INTERVIEW
AT: As part of the Advanced
Certification process, you are
required to author a white paper.
How did you choose your topic? AT: Once the topic was chosen, what
were the next steps? What kinds of
research tools helped you in the
process?
LK: After attending an industry event, I LK: Once I settled on a topic, thought about
walked away inspired to author a paper
that would provide concrete solutions to a
challenge currently faced by AML and
Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) professionals. At
the time, legalization of marijuana at the
state level was in its infancy stages and
regulatory guidance had just been issued.
I knew, regardless of a financial institu-
tion’s position on banking marijuana-re-
lated business, it would impact their BSA/
AML program. By choosing a topic and
writing a white paper related to the chal-
lenges of banking the marijuana industry,
it provided an opportunity to expand my
knowledge of the emerging industry and
assess the risks and impact to a financial
institution’s BSA/AML program. It also
helped me identify typologies and it pro-
vided an effective approach to addressing
the challenges and risks.
JS: Choosing a topic was easy! I just went
with my passion: training and helping
others develop and implement the indepen-
dent testing pillar of BSA/AML programs.
When it comes to terrorist financing and
human trafficking, it’s essential that people
are well trained.
—LAUREN KOHR
JS: There were plenty of enforcement
actions that referenced deficiencies in staff
training. In particular, they cited indepen-
dent testing personnel as not having the
requisite skills and expertise to do their
work. The next step was to consider the
root causes of the problems and how to
address corrective actions on a sustainable
basis. It wasn’t easy, but it did seem to flow
pretty smoothly once “pen went to paper,”
so to speak.
AT: What advice can you give to
members looking to obtain an ADV
certification?
LK:
I just went with my passion:
training and helping others
develop and implement the
independent testing pillar
of BSA/AML programs
Aspire to achieve a
certification that can
change the course of your
career, set you apart from
your peers, deepen your
knowledge and show you
desire to grow yourself
and your career
and outlined the objectives, main message,
current challenges, proposed solutions, and
takeaways, I was easily able to supplement
my content with open-source research, reg-
ulatory guidance, and apply my personal
industry knowledge and experience. I was
successful in conducting personal inter-
views and utilizing my network of industry
subject-matter experts for opinions and
recommendations. My ACAMS mentor
was also a good source for guidance and
recommendations on research tools and
approaches as well.
•
A spire to achieve a certification that
can change the course of your career,
set you apart from your peers, deepen
your knowledge and show you desire to
grow yourself and your career.
•
D evote the time needed to self-
study, prepare for the live program
and write an impactful white paper
that represents your expertise as an
advanced practitioner.
—Jack Sonnenschein
•
• I nvest yourself fully in the entire
program. As a participant, you have
been awarded a unique opportunity
to learn, network and align with the
industry’s best instructors and other
passionate professionals.
•
C hallenge yourself to write your white
paper on a topic you and other AML
professionals would strongly benefit
from having as a resource.
•
E nroll yourself now into the program.
It was one of the best investments I
have made in my career. Not only has
it helped me reach new professional
heights, but I have also gained the
knowledge, expertise and skills needed
to identify, investigate and properly
report on complex financial crimes.
JS: Taking a line from Nike, “Just do it.”
There will never be a shortage of reasons
not to do it, and that’s what sets people
apart from the rest—achieving the certifica-
tion.
V enture beyond your comfort zone
during the live program. Meet, network
and develop professional relationships
with the instructors and attendees.
Interviewed by: Larissa Bernardes, web
editor, ACAMS moneylaundering.com,
Miami, FL, USA, [email protected]
ACAMS TODAY | SEPTEMBER–NOVEMBER 2017 | ACAMS.ORG | ACAMSTODAY.ORG
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