Ever since its creation in 1987 the Guernsey Financial Services Commission (GFSC) has been part of the advance guard in the offshore world in developing financial regulation to prevent money-laundering and terrorism.  Its determination to raise and maintain standards has been been responsible, in large part, for the reputation of Guernsey as a jurisdiction in which the highest standards of financial regulation are maintained and where clients can also have confidence that their assets will be well looked after and protected.

Part of the GFSC's remit is to ensure that the Bailiwick's regulatory framework and practice meets international standards and the GFSC is a committed participant in discussions regarding those international standards.

It does so through membership of, or in association with, the following international organisations:

  • The International Organisation of Securities Commissions (IOSCO),
  • The International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) and the Group of International Insurance Centre Supervisors (GIICS),
  • The Group of International Finance Centre Supervisors (GIFCS),
  • The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) - through the United Kingdom's membership; and
  • The Council of Europe's Committee of Experts on the Evaluation of Anti-Money Laundering Measures and the Financing of Terrorism (MONEYVAL).

Furthermore through its membership of the Group of International Finance Centre Supervisors, it works with:-

  • The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BIS), and
  • The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on money laundering

The Commission is committed to international regulatory co-operation and is a signatory to the IOSCO and IAIS memorandums of understanding. It also has numerous bilateral regulatory co-operative agreements in place; and, through ESMA, has in place memorandums of understanding covering AIFMD with 27 members of the EEA.

Further to its commitment to developing and enhancing the regulatory regime in Guernsey the GFSC, in concert with local industry and in accordance with best practice, has produced a revised Handbook on Countering Financial Crime and Terrorist Financing (the Handbook). 

The Criminal Justice (Proceeds of Crime) (Bailiwick of Guernsey) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2018 was approved by the States of Guernsey in December 2018 and is set to come into force on 31 March 2019.  The new legislation represents a substantial revision of Guernsey's anti-money laundering and countering financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regime designed to satisfy the requirements of the 2012 Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the Guernsey specific recommendations made by MONEYVAL in 2016.  

In November 2018, a final draft of the revised Handbook was published and for all practical purposes, this document will be the key reference for the local financial industry. 

The GFSC has announced that in anticipation of the changes to the law it has already begun adopting the new rules to allow for technical issues which could lead to complications once the law is in force. Consequently, the new Handbook should already be the reference point for local business on all matters of AML/CFT and client due diligence (CDD). Below are the key changes to the Handbook and the operational changes that will likely be required in order to comply with the new framework.

Corporate Governance

There are minimal changes to the corporate governance chapter of the Handbook generally, but it adds scope to maintain effective policies, procedures and controls.  Notably, the GFSC has opted not to implement FATF recommendations to require firms to have an independent audit function to test AML/CFT policies.  In a subtle change however, the previously named "financial crime compliance officer" has been replaced with the "money laundering compliance officer" (MLCO) and his/her duties amended from "having oversight" to holding "responsibility for policies, procedures and controls to forestall, prevent and detect money laundering and the financing of terrorism".  Furthermore, any person employed as MLCO needs to have the necessary "knowledge, skill and experience" rather than simply be "qualified".  Despite appearances, these are material changes; reinforcing the GFSC's determination to hold MLCOs accountable for failings in their respective businesses.

Each firm must appoint an MLCO by 31 March 2019 and notify the GFSC of the appointment by 14 April 2019; however there is nothing in the new Handbook to prevent firms continuing to outsource this function.

Minor changes have also been made to the way firms may share information between subsidiaries and branches in a bid to ensure that Guernsey's most recent data protection law (drafted to be consistent with GDPR) takes precedence over the rules of the Handbook.

Risk-Based Approach

A significant change to the Handbook as a whole is the shift in focus towards a case-by-case determination of a firm's risk appetite as against the objectives of a firm's AML/CFT policies and the objectives of the law.  Guidance on risk-based assessments has been expanded to incorporate new concepts such as the accumulation of risk and weighting of risk factors which will assist in the assessment of each case. 

Firms will need to ensure that their risk assessment policies are updated in line with the revised Handbook.  All matters rated high-risk as at 31 March 2019 are required to be reviewed by the end of 2020 (with all other matters reviewed by the end of 2021) and firms will be expected to subject these matters to on-going review under the revised approach.  Where firms utilise IT systems to determine risk-ratings, such systems must be fully understood to ensure that ratings are generated in accordance with the updated policies.

A firm's Business Risk Assessment (BRA) may also require amending to ensure that assessments made in respect of money laundering, the financing of terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction are concluded separately and that all employees are informed of the BRA and risk appetite of the firm.  Each firm's BRA must be bespoke according to such firm's own risks and requirements.

Customer Due Diligence

Extensive additional guidance has been provided on the verification of identification documentation which each firm will need to ensure has been incorporated into their client take-on procedures.  The beneficial ownership provisions have also been extended but firms already compliant with the current requirements under the beneficial ownership of legal persons regime should have little difficulty in meeting the standard of the Handbook.

Enhanced measures replace additional CDD and are now required automatically for all relevant business that involves a non-Guernsey resident customer, banking services, a legal person or arrangement used for personal asset holding purposes and nominee share ownership and bearer share ownership.  There is substantial guidance on the steps required and the circumstances for which they apply in the Handbook. The aim however is risk mitigation and the move away from advanced levels of CDD only in high risk rated matters to ensuring the due diligence process can assist in an early understanding of each business relationship in every case.

One key development is the extension of the meaning of a "politically exposed person" (PEP) and the extension to domestic PEPs; firms will need to ensure that the new definition of a PEP follows through into their internal procedures to ensure that enhanced due diligence is carried out as required.  There is a welcome means of declassifying PEPs where certain conditions are met.  Further, whilst enhanced CDD will always be required in respect of foreign PEPs, when dealing with domestic PEPs, firms may rely on local guidance to aid the risk approach which will not always be so onerous.

Other provisions

Whilst the basics remain broadly the same, firms will be interested in the developments to the guidance on intermediary relationships; the reporting of suspicion; sanctions; wire transfers; employee screening and training; and record keeping and will need to ensure updated policies and procedures reflect the revised approach.

What do you need to do?

The GFSC have provided deadlines for businesses to implement the revised Handbook.  Businesses should take the view that the new approach is already in force but key dates to remember are as follows:

14 April 2019 – notification must be made by this date to the GFSC of MLCO appointment (and MLRO appointment, where such appointment has changed).

31 July 2019 (or four months following the publication of the National Risk Assessment, if later) – revised BRAs must have been approved by each firm by this date.

31 December 2020 – all high-risk business arrangements must be reviewed in accordance with the new Handbook by this date.

31 December 2021 – all remaining business arrangements must be reviewed in accordance with the new Handbook by this date.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.