HC : Among the benefits is the creation of a culture of integrity within the bank , in terms of ethical compliance and anti-corruption , in order to strengthen controls and meet the expectations of all the stakeholders we interact with ; thereby , mitigating financial , operational and reputational risks .
AT Español : What are the best practices for maintaining and continually improving an anticorruption program ?
HC : Essentially , an entity must set models , policies , processes and indicators in place to carry out a proper review of its external audit and management function .
AT Español : Your career has been focused on developing , implementing and strengthening antibribery practices . What motivated you to work on this challenging issue ?
Marbel Guilamo Peña ( MGP ): From an incredibly young age , I was trained in the Salesian tradition , which focuses on ethical values and the common good for society . This helped to shape my academic profile to deal with this important topic .
I also understood that the best way to tackle this scourge was to get involved and contribute to the effort to the best of my abilities , by becoming an agent of change to the current state of affairs , which is deeply concerning for humanity across the globe .
AT Español : What has been your biggest challenge in implementing good practices in anti-corruption ?
HC and MGP : Our biggest challenge was leading the process to implement the requirements established by regulations , as they have a cross-cutting impact on the entire organizational structure , which means developing complex dynamics for the coordination of activities between the various stakeholder groups .
AT Español : What is the best way to develop ethical practices among professionals ?
MGP : Ethics in general is not just a five-letter word ; it represents moral behavior that affects society . Therefore , taking this as a starting point , professional ethics establishes employee activities being carried out with transparency and accountability , providing efficient and high-quality services and taking stakeholders into account at all times .
AT Español : What advice would you like to share with our readers regarding corruption ?
MGP : When I talk about ethics at any given setting , I like to emphasize that the prevention of corruption is and should be considered a shared responsibility . Corruption is an issue that concerns and affects us all . It undermines our democracies and social values .
If we want a healthy business environment that positively impacts our families and society in general , we must continue to cultivate good ethical values that will be reflected in standards of behavior that dictate proper individual conduct .
Interviewed by the ACAMS Today Español Digital staff , ACAMS , Miami , FL , USA , editor @ acams . org
Banreservas staff in the Dominican Republic
ACAMS Today September – November 2023 133