Compliance Officers Playbook

In this episode, we break down the EU AI Act and its risk-based approach to regulating artificial intelligence. We explore the obligations placed on providers, deployers, and importers—especially for high-risk systems and general-purpose AI models. The discussion highlights practical compliance tools like checklists and the AI Act Governance Pyramid, while addressing real-world challenges such as...

In February 2026, the  Council of the European Union  updated its official list of  non-cooperative jurisdictions  for tax purposes, a tool designed to combat global tax evasion and promote fair governance. The latest revision notably added  Vietnam  and the  Turks and Caicos Islands  to the "blacklist" due to deficiencies in their transparency and information exchange frameworks. Conver...

The  2025 Corruption Perceptions Index  reveals a global decline in public sector integrity, with the worldwide average dropping to its lowest level in over a decade. While  Denmark  continues to lead as the world's cleanest nation, established democracies like the  United Kingdom  and the  United States  have reached record-low scores due to political scandals and weakened oversight. In contr...

The UK’s  Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)  has significantly expanded its enforcement of  financial promotion regulations , specifically targeting high-risk investments like  cryptoassets  and  foreign exchange trading . Recent landmark legal actions include High Court proceedings against the exchange  HTX  and the successful prosecution of several high-profile  reality TV stars  for promoting i...

In this episode, we break down the latest U.S. Treasury sanctions targeting the Iranian regime and why they mark a turning point in global financial enforcement. The Department of the Treasury has added several high-ranking Iranian officials and financial facilitators to its Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list, citing their roles in corruption, repression, and support of the Islamic Revoluti...

To listen to the full episode, head to Apple Podcast and search for PREMIUM version under the Same Episode Title. Thank you for supporting the Compliance Officers Playbook podcast show. In the full episode, we unpack the Australian Government AI Technical Standard and how it guides agencies in adopting artificial intelligence responsibly. The standard introduces a clear AI system lifecycle—Discove...

To listen to the full episode, head to Apple Podcast and search for PREMIUM version under the Same Episode Title. Thank you for supporting the Compliance Officers Playbook podcast show. In the full episode, we unpack the £160,000 fine issued by the UK’s Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI against the Bank of Scotland in November 2025 for breaches of Russia-related sanctions. Regulat...

To listen to the full episode, head to Apple Podcast and search for PREMIUM version under the Same Episode Title. Thank you for supporting the Compliance Officers Playbook podcast show. In the full episode, we break down the European Banking Authority’s newly issued guidelines designed to standardise how financial institutions across the EU implement restrictive measures and sanctions controls. Th...

In this Compliance Officers Playbook episode, we uncover the rapid rise of transnational organised crime networks spreading across Southeast Asia—and how digital technology is supercharging their reach. From fortified scam compounds in Myanmar and Cambodia to billions of dollars laundered through crypto, these criminal syndicates are fusing illegal online gambling with cyber-enabled fraud on an in...

This episode explores a fundamental shift in risk leadership as organisations look toward 2026—one that moves beyond surface-level compliance and toward risk as a driver of meaningful decision-making. We examine why traditional tools like risk heatmaps often fail to deliver value and how risk management only becomes effective when it influences corporate choices before problems materialise. The di...

This episode examines the rapidly evolving fight against financial crime, with a particular focus on the wholesale brokerage sector and the critical role of Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs). Drawing on insights from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), we explore key vulnerabilities in capital markets and why firms must combine effective transaction monitoring with strong customer risk assessm...

This episode explores the growing overlap between corporate IT security, cryptocurrency compliance, and international sanctions enforcement. We begin with the challenges system administrators face when employees use VPNs to bypass workplace controls, exposing organizations to hidden legal, security, and operational risks—while raising difficult questions about privacy and oversight. The discussion...

This episode breaks down the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA), the EU’s landmark regulation aimed at strengthening the financial sector against ICT and cyber-related disruptions. We explore DORA’s five core pillars, including ICT risk management, incident reporting, resilience testing, and oversight of third-party technology providers. The discussion also compares DORA with other major EU...

In this Compliance Officers Playbook episode, we explore the role and responsibilities of the European Union’s Anti-Money Laundering Authority (AMLA) and how it is reshaping financial crime supervision across member states. AMLA’s core mission is to create legal and regulatory consistency throughout the EU by developing binding technical standards, practical guidelines, and supervisory recommendat...

In this episode, we break down the Financial Conduct Authority’s Final Notice against Nationwide Building Society, which resulted in a £44.1 million fine for serious anti-money laundering (AML) failures. Covering the period from October 2016 to July 2021, the FCA found that Nationwide breached regulatory Principle 3 by failing to adequately organise and control its affairs. We explore the key weak...

In this episode, we break down the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) latest move to simplify and strengthen the way complaints are reported across the UK financial services sector. The FCA—responsible for regulating firms, overseeing markets, and protecting consumers—is rolling out a major change: replacing five separate complaints returns with one streamlined, consolidated report. We explore wh...

In this Compliance Officers Playbook podcast episode, we break down the core purpose of internal auditing—from its foundation in independence and objectivity to the two key services it provides: assurance and consulting. We highlight how assurance offers an unbiased assessment of risks and controls, while consulting supports improvement without taking on management roles. At a high level, we show...

In this Compliance Officers Playbook podcast episode, we break down the essential difference between risk appetite—the level of risk a board is willing to take—and acceptable risk, the amount an organisation can tolerate without adding new controls. We highlight why zero risk is never realistic, how risk appetite guides what becomes acceptable, and why higher-impact risks are escalated to senior l...

In this Compliance Officers Playbook podcast episode, we dive into the complicated world of cryptocurrency mixing services—tools like CoinMixing and CoinJoins that promise enhanced privacy by obscuring blockchain transaction trails. While these services offer legitimate anonymity benefits, they’re also frequently exploited for money laundering, sanctions evasion, and other illicit finance activiti...

In this Compliance Officers Playbook podcast episode, we unpack a gripping cross-border investigation from OCCRP and KRIK that reveals how Balkan organised crime networks allegedly used banana shipments from Noboa Trading Co. —the family business of Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa—to smuggle massive quantities of cocaine into Europe. Drawing on confidential Croatian prosecution files and decrypt...

Freemium Episode: In this Compliance Officers Playbook podcast episode, we take a critical look at one of the most widely used—but deeply flawed—tools in corporate governance: the risk heat map. While these colorful grids may offer visual comfort, the source argues they create a dangerous illusion of control. Behind the neat presentation lie subjective scores, oversimplified assumptions, and an in...

In this episode, we break down the European Union’s sweeping overhaul of its anti–money laundering and counter-terrorist financing framework under Directive (EU) 2024/1640 (AMLD6) . The new rules usher in a much more unified and transparent system for tracking beneficial ownership and cross-border financial structures across the EU. We explore how AMLD6 standardises and interconnects national bene...

In this episode, we unpack the Serious Fraud Office’s newly detailed guidance on how corporate compliance programmes are evaluated across England, Northern Ireland, and Wales. The SFO relies on this framework in six key scenarios—from deciding whether to prosecute a company to determining whether a Deferred Prosecution Agreement (DPA) is appropriate. We break down what the guidance means for organ...

The European Commission announced in December 2025 that it has officially designated Russia as a  high-risk jurisdiction  due to serious strategic weaknesses identified within its  anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing frameworks (AML/CFT) . This action was taken pursuant to  Delegated Regulation (EU) 2025/1393 , which committed the Commission to reviewing nations whose membership...

In this episode, we break down the United Kingdom’s groundbreaking Property (Digital Assets etc) Act , a new law that officially recognizes cryptocurrencies and NFTs as their own distinct class of property. This legislative shift modernizes centuries-old property definitions, carving out a third category beyond physical goods and traditional financial claims. We explore why this matters for invest...