“Corporate governance is “the framework of rules, relationships, systems and processes within and by which authority is exercised and controlled in corporations”. It encompasses the mechanisms by which companies, and those in control, are held to account. Corporate governance influences how the objectives of the company are set and achieved, how risk is monitored and assessed, and how
performance is optimised.”

The Global Financial Crisis and attendant spate of corporate collapses in Australia and internationally has resulted in an unprecedented focus on Corporate Governance and the role that Directors play in overseeing the affairs of corporations. It is fair to say that there has never been more attention paid to risk management and compliance in particular, whilst there is also growing awareness of the need for a sound corporate culture. We find that Directors are taking a keen interest in these issues as they seek to find the balance between informed risk taking and prudent corporate practices.

We have the team and the experience to guide directors and senior management as they confront these challenges.

Our integrated Governance, Risk and Compliance program is designed to assist clients with a Corporate Governance framework that delivers effective stewardship and management; a Risk Management program that is conducive to informed risk taking; a Compliance Program that satisfies key regulatory obligations and a robust Corporate Culture.

Our strength lies in the broad range of skills, qualifications and experience of our team members. Our consultants include senior directors, professional risk and compliance consultants, accredited trainers and respected academics. We also have close relationships with other consultants in areas such as board and executive compensation, change management and executive mentoring and coaching that complement our services.

We offer rates that most professional firms find hard to match. When you engage with us our senior consultants actually deliver the service, rather than simply being the contact point at the start and finish of the engagement. In other words you get the dedicated attention of experienced professionals at very competitive rates.

Following are details of our key services:

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE OVERVIEW

Corporate governance has been defined as “the framework of rules, relationships, systems and processes within and by which authority is exercised and controlled in corporations”.  It is quite a challenge to establish this framework in today’s complex business environment. Directors have to balance the competing demands of charting the strategic direction of their organisation, managing corporate and personal risks; appointing, mentoring and compensating the corporate team as well as meeting the expectations of many internal and external stakeholders.

We bring all of these issues into perspective utilising an in depth review of existing corporate governance, benchmarked against Australian and international best practice, including the ASX Corporate Governance Principles. The review considers the governance framework, terms of engagement for directors and senior management, strategic planning, reporting to the board, delegation by the board, corporate culture, risk management, audit and compliance. We identify areas of strengths and weaknesses accompanied by input to improve overall board and corporate effectiveness.

BOARD PERFORMANCE AND CONFORMANCE

In addition to the Corporate Governance Overview we offer a more detailed assessment of board composition, performance, conformance and compensation. We work with directors to assess and improve the credentials, skills and ongoing performance of the board as whole as well as individual directors using surveys, workshops and individual coaching.

ENTERPRISE RISK MANAGEMENT

ERM involves an integrated approach to managing risks and seizing opportunities. ERM provides a risk management framework which typically involves identifying particular events or circumstances relevant to the organization’s objectives, assessing them in terms of likelihood and magnitude of impact, determining a response strategy and monitoring progress. By identifying and proactively addressing risks and opportunities, business enterprises protect and create value for their stakeholders, including owners, employees, customers, regulators, and society overall. Our team specialises in the design and implementation of ERM programs, including risk identification workshops, culture, policies, procedures, training and ongoing review and reporting.

LEGAL AND REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

The legal and regulatory burden imposed on organisations and directors continues to increase at a rapid pace. The challenge for directors and senior management is to meet key regulatory obligations whilst maintaining a focus in taking advantage of business opportunities. The first step involves identifying key regulatory obligations & adopting a risk based compliance program.

We work with directors and senior management to identify the key legal obligations that impact on them and the organisation, including the Corporations Act, the Trade Practices Act, various Federal and State environmental and occupational health and safety acts, together with case studies covering findings by the courts in. Once the key regulatory obligations are identified we work with management to establish a program to manage, monitor and report on compliance with these obligations and to keep abreast of changes in the regulatory landscape. We also offer advisory services when dealing with regulatory inquiries and investigations. As part of our compliance service we can also arrange advice on insurance options to mitigate personal and corporate risks and legal liabilities.

BUSINESS ETHICS

Ethical leadership – We offer a workshop designed to empower directors in setting and monitoring corporate culture.  The workshop cover issues such as ethical awareness, reasoning and decision making, corporate social responsibility, codes of conduct and ethics, accountability and responsibility, conflicts of interest & whistle blowing.

Organisational ethics – following on from the leadership program we assist in the roll out of a cultural awareness program.  The focus is on ethical awareness for all staff so that they have a set of values that can be applied consistently across the organisation. We also advise on issues such as whistle blowing, internal dispute resolution, counselling for individual employees and resolution of ethical dilemmas.

To find out more about our Governance Advisory Services please call Greg Goodman on 0411 825 458.

At Compliance Australia we offer a wide range of services relating to regulatory compliance. Our Consultants and Associates have a proven track record and are well qualified to provide expert assistance in each of these areas:

Compliance Programs

Our core skill is in the design and implementation of compliance programs to meet regulatory, industry and self regulatory standards, using the Australian Standard AS 3806 as a reference point. Our main focus has been on compliance with the Corporations Act, the Trade Practices Act and the Anti Money Laundering and Counter Terrorism Financing Act. Each program is designed to reflect the specific legal and regulatory obligations of our client using a risk based approach, so that those issues of the greatest relevance and concern receive the most focus. We work closely with stakeholders within the business to ensure that once we hand over the program there are sufficient resources and internal knowledge to manage the program going forward. Alternatively for smaller clients we offer ongoing compliance support to maintain the integrity of the program.

Financial Service Licences

We have a wealth of experience in assisting clients in making applications to ASIC for new AFSL licences or for variations to licences. If necessary we are able to design and implement the underlying compliance and risk management programs to support the licence applications and we can also source Responsible Managers, Directors and Compliance Committee Members if required.

Anti Money Laundering

Since the introduction of the Anti Money Laundering and Counter Terrorist Financing Act in 2006 we have consulted widely on the establishment of Part A and Part B AML/CTF Compliance Programs, including risk assessments and training. We also conduct independent reviews and reporting as required under the Act. Click here to see our full suite of AML/CTF service offerings.

Compliance, Audit and Risk Committees

Our Director Greg Goodman has acted as Chairman and member of numerous compliance, audit and risk committees over the last twelve years, including statutory compliance committees under the Managed Investment Act. If you are looking for a new committee member Greg is available and we can also source additonal committee members if necessary. We also provide committee charters and advice on the make up and functionality of committees as part of our governance framework consulting.

Compliance Support Services

We have a number of clients to whom we provide ongoing compliance support services, ranging from maintenance of policies and procedures, training, support for compliance and risk committees, as well as the provision of more permanent part time compliance employees. We can also provide regular independent monitoring and reporting to boards, senior management and regulatory agencies on issues such AML and Trade Practices compliance.

Policies and procedures

We offer an integrated package of compliance and risk management policies and procedures. We maintain the policies and ensure that they reflect your changing business needs as well as being up to date with regulatory changes. They can be purchsed outright or we can host them for you online for an annual licence fee.

Training

An integral part of every governance, compliance and risk program is the need to communicate an organisation’s obligations and expectations to stakeholders. Whilst this is a very important step in ensuring the efficacy of such programs, it is often the case that training and education are handled poorly or overlooked altogether. Our consultants have many years experience in designing and implementing training programs that are tailored to the needs of our client. They are not “text book tutorials” but are based around the specific products, services and issues that affect our client. Normally our training sessions are delivered in small, interactive workshop sessions at our client’s premises to maximise the impact and minimise the disruption. Our training covers most regulatory obligations, including Corporations Act, Trade Practices, AFSL licencing and Anti Money Laundering as well as business ethics. Most of our trainers are Certificate IV accredited.