Bruno Consulting, LLC
Dr. Marilyn Bruno offers unique expertise in several aspects of international finance and trade, including:
FOR FINANCIAL INTERMEDIARIES AND THEIR COUNSELS: ANTI-MONEY LAUNDERING, BANK SECRECY ACT COMPLIANCE, OFAC LISTS, TYPOLOGIES OF TERRORIST FINANCE.
U.S. financial institutions must comply with the increasing anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CTF) requirements under the authorities of the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), the USA PATRIOT Act, as well as international AML/CTF initiatives of the United Nations, Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and other multinational institutions. The pillars of a robust compliance program include a sound action plan, implemented by trained personnel at every level of the financial institution. Training is most effective when on-going, hands-on, and based on case studies of the most current examples of AML/CTF typologies.
Remaining abreast of new regulatory requirements is also fundamental. For example, the definition of "financial institution" has dramatically expanded to include not only banks, brokerage houses, insurance companies, money services, and other financial intermediaries, but also commercial intermediaries, such as car, plane, and boat dealerships, jewelry and gem vendors, real estate brokers, travel agents, money lenders, casinos, etc. Effective November 2009, all U.S. financial institutions involved in international funds payments are responsible for undertaking due diligence for every correspondent bank customer in the chain of the transaction. Failure to implement the AML/CTF compliance programs can result in civil penalties in the millions of dollars against these financial institution and, under some circumstances, its officers and directors. Criminal prosecutions may also be pursued for deficient compliance.
BRUNO CONSULTING - PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR AML/CTF:
-- SEMINARS AND LECTURES: On AML, CTF, BSA, OFAC designation process, Sanctions lists, regulatory updates in several languages.
-- ACTION PLAN DEVELOPMENT designed to bring a financial institution in to full regulatory compliance, remediate deficiencies, and avoid sanctions.
-- RISK ASSESSMENTS of the financial institution, customers, correspondent banks, and transactions
-- COMPLIANCE PROGRAM ASSESSMENT prior to regulatory reviews and audits
-- TRAINING in several languages to implement an effective AML/CTF compliance program:
- Federal and State legal authorities and requirements
- Elements of customer "Enhanced Due Diligence"
- Suspicious activity reporting and the trail of the report to law enforcement
- Internal audit, controls, investigations
- Technology systems for filtering transactions
FOR EXPORTERS/IMPORTERS, VENTURE INVESTORS, AND THEIR COUNSELS: NON-TRADITIONAL TRADE AND VENTURE FINANCE, COUNTERTRADE, OFFSET, BARTER, "TRIANGULAR HEDGE."
Particularly in times of a liquidity crisis, with a tightening of credit markets, depreciating currencies, and general economic slowdown -- such as we are experiencing today -- the option of non-traditional trade and investment finance is particularly attractive.
In order for exporters/importers, developers, and venture investors to remain competitive, they may look to non-traditional financing strategies to avoid losing market share and gain a competitive advantage to expand trade and investment activity. It is estimated that over 1/6 of global trade is still transacted on a countertrade (barter) basis, including for the sale of big-ticket items like aircraft and defense supplies.
Businesses and exporters/importers of all sizes can avail themselves of one or more non-traditional finance strategies. Careful coordination of the purchase and sale of goods and services is not only feasible, but highly profitable.
BRUNO CONSULTING - PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FOR NON-TRADITIONAL TRADE ANDVENTURE FINANCE:
-- SEMINARS AND LECTURES: On Countertrade, Barter, Offset, "Triangular Hedge" strategies.
-- FEASIBILITY STUDY DEVELOPMENT, including identification of goods and services appropriate for exchange for your export/import or venture
-- GOVERNMENT RELATIONS to ensure approvals
-- RISK MANAGEMENT to ensure profitability
-- FINDING NEW OR INCREMENTAL MARKETS for goods and services identified for exchange
-- TRANSACTING the exchanges
CONSULTING FEES
To be determined by the complexity of the assignment, per prior written agreement by the parties. CONTACT DR. BRUNO: bruno.marilyn@gmail.com
