MyComplianceOffice Blog

A conflict of interest happens when a person with multiple interests serves one to the detriment of another. For example, an individual may seek to create personally-beneficial outcomes at the expense of fairness and competition. They may engage in activities that put the confidentiality of their firms’ information at risk or put personal financial gains ahead of their firms’, clients’, or broader financial market’s interests.

Temperatures are hot across the United States right now – and so is U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) enforcement activity. The last few weeks have seen a flurry of Insider Trading actions from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice against individuals ranging from a Chief Compliance Officer to a Chief of Police.

Recent enforcements by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) highlight the need for SGX-listed companies to actively work against conflicts of interest within their organisations and maintain robust corporate compliance processes.

It’s 4PM on a Friday. You were hoping to wrap up for the day to start your weekend, but there’s a deal to be closed. The CEO is looking for confirmation that there are no conflicts around outside business activities or any other potential conflicts of interest, and he needs that info stat.

At a recent compliance round-table event in Hong Kong, compliance experts, executives, and chief compliance officers shared their firms’ challenges in keeping pace with regulatory change within the financial sector. They also discussed the increasing demands placed upon compliance teams, emerging opportunities, and the role of technology in more effectively managing regulatory risk and upholding compliance obligations.