Regulatory Obligations
The Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Acts 2010 to 2018 impose requirements on regulated entities to operate controls and procedures designed to prevent money laundering, combat the financing of terrorism and to comply with financial sanctions (“AML/ CFT/FS Process”). Irish investment funds are subject to these requirements and have a regulatory obligation to appoint an appropriately experienced and sufficiently senior individual as the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (“Fund MLRO”).
You can download a pdf version of our MLRO Services for Investment Funds – Ireland guide
Fund MLRO Responsibilities
The Fund MLRO is the individual recognised by the Central Bank of Ireland (“CBI”) as responsible for disclosing to the Garda Síochána (“Police”) and the Revenue Commissioners any suspicious transactions relating to potential money laundering or terrorist financing in the investment fund. As the investment fund may rely on a fund administrator to perform the AML/CFT/FS Process, it is necessary to have appropriate reporting and oversight procedures in place to ensure that suspicious transactions are brought to the attention of the Fund MLRO.
Customer Due Diligence (“CDD”) – Investment Funds
Investors submit subscription requests to the fund administrator either directly or via a third party. As a service provider of the investment fund, the fund administrator seeks to ensure that on a risk-based approach, CDD has been performed on investors/third parties and that redemption proceeds are paid in a manner consistent with the terms of the prospectus and legislation. The Fund MLRO must have oversight of the CDD controls and procedures operated by the fund administrator through regular reporting and site visits. This allows the Fund MLRO to effectively discharge the duties of the role, and to report with confidence to the board of directors.
Fund MLRO Activities
In providing the MLRO service the Fund MLRO will:
- on appointment and annually thereafter perform a detailed on-site review of the documented AML/CFT/FS process at the fund administrator;
- Perform and review an on annual basis, the AML business risk assessment for the investment fund;
- on an annual basis sample check the existence and suitability of CDD documentation and the actual operation of the AML/CFT/FS Process at the fund administrator (including transaction monitoring, blocked accounts, redemption process and screening process for politically exposed persons (PEPs) and sanctioned individuals/entities);
- upon changes to relevant legislation and money laundering, terrorist financing and financial sanctions regulatory guidance, assess the adequacy of the AML/ CFT/FS Process at the fund administrator to ensure compliance;
- establish procedures to ensure monthly/quarterly reports are received from the fund administrator permitting the Fund MLRO to report suspicious transactions (if appropriate) and monitor the ongoing maintenance of CDD documentation by the fund administrator;
- communicate reports of suspicious transactions to the Police and Revenue Commissioners as appropriate and maintain the register of reports;
- provide MLRO reports for each board meeting and attend such meetings in person; review all relevant regulation/legislation and brief the board of directors on such developments and the practical implications thereof;
- provide annual AML training addressing the Irish legislative requirements and practical issues.
- establish, and review on an annual basis, policies and procedures at a fund level consistent with legislation and the requirements of the CBI.
Since 2008 KB Associates has recognised the need for professionally qualified staff dedicated exclusively to performing the role of Fund MLRO. Recent events have endorsed that view and the need for dedicated experts is now more important than ever.