Corporate Research & Investigations

ISO 37001 certification: enhance your reputation and credibility

Bribery and corruption are serious concerns to businesses, government agencies and non-profit organisations. In fact, the risk of being associated with the negative impacts of this type of fraud extends to third party partners and influences present and future businesses relationships.

In this business climate, consider the tremendous advantage your organisation will enjoy if it is ISO 37001:2016 certified to prevent bribery and corruption, a designation you can proudly communicate to the public and market to potential partners. CRI® Group‘s ABAC® Center of Excellence provides that assurance – not just to you, but to your potential partners, as well.

Due diligence as a critical business tool

When it comes to due diligence, CRI® Group helps organisations thoroughly evaluate third-party partners for red flags, such as:

Reputational risk
Compliance risk
Operational risk
Business risk
Strategic risk
Credit risk
Country/location risk

The flip side of that coin is that organisations that are identified as ethical and maintaining a zero-tolerance approach to fraud gain immediate preference over others in their industry or field. By engaging with CRI® Group, your organisation can immediately see the benefits of ISO 37001:2016 certification by being established and recognised as a potential partner or provider that is ethical and effective at preventing bribery and corruption, satisfying all of the risk criteria above.

The benefits of being certified

Here are just a few of the benefits of participating in training and certification opportunities offered through ABAC® Center of Excellence:

ISO 37001:2016 certification helps ensure that your organisation is implementing a viable anti-bribery management system.
It provides assurance to management, investors, business associates, personnel and other stakeholders that the organisation is actively pursuing internationally recognised and accepted processes to prevent bribery and corruption.
In legal proceedings, having completed the certification process provides acceptable evidence to prosecutors or courts that the organisation has taken reasonable steps to prevent bribery and corruption.
Certification helps set your organisation apart as a proactive, ethical team that would be a preferred partner, supplier and/or service provider for other businesses or agencies.

Don’t delay – the sooner your organisation is certified to prevent bribery and corruption, the sooner you can build stronger and more beneficial relationships.

ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management System certification is offered under CRI® Group’s ABAC® Centre of Excellence, an independent certification body established for Anti-Bribery Management System training and certification, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and Risk Management System certification. The program will be tailored to your organisation’s needs and requirements. For assistance in developing and implementing a fraud prevention strategy, contact ABAC® today or get a FREE QUOTE now!

Who is CRI® Group?

Based in London, CRI® Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, TPRM, Due Diligence, Compliance Solutions and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. We have the largest proprietary network of background-screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are, we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI® Group also holds BS 102000:2013 and BS 7858:2012 Certifications, is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle.

In 2016, CRI® Group launched the Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC®) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body that provides education and certification services for individuals and organisations on a wide range of disciplines and ISO standards, including ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management- Guidelines; ISO 37000:2021 Governance of Organisations; ISO 37002:2021 Whistleblowing Management System; ISO 37301:2021 (formerly ISO 19600) Compliance Management system (CMS); Anti-Money Laundering (AML); and ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems ABMS. ABAC® offers a complete suite of solutions designed to help organisations mitigate the internal and external risks associated with operating in multi-jurisdiction and multi-cultural environments while assisting in developing frameworks for strategic compliance programs. Contact ABAC® for more on ISO Certification and training.

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4 Advantages of ISO 37001 Certification

Bribery is a key issue in both local markets and global business activities. The desire to expand business operations and maximise commercial profits not only requires identification and management of operational risks but also identification and mitigation of bribery risks. It is important to note that expansion of business tends to involve bureaucratic processes thus exposing an organisation to bribery risks in a bid to either fasten bureaucratic processes or even in lobbying for favourable operating business climate. Of note, bribes need not be monetary and may be in kind often in the form of favours such as trips, meals among other inducements that may influence favourable decisions. In fact, the global legislation on corruption recognises trading in influence as a form of corruption (Norton Rose Fulbright, 2017). While strategic management is geared towards the maximisation of profits, it is important for organisations to involve themselves in ethical and transparent dealings. Often, management and business personnel participate in corruption and bribery activities in order to facilitate their entry and continued presence in the market. This essay places great emphasis on benefits of ISO 37001:2016 anti-bribery management system certification by characteristically portraying companies and organisations as entities that have an obligation to internally comply with the international anti-bribery standards in order to promote their brand and obey laws thus strategically increasing their competitiveness and overall profitability. Therefore, this article discusses and synthesises existing literature on ISO 37001:2016 anti-bribery management system certification to argue that the ISO anti-bribery management system certification is beneficial to businesses. ISO 37001 Certification Advantages

In particular, the essay reviews four broad benefits of anti-bribery management. First, the article postulates that adoption and compliance with the ISO 37001 anti-bribery management system certification allows an organisation to engage in ethical business conduct by implementing a viable anti-bribery management program. The ISO anti-bribery management system acts as an instructive and exhaustive guide in the identification of bribery risks and formulation of viable bribery risk management practices (Center for Responsible Enterprise And Trade, 2014). Secondly, the article reviews the extent to which the anti-bribery management system enhances confidence among the management, employees, among other stakeholders that an organisation actively pursuing internationally recognised and accepted processes to prevent bribery and corruption. Third, the article proceeds to discuss the accruing benefit associated with protection of an organisation’s assets and the interests of various stakeholders from the effects of corruption. If found culpable, the management may be subject to imprisonment while the organisation may receive sanctions of fines or orders of winding up. As such, it is highly desirable to avoid bribery and corruption. Lastly, the due diligence and internal investigation procedures recommended by the ISO 37001 anti-bribery management system allows an organisation to adduce evidence to show that it has taken reasonable steps to prevent bribery and corruption.

1. Implementing a viable anti-bribery management program utilising widely accepted controls and systems

The ISO anti-bribery management system is a cornerstone of a strategic approach to bribery risk identification and subsequent mitigation of bribery risks. For instance, knowledge of a risk is a necessary factor for the effective management process of such risks. Additionally, using the tested principles and practices of the ISO anti-bribery management system allows an organisation to tailor the recommendations in the ISO anti-bribery management system to its contextual business environment. Therefore, it is necessary to discuss how the viability of the anti-bribery management program is of benefit to an organisation.

One key feature of the ISO 37001: 2016 anti-bribery management program is the integration of best practices in whistle-blowing procedures (Valerio, 2017). Usually, employees are the first people who are aware of bribery and corruption practices within an organisation. By integrating whistle-blowing protection in its internal anti-bribery practices, an organisation implements a viable anti-bribery management program that encourages employees to come forward with knowledge on ongoing corruption (Gordon & Miyake, 2001). It is important to note that information obtained through whistle-blowing is not always factual thus the need to conduct due diligence and verification.

Notably , the ISO 37001:2006 has had the impact of making companies adhere to the International Anti-Bribery Management System Standard. As an international standard of high repute, ISO 37001 has brought tremendous changes to market dealings and firm operations. Organisations have a guideline of rules and code of ethics to follow to mitigate the risk of being involved in corruption charges. Terms of engagement when dealing have been laid down and each organisation and other market players know what is legal and acceptable. Furthermore, the ISO 3700 contains pre-existing policies and guidelines which are familiar to some organisations. It only added a few regulations to existing policies. These include: reporting, monitoring and correction measures targeting the offenders (Cottrell, 2016). This has made it easier for the organisations to comply with them as they have been engaging them in the past. Companies have to comply with the new regulations before engaging in any kind of business. Fighting corruption in organisations and in business transactions has been made easier and achievable. Specifically tailored rules of engagement for different organisations ensure that they are able to stop or even prevent cases of bribery when or before they occur.

2. Stakeholder assurance that the organisation is actively pursuing internationally recognised and accepted processes to prevent bribery and corruption

The international nature of the ISO anti-bribery management system allows organisations to align their internal policies on corruption with the domestic laws of the country the organisation is operating in. It is important to note that state-nations are increasingly domesticating the global legal framework on anti-corruption and actively prosecuting offenders. Therefore, the international ISO anti-bribery management system is of high importance to a company as it formulates its internal policies on anti-bribery and anti-corruption in accordance with international and domestic legislation on anti-corruption in both the public and private sector.

The assurance that an organisation is operating within international standards and processes helps cultivate social legitimacy in the operation of a company which directly serves to boost investor confidence and attract investors. Also, some consumers base their purchase decisions on the ethical operations of accompany. As such, ISO standard serves as a pull factor for new consumers. Bribery is a very serious issue with adverse macroeconomic and microeconomic effects (Valerio, 2017). In particular, it not only distorts markets and competition but also erodes the profitability of private firms and individual enterprises throughout an economy. The ISO 37001:2016 anti-bribery management system provides measures that help organisations to prevent, detect, eradicate and address bribery. This is done by adopting the anti-bribery policies, hiring personnel to oversee the anti-bribery compliance risk management and diligence on projects and business associates, implementing commercial and financial controls and also reporting and investigation procedures. ISO 37001:2016 can only be used in any of the organisation regardless its size, type whether public or private or non-profit organisations.

The ISO 37001:2016 anti-bribery management system allows organisations to incorporate international standards of preventing bribery in their routine day to day operations. Put differently, it helps the organisation to improve performance by orienting the organisational culture towards transparency and eradication of bribery. Such an organisational culture allows the design of goals, objectives and mission that promote due diligence, and monitoring and evaluation in a bid to identify and mitigate bribery risks (Valerio, 2017). Identification and resolution of bribery risks increase an organisation’s capacity to deliver consistent and improved satisfactory services to consumers within the law and without engaging in bribery and corruption. In addition, the anti-bribery management system improves the way the organisation protects its people from fraud and ensures that there is a favourable working environment. Therefore, the ISO 37001:2016 anti-bribery management system enhances transparency in organisational culture thus promoting the optimisation of resources.

Investors are another important entity. When investors are investing in any organisation or market such as the stock market, they need to be protected from scrupulous businesses. The system allows them to have genuine business deals that are free from bribery. Since in many markets, for example, the stock market many players like to use shortcuts in the name of bribes as demonstrated by insider trading of stocks and options in the markets. The integration of anti-bribery management system in routine operations allows organisations to use international standards to detect and mitigate probable apparent forms of bribery. Thus, ISO 37001 ensures that there are sanity and fairness in the market.

The ISO 37001:2016 anti-bribery management system also levels the market by eradicating unfair commercial practices of bribery that stand to distort a section of the market to the whole market. Of note, bribery and trading in influence is a common practice among multinational corporations operating in developing nations. Often, bribes affect markets by distorting markets to the extent that the bribing organisations operate outside the law where they flout systems such as tendering and supply chains thus landing lucrative business deals with minimal attention being paid to merit. As such, commitment of businesses to the ISO 37001:2016 anti-bribery management system boosts investor confidence thus facilitating investment and healthy competition. It is important to note that bribery can also be used in recruitment. By embedding ISO 37001:2016 anti-bribery management system in its recruitment practices, an organisation benefits by hiring the best-fit talent. As such, the organisation boasts of job and talent match which is necessary for employee confidence and job satisfaction which translates to increased employee productivity.

3. Protection of the organisation, its assets, shareholders, and directors from the effects of corruption

Protection of the organisation’s assets, shareholders and management from the adverse effects of bribery and corruption is another benefit associated with the ISO anti-bribery management system. Often, the negative effects of corruption are economic in nature. For instance, bribery affects the profit margins of a company to the extent that the management has to divert funds meant for either operating capital or assets capital to facilitating bribes. Additionally, the public knowledge that an organisation is actively involved in bribery or any other form of peddling influence affects brand identity which erodes consumer base thus reducing the overall profitability of an organisation.

Bribery is one of the world’s most destructive habits. Responsible for the loss of an annual monetary figure of $1 Trillion, this vice has demoralised institutions and nations as well. In the appreciation of the catastrophic effects of this vice, ISO designed a system capable of sealing loopholes against bribery in organisational systems. Specifically, the ISO 37001:2016 creates precise measures that assist in detection, prevention and the address of bribery occurrences in institutions (Center for Responsible Enterprise And Trade (CREATe), 2016). This ISO process focuses on two bribery angles. One, it addresses how a bribery by the organisation can occur. Here, the certification demands to identify either the business or the associates who have handled a bribe deemed to benefit the organisation. Two, it addresses cases where the organisation has received a bribe. In this scenario, it is the reality where a business or its associates has received or given a bribe in relation to the activities conducted by the entity.

This system can operate as a stand-alone facility or function under another system through integration. The tool is available for use by all organisations regardless of purpose or objectives. Therefore, commercial organisations, not-for-profit entities and governments are free to apply it as a way of achieving anti-bribery compliance. One advantage that cuts across all organisations is the amplification of confidence in the eyes of external stakeholders. From another perspective, an organisation using this ISO format is assured of a good reputation as well as an excellent working environment. The risk factors are minimised and a solid credential pathway is realised. Indeed, many for-profit outfits have consistently applied anti-bribery systems as a measure of acquiring extensive market penetration goals. The ISO 37001 typically seeks to create an accountability culture around the globe that can have organisations conduct activities in a clean and health environment. For the business world, ISO 37001 is packaged to breed a set-up full of trust in a way that can sustain and grow commercial activities. Simply, it is a system that seeks to make the world an honest place.

An organisation with an ISO: 37001 2016 certification is open to public scrutiny since its management operates without fear. Further, such an entity displays fidelity and compliance to bribery legislations such as acts of parliament or the congress. More importantly, subscribing to the system certification demonstrates a commitment to collaborate and work with like-minded organisations in managing bribery and corruption in the world. The chain of responsibility and accountability, additionally, ensures that the supply chain systems used by the organisations conduct clean and verifiable business. Closely related to that advantage is the growth of moral and legal business transactions between businesses and their contractors. Corruption can permeate to every corner of an organisation and the anti-bribery certification blocks such realities.

The ultimate beneficiary of ISO: 37001 is the shareholder. When an organisation bribes its way into the business and has its license taken away, the shareholder loses their investment. If credibility is lost and the activity schedule goes down, it is the shareholder who bears the heaviest burden. However, bribery in organisations practically affects everyone in the political, commercial or social jurisdiction of such a company. Disgrace can lead to loss of jobs. Still, a fined or closed company implies lower tax revenues to the government. Therefore, businesses should integrate ISO: 37001 2016 in their management operations as well as in risk and compliance.

4. Provision of acceptable evidence to prosecutors or courts that the organisation has taken reasonable steps to prevent bribery and corruption

The ISO certification embeds a culture of corporate social responsibility and willingness to collaborate with law enforcement agencies. Cognisant of the backlash and opprobrium associated with corporate obstruction of justice in the investigation of bribery and corruption, the ISO certification allows organisations to document their proactive involvement in reviewing their compliance with global standards of anti-bribery management as well as the concrete measures the management has initiated to show its willingness to prevent and curb bribery risks.

It is important to note that organisations have a distinct legal personality away from the management and other stakeholders. The separate legal personality of an organisation means that an organisation is liable for bribery activities committed by its employees or its management. Under domestic laws, culpable organisations are subject to legal sanctions which include hefty pecuniary fines and in some cases dissolution of the organisation. Pecuniary fines affect the operations of a company by diverting either operating capital or assets to unintended activities. Overall, diversion of financial resources to foot fines affects the profitability of a company as well. In addition, such diversion of financial resources through fines affects growth strategies such as expansion into new markets. In this case, provision of documented evidence to the prosecution or the courts demonstrates that an organisation has taken reasonable measures to prevent bribery and corruption thus helping the organisation to avoid fines and sanctions such as winding up.

The management has a huge role in identification of bribery risks in a bid to maximise an organisation’s efficiency and productivity. The ISO certification system offers best strategies to manage an organisation in the face of bribery and corruption risks. Of note, ISO: 37001 2016 allows organisations to identify risks and formulate key performance indicators to monitor and evaluate the extent to which an organisation acts within the law and conducts ethical business. In sum, the ISO: 37001 2016 certification not only facilitates the war against corruption in business environments but also promotes efficiency and productivity of an organisation.

Sources & Credits

Center for Responsible Enterprise And Trade (CREATe). (2016). Top 10 Takeaways of the ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management Systems Standard. Center for Responsible Enterprise And Trade (CREATe). Retrieved from https://create.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/CREATe-ISO-37001-Guide-eBook-Final-9.27.16.pdf
Center for Responsible Enterprise And Trade. (2014). Addressing corruption risk through enterprise risk management. Center for Responsible Enterprise And Trade. Retrieved from https://create.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/create_whitepaper_ac_2014.%C6%92.single_lo.pdf
Cottrell, E. (2016, December 13). ISO 37001- The Potential Impact of the New International Anti-Bribery Management System Standard. Retrieved from http://pcgc.parkerpoe.com/iso-37001-the-potential-ipact-of-the-new-international-anti-bribery-management-system-standard/
Gordon, K., & Miyake, M. (2001). Business approaches to combating bribery: A study of codes of conduct. Journal of Business Ethics, 34(3), 161-173.
Norton Rose Fulbright. (2017, February). Business ethics and anti-corruption world. Norton Rose Fulbright. Retrieved from http://www.nortonrosefulbright.com/files/business-ethics-and-anti-corruption-world-issue-5-146709.pdf
Valerio, B. (2017). Corruption and ISO 37001: A new instrument to prevent it in international entrepreneurship. World Journal of Accounting, Finance and Engineering, 1, 1-14.

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Investigative research reveals opportunities

Having the critical information you need can mean the difference between success and failure in business. When it comes to investigative research, trained experts can uncover facts that help you make the right decisions; and save your organisation from making costly mistakes. CRI® Group has trained investigators positioned worldwide who can help provide a range of investigative research services. When used as a tool of effective due diligence, investigative research can provide an immediate advantage and be a proven benefit for an organisation in any industry. In this article, we’ll discuss a few ways investigative research can help uncover previously unknown weaknesses.

Finding fraud

Any organisation is susceptible to fraud. To make matters worse, corporate fraud is often a complex crime, requiring a high degree of investigative expertise to ensure that evidence is gathered and handled correctly, interviews are conducted effectively, and laws are carefully followed in the investigation.

CRI® Group has conducted financial investigations for companies worldwide to uncover a variety of criminal activity, including:

Corporate and accounting fraud
Asset misappropriation
Data manipulation or data theft
Internal & external corruption
Embezzlement
Kickback schemes
Expense manipulation
Procurement fraud
Third-party fraud
IP Infringement
Insurance fraud

The worst type of fraud scheme is the one you don’t know about. Statistics say that a typical fraud lasts as long as 18 months before it is discovered. With proper investigative research, you can uncover fraud sooner – and hopefully prevent the next one.

Discovering IP Theft

Intellectual property (IP) theft is a serious threat to any organisation. Unfortunately, trying to counteract it can be a slow and expensive process. Using proper investigative research by an expert provider like CRI Group can help uncover cases of IP theft and help you begin the process of securing your property.

Did you know how many types of IP theft are out there? In today’s high-tech world, your organisation can’t afford not to protect its IP assets. Through IP infringement investigations, our experts have helped uncover the following:

Trade secret breaches
Data breaches and IP leaks
Patent investigations
Theft of proprietary customer data
Copyright abuse
Unauthorised use of trademarks
Counterfeit & pirated products
Threats to brand integrity and reputation
Brand imitation & product copying

Uncovering conflicts of interest

Conflicts of interest can cause serious harm and weaken your organisation. They can impact your bottom line, such as when an executive awards business to a colleague or friend at higher prices or partners with an unethical or disreputable third party. Investigative research provides extensive due diligence, looking deep into partnerships and vendors to uncover potential conflicts of interest.

Some of the scenarios CRI® Group’s experts have discovered:

Criminal conduct and background issues
Hidden assets
Shell companies
Unethical partnerships
Bid-rigging
Hidden financial interests among executives or management

Investigative research is critical in helping your organisation stay on top of any issues before spiral out of control. And as an effective tool for risk management, it helps you put preventative measures in place for the future. In business, the more you know the facts, the better positioned you will be. Contact CRI® Group to learn more about how investigative research can help your organisation today.

Who is CRI® Group?

Based in London, CRI® Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, Due Diligence, Compliance Solutions and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. We have the largest proprietary network of background-screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are, we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI® Group also holds BS 102000:2013 and BS 7858:2012 Certifications; it is also an HRO certified provider and an Oracle partner.

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Mexico’s Government Is Blocking Anti-Corruption

While many countries and their leaders are making strides against fraud and corruption, some national governments can’t seem to get out of their own way. Such appears to be the case right now in Mexico, where the Mexican government is accused of blocking its own anti-corruption initiatives that were launched earlier this year.

According to an article in The New York Times, “Mexico’s Government Is Blocking Its Own Anti-Corruption Drive, Commissioners Say,” members of a commission put in charge of the anti-corruption effort allege that their efforts to investigate various scandals are being thwarted by the government. As the article reports:

Marred by scandals that have embroiled his administration, his allies and even his own family, Mr. Peña Nieto agreed to the creation of a broad anti-corruption system last year that was enshrined in the Constitution, a watershed moment in Mexico.

But after nine months of pushing to examine the kind of corruption that ignited public outrage and brought the new watchdog into existence, some of its most prominent members say they have been stymied every step of the way, unable to make the most basic headway. At least one of the commissioners quoted in the article is entirely frank as to why they think the government is throwing up road blocks. And it’s more insidious than run-of-the-mill bureaucratic stalling.

“They are panicked that maybe we will go too hard and unravel something, find individuals responsible for corrupt acts,” José Octavio López said. He worked in the administration the last time Mr. Peña Nieto’s party held the presidency, in the 1990s, and is now part of the new National Anti-Corruption System.

“They are used to appointing someone they control,” Mr. López said of the government. But when officials learned that he and others on the new commission wanted to act with impartial independence, he added, “they didn’t like that.”

The fact is that corruption ranks among the worst problems around the world, affecting business, governments, economies and populations. Despite Mexico’s current problems, countries in all corners of the globe are enacting more stringent laws and regulations to try and stem the tide of criminal behavior and financial loss.

CRI Group’s experts have worked with clients at all stages of the process – from conducting due diligence and putting controls in place to protect against fraud and meet compliance requirements, to being called in after-the-fact when fraud has already occurred. Any business leader will attest that the former is a much better situation than the latter. Trying to recover lost funds, repair a damaged reputation and rebuild a business that has been devastated by fraud is a long an uphill battle.

That’s why CRI Group is designed to help organisations be proactive in preventing and detecting fraud and corruption. In 2016, the company launched ABAC® Center of Excellence (ABACGroup.com) – an independent certification body established for ISO 37001:2016 ABMS. The Center provides ISO 37001 training, and its certification services are accredited by the Emirates International Accreditation Center (EIAC).

ABAC® Center of Excellence is made up of experienced experts that have tailored many of the world’s prominent standards, and our tutors will turn you into a professional in embedding it to boost your company to its peak in performance. At ABAC® CoE, we provide you training to constantly enhance your knowledge and task your agents to improve more with following subjects:

ABAC Certification

ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management System Certification
ISO 31000:2009 Risk Management Standard
ISO 19600:2014 Compliance Management System (CMS) Standard

ABAC Training

ISO 37001:2016 Lead Auditor Training
ISO 37001:2016 Internal Auditor Training
ISO 37001:2016 Introductory Course

At ABAC Center od Excellence, we are immensely committed to the highest ethical standards. Our goal is to enact excellence a convention for companies worldwide. Corruption and fraud aren’t going to go away. And in spite of setbacks in Mexico and some other countries, new rules and regulations are being enforced every day around the world requiring that companies demonstrate integrity, ethical behavior and compliance.

ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management System certification is offered under CRI Group’s ABAC® Centre of Excellence, an independent certification body established for Anti-Bribery Management System training and certification, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and Risk Management System certification. The program will be tailored to your organisation’s needs and requirements. For assistance in developing and implementing a fraud prevention strategy, contact ABAC today or get a FREE QUOTE now!

Who is CRI Group?

Based in London, CRI Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, Due Diligence, Compliance Solutions and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. We have the largest proprietary network of background-screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI Group also holds BS 102000:2013 and BS 7858:2012 Certifications, is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle.

In 2016, CRI Group launched Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption (ABAC®) Center of Excellence – an independent certification body established for ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management Systems, ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems and ISO 31000:2018 Risk Management, providing training and certification. ABAC® operates through its global network of certified ethics and compliance professionals, qualified auditors and other certified professionals. As a result, CRI Group’s global team of certified fraud examiners work as a discreet white-labelled supplier to some of the world’s largest organisations. Contact ABAC® for more on ISO Certification and training.

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Rio de Janeiro law demonstrates

The time is quickly coming to an end when companies could expect to be successful in business without having a strong emphasis on compliance and ethics. The latest evidence of that is the fact that in Brazil, which has been stricken with high-profile fraud scandals in recent years, a new rule requires any companies doing business with the state of Rio de Janeiro to implement an integrity program.

This goes a clear step further than more broad regulations that require compliance programs as a factor of consideration. The Rio de Janeiro law mandates that companies have such programs in place if they contract with the state, or face legal consequences.

According to an article at Global Compliance News, “Brazil: New mandatory compliance programs between companies and Rio de Janeiro State,” the new measure has the following aims:

The law sets forth that its goal is to protect the public administration from irregularities, guarantee that the contracts are executed in compliance with the applicable laws, minimise risks, bring more transparency to contracts and improve the quality of contractual relations.

The law follows the Brazilian Anti-Bribery Law, and “mandates the existence of a compliance program in companies which enter into contracts, partnerships, concessions, or public-private partnerships, with the public administration of the state of Rio de Janeiro, in amounts higher than the legal threshold for the public tender category of competitive tender …” It applies to the following:

Business organisations and sole proprietorships, incorporated or not, regardless of the type of organisation or the corporate model adopted.
Foundations, associations of entities or persons.
Foreign companies with headquarters, branch or representation in the Brazilian territory, incorporated legally or not, even if temporarily.

There is no reason to think that the State of Rio de Janeiro will be the last to institute a strict law of this nature. That is just one of the reasons why CRI Group is helping organisations around the world develop and enhance their own compliance and due diligence programs.

Our CRI Certification program provides certification and continuous training to constantly enhance your knowledge and expand your employees’ skills and understanding of third-party risk management, compliance, anti-bribery and anti-corruption methods and best practices, and helps you stay in compliance with international laws and regulations, as well as local rules such as Rio de Janeiro’s mandatory compliance requirement.

Accredited certification and training

CRI’s Certification body, ABAC Center of Excellence, provides certification and training to businesses seeking to validate or expand their existing compliance frameworks by implementing the latest in best practice due diligence processes and procedures necessary for pursuing and maintaining global third-party affiliations.

ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management System Certification
ISO 31000:2009 Risk Management Standard
ISO 19600:2014 Compliance Management Standard

ISO 37001 Training options

The ABAC Center of Excellence is made up of experienced experts that have tailored many of the world’s prominent standards and our tutors will turn you into a professional in embedding it to boost your company to its peak in performance. At ABAC Center of Excellence, we provide you training to constantly enhance your knowledge and task your agents to improve more with following subjects:

ISO 37001:2016 Lead Auditor Training
ISO 37001:2016 Internal Auditor Training
ISO 37001:2016 Introductory Course
ISO 37001:2016 Impact on Business

ISO 37001 Benefits to You

Provides training with cutting-edge methods and best practices for your team
Curriculum is tailored to your organisation’s needs, and on your schedule
Increases your organisation’s reputation and transparency among stakeholders and partners

Be proactive in keeping your organisation ahead of the curve with new laws and regulations everywhere – and anywhere – you conduct business. Contact ABAC Center of Excellence today and learn how we can help.

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Ethics and Compliance Hotline: your frequently asked questions answered…

Ethics hotlines are growing in popularity. In 2017 the South Africa Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba announced over 3,000 officials were found guilty of misconduct related to cases reported via the National Anti-Corruption Hotline (NACH). “The closure rate underscores a commitment by government departments to investigate allegations of corruption as reported through the NACH.” Ethics and compliance hotlines work! Organizations must have an ethics and compliance hotline to help promote the organization’s code of conduct and nurture a culture of honesty and accountability.

Don’t opt out of an ethics hotline

The 2019 Global Business Ethics Survey found that more reports of misconduct were made to direct supervisors (a median of 51 per cent) compared to hotlines (6 per cent). However, it is still crucial to have an Ethics and Compliance Hotline. Why? Having an ethics and compliance hotline shows employees that the business leaders genuinely want to hear from them, making it a great employee relations tool.

The ethics and compliance hotline is an anonymous reporting mechanism. So when the normal channels of communication fail, a hotline can facilitate any flagging. They provide an accessible way for employees to report potential wrongdoing, possibly illegal, unethical, or improper. A company can better protect itself from fraud, learn of employee misconduct and proactively mitigate any corruption-related risk. Despite industry or size, any organisation should be 110% committed to having an open dialogue on ethical dilemmas regardless.

CRI® Group encourages everyone to report any wrongdoing. We believe that everyone should have a voice and protect themselves, colleagues and the organizations that they work for. Everyone must seek to maintain transparency to comply with the code of conduct and compliance regulations. If your organization considers an ethics and compliance hotline, here are some must-knows.

Who can report? And what can you report?

All individuals – employees, clients, contractors, vendors and others in a business relationship with you or your organization – have a duty and responsibility to report any known or suspected noncompliant behavior or violations of any regulatory mandates and/or local policies, including but not limited to:

Ethical standards violations;
Violation of laws and company policy and internal control;
Risk and safety;
Theft, embezzlement or misappropriate of assets and fraud;
Bribery and corruption;
Employee rights, employee relations, work environment;
Privacy laws or security of personal information;
Discrimination;
A dispute related to a supervisor, HR and other departments;
Physical and verbal harassment in the workplace;
Issues related to job responsibilities;
The report related to a suspicious activity being a witness; and/or
Unfair dismissals.

How to report?

You can report your concern using the Ethics and Compliance hotlines at any time, 24/7. And an effective Ethics & Compliance Hotline should allow reporting via phone, email, web-based compliant forms and even walk-ins.

How does it work?

This will depend on your organization structure; however, if you allow reporting directly by telephone, the caller should speak with the Compliance Department directly. The caller can remain anonymous or may want follow-up, in which case(s) he will give contact details. If the individual submits a report online, the system should guide the individual through the reporting process, and a PIN number will be generated automatically once they complete the report. The compliance department specialist who receives the tip is then in charge of validating it. This compliance officer typically receives special training on gathering enough information to ensure the complaint is credible. The tip is then routed to the right department within the organisation, such as audit, legal, or human resources.

What is the process of the investigation?

The Compliance Department or Committee should then review the report and conduct an investigation. The investigation may include an interview with relevant witnesses review of records, computers, telephones and other equipment per relevant personal data regulations. The reported individual will be able to follow the status of the case and communicate with the Compliance by giving their case number. However, no party can contact the individual directly if you have chosen to remain anonymous. The investigation conclusions and recommendations are reported to Management.

Can we generate anonymous reporting?

Yes, if the individual wishes to remain anonymous when reporting their concern, they can. However, you should encourage the individual to identify themselves where/when possible, enabling your organization to investigate the report more effectively. If they provide their names, your compliance department should protect their confidentiality to the greatest extent possible during the investigation. The organization should have a Non-Retaliation and Whistleblower Policy to help ease the process.

What is a Non-Retaliation Policy?

While on the surface, hotlines may seem a convenient option to receive employee complaints, tips or concerns, often, it’s the process that surrounds the hotline which can determine whether it ultimately succeeds or fails. Areas such as employee relations are particularly challenging for anonymous tips. An organisation needs to have a whistleblower process in place – this is a critical component of any compliance monitoring system. It enables companies to identify and mitigate potential risks early before they impact operations, reputation and ultimately, financial performance.

How can we make sure they deliver a credible report?

When reporting an issue, encourage individuals to ensure that they provide as much relevant information as possible, for example, the names of persons involved in the alleged conduct, potential witnesses, appropriate documentation or data, visual evidence etc. Provide them with forms that allow them to understand what they need to submit a credible report, with the appropriate questions and empty spaces for further feedback, including the ability to upload any initial profs. This will allow your Compliance to effectively follow up on the case.

What makes a successful implementation?

A strong and clear message is delivered to employees and stakeholders by a senior individual who champions the overall programme.
A clear understanding of how best to engage with your employees at all levels and in all countries. Remember to take into account country and cultural differences.
A robust internal process to deal with reported issues as laid out in your code of conduct policy or ethics programme.

Are you addressing corporate Compliance?

Prove that your business is ethical. Find out if your organisation’s compliance program aligns with worldwide Compliance, Business Ethics, Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Frameworks. Complete our FREE Highest Ethical Business Assessment (HEBA) and evaluate your current Corporate Compliance Program. Let our experts prepare a complimentary gap analysis of your compliance program to evaluate if it meets “adequate procedures” requirements under the UK Bribery Act, DOJ’s Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs Guidance and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission.

Find out what’s a Gap Analysis and why do you need it?

Report with CRI® Group!

If you find yourself in an ethical dilemma or suspect inappropriate or illegal conduct, feel uncomfortable reporting through normal channels of communication, or wish to raise the issue anonymously, use the reporting process in this Code of Conduct, including the Compliance Hotline. The Compliance Hotline is a secure and confidential reporting channel managed by an independent provider. When reporting a concern in good faith, you will be protected by the CRI® Group Non-Retaliation Policy.

REPORT NOW!

CRI® will not accept any retaliation or discrimination against any employee or external stakeholder who uses our Compliance Hotline in good faith or participates in an investigation. Any employee who breaches the policy will be subject to disciplinary actions. If you wish to learn more just have a look at our article on Ethical code of conduct: What should be covered?

About us…

Based in London, CRI® Group works with companies across the Americas, Europe, Africa, Middle East and Asia-Pacific as a one-stop international Risk Management, Employee Background Screening, Business Intelligence, Due Diligence, Compliance Solutions and other professional Investigative Research solutions provider. We have the largest proprietary network of background screening analysts and investigators across the Middle East and Asia. Our global presence ensures that no matter how international your operations are, we have the network needed to provide you with all you need, wherever you happen to be. CRI® Group also holds BS102000:2013 and BS7858:2019 Certifications and is an HRO certified provider and partner with Oracle.

Meet the CEO

Zafar I. Anjum is Group Chief Executive Officer of CRI® Group (www.crigroup.com), a global supplier of investigative, forensic accounting, business due to diligence and employee background screening services for some of the world’s leading business organisations. Headquartered in London (with a significant presence throughout the region) and licensed by the Dubai International Financial Centre-DIFC, the Qatar Financial Center – QFC, and the Abu Dhabi Global Market-ADGM, CRI® Group safeguard businesses by establishing the legal Compliance, financial viability, and integrity levels of outside partners, suppliers and customers seeking to affiliate with your business. CRI® Group maintains offices in UAE, Pakistan, Qatar, Singapore, Malaysia, Brazil, China, the USA, and the United Kingdom.

Contact CRI® Group to learn more about its 3PRM-Certified™ third-party risk management strategy program and discover an effective and proactive approach to mitigating the risks associated with corruption, bribery, financial crimes and other dangerous risks posed by third-party partnerships.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Zafar Anjum, MSc, MS, CFE, CII, MICA, Int. Dip. (Fin. Crime) | CRI® Group Chief Executive Officer

37th Floor, 1 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London, E14 5AA United Kingdom

t: +44 207 8681415 | m: +44 7588 454959 | e: zanjum@crigroup.com

Filed under: All Industries, All Regions, All Solutions, Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption Solution, Compliance Solution, CRI News, Global, ISO 37001, Leadership Insights, Resources by admin
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Move Over, ID Theft – Here’s the New No. 1 Fraud

From CBS News

Beware of bogus IRS agents, fake offers of tech support – in other words, impostors. They’ve overtaken identity thieves to become the nation’s top fraudsters, according to the latest consumer complaint data.

The Federal Trade Commission’s Consumer Sentinel project, which tallies up the number and type of consumer complaints received each year, reported more than 3 million of them in 2016. Debt collection remains the No. 1 gripe, accounting for some 28 percent of reported complaints. However, the bulk of debt-collection complaints involve overly aggressive collection tactics, not fraud.

Read the full article.

Staying one step ahead of any critical risk to your organisation is part of being an effective business leader. Contact us today to get started on implementing a robust program that will serve you well for years to come. Get your FREE QUOTE now!

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Filed under: Anti-Bribery Anti-Corruption Solution, Resources by admin
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Structure of ISO management system standards

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) defines a management system as a set of procedures an organisation needs to follow to meet its objectives. A management system standard provides a model to follow when setting up and operating a management system. Some of the top-level benefits of a successful management system include:

Enhanced use of resources;
Improved risk management; and
Increased customer satisfaction by meeting product/service expectations

ISO has published many management system standards for topics ranging from quality and environment to information security and business continuity management. For this reason, and to help accomplish their business objectives, most organisations have more than one management system standard in place. With this comes a need to integrate and combine the standards effectively because uncoordinated systems take up extra time and resources.

Most organisations have more than one management system standard. Existing management system standards often have different structures, requirements and terminology, so integration is challenging. Uncoordinated systems take up extra time and resources. At CRI® Group, we can help you address this problem. Adopting these standards together in an integrated way will produce less duplication, confusion, and misunderstandings by ISO 31000, ISO 37001 and ISO 19600.

Management system auditors use a core set of generic requirements across disciplines and industry sectors. In the future, all ISO management system standards will have the same high-level structure, identical core text, as well as common terms and definitions:

Clause 1: Scope

It sets out the intended outcomes of the management system. The outcomes are industry-specific and should be aligned with the organisation’s context (see clause 4).

Clause 2: Normative references

This section provides the reference standards or publications relevant to the particular standard.

Clause 3: Terms and definitions

The clause explains terms and definitions applicable to the specific standard and any formal related terms and definitions standard.

Clause 4: Context of the organisation

Clause 4 has four subclauses: 4.1) Understanding the organisation and its context; 4.2) Understanding the needs and expectations of stakeholders; 4.3) Determining the scope of the management system; and 4.4) The management system. The section describes why the organisation exists. The organisation needs to identify internal and external issues that can impact its intended outcomes and all stakeholders and their expectations. It also needs to document its scope and set the boundaries of the management system.

Clause 5: Leadership

Top management is accountable for all management systems. They need to integrate the management system into the core business process, ensure the system achieves its intended outcomes and allocate the necessary resources. Top management is also responsible for communicating the importance of the system to heighten employee awareness and involvement. Clause 5 has three sub-clauses: 5.1) Leadership and commitment; 5.2) Policy; and 5.3) Organisational roles, responsibilities and authorities.

Clause 6: Planning

Having identified risks and opportunities, the organisation needs to specify how these risks will be managed. The management system’s objectives should be measurable, monitored, communicated, aligned to the system’s policy and updated when needed. This proactive approach replaces preventive actions and reduces the need for corrective actions later. Clause 6 has two sub-clauses: 6.1) Actions to address risks and opportunities, and 6.2) Management system objectives and planning to achieve them.

Clause 7: Support

After addressing the context, commitment and planning, organisations need to look at the support needed to meet their goals and objectives. This includes resources, targeted internal and external communications, and documented information that replaces previously used terms such as documents, documentation and records. Clause 7 has five sub-clauses: 7.1) Resources; 7.2) Competence; 7.3) Awareness; 7.4) Communication; 7.5) Documented information.

Clause 8: Operation

The bulk of the management system requirements specific to the topic under consideration is within this single clause. Clause 8 addresses both in-house and outsourced processes. In contrast, overall management of the process includes adequate criteria to control these processes and ways to manage planned and unintended change. Clause 8 has only one sub-clause: 8.1) Operational planning and control.

Clause 9: Performance evaluation

Decisions are required on how performance will be monitored, measured, analysed and evaluated. Internal audit activities are part of the process to ensure the management system conforms to the organisation’s requirements and is successfully implemented and maintained. Management review evaluates whether the management system is suitable, adequate and effective. Clause 9 has three subclauses: 9.1) Monitoring, measurement, analysis and evaluation; 9.2) Internal audit; 9.3) Management review;

Clause 10: Improvement

The requirement for continual improvement in performance and enhanced delivery of stakeholder expectations should be embedded in all management system standards. Clause 10 has two sub-clauses: 10.1) Non-conformity and corrective action, and 10.2) Continual improvement. Clause 10 looks at ways to address non-conformities and corrective action, as well as strategies for improvement continually.

At CRI® Group, our experts can help your organisation implement ISO 37001, ISO 31000, and ISO 19600 seamlessly integrate these management systems. This is the most effective way to reap the benefits of these world-class standards, with Training and best practices that position your organisation to mitigate risk and create actionable systems for increased success.

What are the ISO certification & Training benefits?

When your organisation decides to become certified in ISO 37001, ISO 31000, and ISO 19600, numerous benefits come with implementing these management standards.

Get government tenders: ISO certification is now required in most government tenders.
Build credibility internationally: ISO certification helps your organisation gain credibility to build an overseas business.
Better customer satisfaction: ISO standards enable an organisation to serve their customers better and increase customer satisfaction. ISO certification enhances customer satisfaction by meeting customer requirements.
Improve product quality: Since product quality matches the international level, this can reduce the risk of order rejections due to the flaw in the product.
Improve business efficiency: ISO certification implementation enhances the functional efficiency of an organisation. ISO implementations help you manage your resources effectively, as you become able to use all your resources to their maximum extent. ISO certification helps you develop SOPs and work Instructions for all your processes.
Improve marketability: ISO certification helps improve business credibility with current and new clients, which leads to creating a niche market for your business.

Our ISO solutions (certification and Training) are offered through our ABAC® Center of Excellence. Powered by CRI® Group, ABAC® educates, equips and supports the world’s leading business organisations with the latest best-in-practice risk assessments, performance assessments, systems improvement and standards certification. Find out how ABAC® can help your business!

Address bribery and corruption in all its forms with ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management System

To help combat the threat of bribery and corruption, ISO issued the ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management System (ABMS) standard to help businesses, nonprofits, and governmental agencies reduce their risk of bribery and corruption by establishing, implementing, maintaining and improving an anti-bribery management system. This is critically important, as bribery and corruption can lead to criminal punishments, fines, regulatory action, lowered employee morale and damage to reputation.

The benefits are immediate when an organisation decides to move forward with ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management System training and certification. That’s because ISO 37001 puts methods in place that do the following:

Ensure that your organisation is implementing a viable anti-bribery management system using widely accepted controls and systems.
Give your company the tools it needs to prevent bribery and mitigate related risks.
Provide assurance to management, investors, business associates, personnel and other stakeholders that the organisation is actively pursuing internationally recognised and accepted processes to prevent bribery and corruption.
Help your company create better business partnerships with entities that recognise your certified status, including supply chain manufacturing, joint ventures, pending acquisitions and co-marketing alliances.
Potentially reduce corporate insurance premiums.
Provide your customers, stakeholders, employees and partners with confidence in your business operations and ethics
Provide a competitive edge over non-certified organisations in your industry or niche
Provide acceptable evidence to prosecutors or courts that the organisation has taken reasonable steps to prevent bribery and corruption

ISO 37001 certifies that your organisation has implemented reasonable and proportionate measures which prevent, detect and respond to bribery and comply with anti-bribery laws, internally and externally (i.e. agents, consultants, suppliers, distributors and other third parties). These measures involve top-level leadership, Training, bribery risk assessment, due diligence adequacy, financial and commercial controls, reporting, audit and investigation. Learn more about ISO 37001 standard today. Learn more about ISO 37001 ABMS

Leverage ISO 31000:2018 to improve your business continuity management program

ISO developed the 31000:2018 Risk Management Standard to help organisations address operational continuity and provide confidence and reassurance in your organisation’s economic resilience, professional reputation and environmental and safety outcomes. Like most ISO management standards, ISO 31000 can be tailored to your organisation to help achieve the best results. ISO 31000 Risk Management provides principles, a framework and a process for managing risk. Public, private, and community enterprises can all benefit from ISO 31000 because it covers most business activities, including research, planning, management and communications. Implementing ISO 31000 can help organisations increase the likelihood of achieving objectives, identify opportunities and threats and effectively allocate and use resources for risk treatment.

Being ISO 31000 certified means protecting your organisation from potential risks that could endanger the operational efficiency, governance, and stakeholders’ confidence. It will help strengthen and achieve the strategic objectives of your organisation by establishing a risk-based system of values, enabling your organisation to:

Enhanced risk management will support achieving goals & objectives
Reduce costs through proper risk management
Respond to change effectively & find viable solutions
Create and protect the value
Create a consistent basis for decision making & planning
Increase the likelihood of achieving objectives
Productively identify the opportunities and threats
Identify and mitigate the risk throughout the organisation
Gain stakeholder confidence and trust

Learn more about ISO 31000 Risk Management standard with our free playbook!

ISO 37301 standard provides a clear and comprehensive description of what the compliance function should be responsible for

ISO 37301:2021 provides guidance for establishing, developing, implementing, evaluating, maintaining and improving an organisation’s compliance management program. It covers all compliance-related issues, including anti-trust, fraud, misconduct, export control, anti-money laundering, and other unexpected risks which might aﬀect your business.

The standard acts as a global benchmark for eﬀective and responsive compliance management programs based on good governance and transparency principles. The guidelines set forth by the standard are applicable to all types and sizes of organisations and aren’t restricted by industry, risk exposure or geographic reach. The guidelines set forth in the internationally accepted ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems represent the first step in developing a framework that protects the organisation from falling victim to the many risks associated with corporate bribery and/or corruption. ISO 37301 standard provides a clear and comprehensive description of what the compliance function should be responsible for:

Identifying compliance obligations and translating those obligations into actionable policies and procedures
Integrating compliance obligations into existing practices and procedures
Analysing performance to identify the need for corrective actions
Providing or organising ongoing Training and support for employees regularly
Establishing compliance performance indicators, monitoring and measuring compliance performance
Providing objective advice to the organisation on compliance-related matters
Putting in place a compliance reporting & documenting system
Ensuring the compliance management system is reviewed regularly.
Developing & implementing processes for managing information (i.e. hotlines, whistleblowing reporting systems & other mechanisms)
Providing employees with access to resources on compliance procedures & references
Ensuring there is access to appropriate professional advice in the establishment, implementation and maintenance of the management system
Promoting the inclusion of compliance responsibilities into position descriptions & employee performance-management processes
Identifying compliance-related risks & managing resulting compliance obligations relating to third parties (i.e. suppliers, agents, distributors, consultants & contractors)

ISO 37301 Compliance Management Systems

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