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.

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Our solutions

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.

We offer broker-dealer chaperoning services to non-U.S. asset managers and broker-dealers that seek to market private funds in the United States without registering as a U.S. broker-dealer.

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

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.

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

ACA Foreside can sponsor (apply for, obtain, and maintain) an NSCC membership participant number for domestic funds, collective trusts, and foreign funds. Additionally, we can provide guidance to clients and their transfer agents with respect to administration, implementation, and maintenance of funds’ operational policies and procedures.

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

ETF Solutions

We stand ready to advise you regarding the regulatory, financial, operational and distribution requirements of your exchange-traded funds (ETFs). We can act as the legal underwriter for your ETF or we can provide consulting and outsource fund officers for your ETF.

Fund Officer Services

Our Fund Officer model provides a hands-on, tailored approach by placing experienced and independent Fund Officers close to the Fund’s Board of Trustees. They are exposed to multiple administrators, counsel, and advisors, and have valuable industry perspective allowing for a better understanding of best practices.

We distribute over $1 trillion of product for over 200 fund families through our broker-dealers and serve as the legal underwriter for registered funds (mutual funds, closed-end funds, and ETFs) and placement agent for private funds.

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.

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.

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

We can maintain a private-label broker-dealer on behalf of your firm, allowing you to focus on your core business. Our private label broker-dealer offering provides an opportunity for firms to have ACA Foreside own and manage a broker-dealer branded by you and dedicated solely to you as the client.

ACA Foreside can assist with all aspects of your FINRA licensing needs for both registered and private funds.

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

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

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FCA Fines Broking Firm and Bans Former Directors Over Reporting Failures

A global brokerage firm has been hit with a £531,000 FCA fine for failing to make reports crucial in fighting potential market abuse. Its board members were also fined and banned from management positions in FCA regulated firms. We assess how and why this happened and provide practical guidance to avoid similar enforcements.

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EXAMS Risk Alert Warns Advisers and Broker-Dealers to Beef Up Identify-Theft Practices

EXAMS issued its sixth Risk Alert to let advisers and broker-dealers know how firms are failing to meet their obligations under Regulation S-ID, the “Identity Theft Red Flag Rule."

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The Compliance Talent Supply and Demand Challenge

Compliance teams are increasingly challenged to keep regulatory pace and best practices while managing with fewer internal resources, demand for increased efficiency, and budget constraints. This leaves firms in danger of creating risky exposure gaps in their compliance program. Learn more about practical ways to address these challenges.

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SEC Strategic Plan: More Enforcement, More Rules, and More Technology

The SEC issued its four-year strategic plan for 2022-2026. We summarize the goals of the plan and explore what it means for the next four years.

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Warning! Could a Political and Economic Omnishambles be Brewing for the Private Markets?

With an economic storm stemming largely from political ideology, we examine what impact this geopolitical and macroeconomic uncertainty has on the private markets.

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The Global GRC Risks of Unauthorized Business Communication Channels

Communication has always been integral to the investment world and, as technology evolves and expands, the need for adequate and equally evolved surveillance mechanisms has grown. More widespread use of mobile apps and communication tools such as WhatsApp became increasingly prevalent during the various COVID lockdowns as professionals sought to maintain connection with one another. Habits are quickly formed, and so convenient mobile app usage has become an integrated part of work communications.

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News

ACA Reflects on Black History Month Celebrations

Our Connected Black Professionals employee resource group continues to foster a positive and inclusive environment for all employees through initiatives that highlight outstanding achievements and celebrate black legacy and strength.

ACA Group Taps Global Talent with New Office in Pune, India

On February 13th, ACA's new office in Pune, India will open adding to ACA’s “follow the sun service,” which will support clients around the clock and improve project turnaround times.

ACA Group Selected as a RegTech100 Company for 2023

We are delighted to be named one the 100 most innovative RegTech companies in the financial industry by FinTech Global and RegTech Analyst for the 5th time!

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