, intermediary fees, cross trades, cybersecurity, valuation)
  • Compliance and internal audit testing support
  • Sub-adviser due diligence reviews
  • SEC inspection support
  • Mutual fund distributor reviews and financial intermediary oversight reviews (e.g. FINRA rule 3110, 3120)
  • Independent Consulting Mandate
Download our investment company brochure

By the numbers

Our market share

80%

of the top 100 mutual funds (as noted in the Mutual Fund Directory March 2020 ranking data)

Latest compliance insights

London at night

FCA Business Plan 2021/2: A New Era in Financial Services Regulation in the UK?

July 29, 2021

The FCA’s Business Plan for 2021/22 is now live, reflecting a major shift in policy objectives and a top to bottom review of the FCA’s own objectives and priorities. We outline the key changes and challenges identified, and what they mean for firms.

Compliance Alert
  • Compliance
  • ESG
  • FCA
  • Managed Services
  • Brexit
  • Mirabella
Light through blocks

96% of Firms Unprepared for the FCA’s New Prudential Regime

July 28, 2021

With less than six months to go until UK investment firms are subjected to a completely new prudential regime, a recent survey reveals that the industry is vastly underprepared. The data shows that just 4% of respondents are ready and capitalised for the FCA’s new Investment Firm Prudential Regime (IFPR) coming into effect in January 2022. Learn more about what this means for firms.

Press Release
  • Compliance
  • ACA News
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A Spotlight on the United Nations Climate Change conference, COP26

July 22, 2021

This year, heads of state, climate experts and campaigners will meet at the 26th United Nations Climate Change conference (COP26) to agree coordinated action to tackle climate change, but which developments are likely to be most important from the perspective of the financial services industry? And what does all this mean for firms in the future?

Article
  • ESG
  • Compliance
brexit 2

Post-Brexit FAQs - FCA Authorisation and Compliance for EEA Firms in the TPR

July 21, 2021

The FCA is now offering firms that signed up to the Temporary Permissions Regime a “landing slot” to apply for full authorisation. Firms that miss their slot risk losing their temporary permissions completely. Read our FAQ's to learn more about your requirements.

Compliance Alert
  • Brexit
  • FCA
  • Compliance

Q3 2021 Regulatory Reporting Deadlines

July 20, 2021

Regulatory filing submission deadlines for the SEC, CFTC/NFA, and ESMA occurring from July through September 2021

Article
  • Compliance
  • Regulatory Deadlines
Roads and roundabouts

EU Cross Border Fund Distribution Directive and Regulation - Raises More Questions than it Answers?

July 15, 2021

Marketing rules have traditionally taken a jurisdictional rather than EU wide harmonious approach. With new cross border distribution rules coming into play on 2 August 2021, we examine the impact on AIFs and UCITS funds.

Compliance Alert
  • Compliance
  • ComplianceAlpha
  • Brexit
More insights

News

96% of Firms Unprepared for the FCA’s New Prudential Regime

With less than six months to go until UK investment firms are subjected to a completely new prudential regime, a recent survey reveals that the industry is vastly underprepared. The data shows that just 4% of respondents are ready and capitalised for the FCA’s new Investment Firm Prudential Regime (IFPR) coming into effect in January 2022. Learn more about what this means for firms.

Waters Rankings 2021 Name ACA Group's ComplianceAlpha® Best Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Solution Provider

Our ComplianceAlpha® platform has been named Best Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Solution Provider in the Waters Rankings 2021.

ACA's Regulatory Reporting Monitoring & Assurance (ARRMA) service winner of the 2021 HFM European Technology Awards

Within a year of launching, ACA Group is delighted to announce that our ACA Regulatory Reporting Monitoring & Assurance (ARRMA) service has been selected as Best Regulatory Reporting Solution in the 2021 HFM European Technology Awards.

Upcoming events

Senior Management Obligations under the SM&CR - 11 August 2021

The ever-increasing focus by the Regulators on the accountability of senior management, particularly when things go wrong, emphasises how important it is for individuals in senior positions to have a clear understanding of what is expected of them. This succinct course is designed to assist Senior Managers to have a full understanding of what they need to do to achieve compliance with the rules under the obligations created by the Senior Managers and Certification Regime (SMCR).

Online Training

Compliance Induction - 17 August 2021

Senior management in Financial Services firms have a responsibility to ensure their employees have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the Regulatory environment they are working in. This knowledge helps in emphasising the need for compliance with policies and procedures in order to protect the firm and the individual from failing to “do the right thing”.

Online Training
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