2020-04-30
The Insurance Authority issues this guide to mandate that insurance companies and related professionals establish robust internal control, compliance, and risk management frameworks. It requires entities to maintain accurate electronic registers, provide timely disclosures of governance changes and financial data, and submit annual self-assessments on governance and risk adherence. Furthermore, the document stipulates strict reporting obligations for internal audits and anti-money laundering controls, including specific deadlines for compliance officer reports and external auditor reviews.
A Guide to the Regulatory Information, Data and Reports to be provided by the Insurance Companies and Insurance-Related Professions
First: Introduction The procedures and operations of the internal control, compliance and risk management have developed from the traditional to the modern methods emanating from the global professional associations, which laid down the international standards of the internal control, compliance, risk management operations in terms of planning and undertaking such activates, so that those in charge of these operations would focus on the riskiest fields. The task of those employees can be summed up in ensuring that the operations, actions and procedures of the company in certain fields of the insurance industry are in line with the provisions in the State-enacted laws and, in particular, the laws, regulations, instructions and decisions of the Insurance Authority. The Authority assures that the higher management has the responsibility for taking all necessary actions that would ensure objective and professional work performed by the staff of the Internal Control, Compliance and Risk Management Departments, especially in relation to providing the information and data and facilitating their work. The Authority also emphasizes that the staff should necessarily perform their work with high professionality and objectivity free from any interest or pressure that would impact the integrity and impartiality of their reports.
General Provisions:
Second: Information Update
Third: The Disclosures of the Insurance Companies and the Insurance-Related Professionals:
Fourth: Reports on Governance and Adherence • The Self-Assessment Form and the Annual Report on Governance
Fifth: Internal Audit & Risk Management Reports • Internal Audit Reports
The insurance companies and the insurance-related professionals shall enable the internal audit staff to provide the Authority with the annual internal audit reports of the companies when the annual financial statements and reports are presented every year as well as Form No. ( 1 ) as hereto attached.
The internal audit report must comprise: a. An executive summary of the internal audit process. b. A short background. c. The objective and scope of participating in the audit. d. The methodology used. e. The main findings. f. The recommendations. g. The challenges.
The internal audit staff of the insurance companies and the insurance-related professionals must fill in the intended e-form of the internal audit report when they submit a copy of the annual internal audit report according to the Report Form No (2 )as hereto attached. • Risk Management Reports:
The insurance companies and the insurance-related professionals shall fill in the intended e-form of the risk management of the companies when the annual financial statements and reports are presented according to the Form No( 3 ) as hereto attached.
The insurance companies and the insurance-related professionals can provide the Authority with a copy of their risk management form which is associated with the e-report above. Sixth: The Reports on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Financing of Illegal Organizations:
The insurance companies and the insurance-related professionals shall appoint a Compliance Officer to combat money laundering and terrorism financing as required by the laws, regulations, instructions, decisions and circulars in force.
The insurance companies and the insurance-related professionals shall enable the staff specialized in anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism to perform their work and send the periodic reports to the Insurance Authority.
The Compliance Officers and the internal control staff must perform their work in a highly objective and professional way.
The insurance companies and the insurance-related professionals must shape policies and procedures for combating the financial crimes including money laundering and the financing of terrorism and illegal organizations.
The insurance companies and the insurance-related professionals shall present periodic reports as follows: a. The reports prepared by the Compliance Officers. b. The reports prepared by the internal control staff concerning the effective internal controls for anti-money laundering and combating terrorism financing. c. The report of the certified external auditor of the company concerning the effective internal controls for anti-money laundering and combating terrorism financing. d. The self-assessment reports prepared by the Compliance Officers including:
A biannual self-assessment report in the intended e-form of the Insurance Authority to be filed prior to the end of 15 August every year in the esystems of the Authority.
An annual self-assessment report in the intended e-form of the Insurance Authority to be filed prior to the end of 15 February every year in the esystems of the Authority. e. The Compliance Officers must attach their internal reports on the internal work policies, regulations and procedures to aforesaid electronic selfassessment reports according to the following determinants: • The regulations and policies on anti-money laundering and combating terrorism financing. • The internal regulations on the risk-based approach • Customer due diligence • • Enhanced customer due diligence. • Continuous due diligence. • The (STRs) uspicious Transaction Reports. • Compliance Officers. • Record keeping. • Training. f. All or any reports required by the Authority concerning the data and statistics on anti-money laundering and combating terrorism financing according to the Authority-set periods. g. The reports prepared by the internal audit staff concerning the effective internal controls for anti-money laundering and combating terrorism financing.
The internal control staff of the insurance companies and the insurance-related professionals must file an annual report by the end of April every year on reviewing the internal policies, regulation and procedures for anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism according to the intended EForm No (4 ) as hereto attached.
The internal audit report must contain: a. An executive summary of the internal auditing. b. A short background c. The objective and scope of participating in the audit d. The methodology used e. The main findings. f. The recommendations. g. The challenges.
The report prepared by the internal control staff must imply a comprehensive review of at least the following internal controls: a. The regulations and policies for anti-money laundering and combating terrorism financing . b. The internal regulations on the risk-based approach. c. Customer due diligence. d. The enhanced the customer due diligence. e. The continuous due diligence. f. The (STRs) Suspicious Transaction Reports. g. Record keeping. h. Training. i. All or any other additional controls.
The internal control staff can upload their report on reviewing the internal controls of the company associated with the e-report above.
The report of the certified external auditor of the company concerning the effective internal controls for anti-money laundering and combating terrorism financing shall be in accordance with the following: a. The insurance companies and the insurance-related professionals shall fill in the e-form of the annual report prepared by the company’s external auditor when the audited annual financial statements and reports are provided to the Authority in Form No. ( 5 ) as hereto attached. b. The Authority must be provided by the company with a copy of the duly signed report of the external auditor when the e-report above is presented provided that the report shall comprehensively review at the least the following internal controls: Scope Details Suspicious Transactions Reports
he/she comes to know about a suspicious operation, and freezes the transactions.
Verifying from the Compliance Officer if there are any suspicious or unusual transactions notified by the staff and if the FIU of the Central Bank of the UAE is notified of it after verifying that it is suspicious or unusual.
Obtaining STR and SAR records, it should be confirmed if such reports are urgently notified only to the FIU of the Central Bank of the UAE, (ensuring that the reports are not filed to another regulator).
Verifying from the Compliance Officer the applicable procedures to ensure that the higher management, officers and staff do not notify or inform by any (written or phone) means the (customer, the beneficiary or any related profession) about their information, notifying the relevant authorities and verifying that the company has policies, procedures, regulations and controls to prevent informing the customer in this event
Verifying if the examined samples imply any contact or refers to a communication with the customer to inform him/her/it that he/she/it is a suspect
Verifying that STR and SAR are timely filed to the FIU of the Central Bank of the UAE, describing the nature of the transactions which raise suspicion, and verifying if the notified transactions are timely frozen.
Verifying that the company has an activated account in “GOAML” and the number of STR and SAR sent to the FIU during the year. Compliance Officer - Verifying the documents of the appointment or assignment of any of the company’s employees as a (Compliance Officer) and requesting the documentary evidence of the appointment/assignment which were notified to the Insurance Authority
Verifying through the administrative structure that the (Compliance Office) filed his/her reports directly to the higher management of the company and that there are no other tasks assigned to the Compliance Officers
Ensuring that the Compliance Officer is responsible for all obligations in Article 21 of Cabinet Resolution No 10 of 2019 on the Executive Regulations of Federal Law No 20 of 2018 on AntiMoney Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Financing of Illegal Organizations
Verifying that the company asked the appointed external auditors to prepare and file a report on the compliance with Law on AntiMoney Laundering to the Insurance Authority by 30 April of the next year and that the findings of such report were received and addressed by the company.
Verifying the qualifications of the (Compliance Officer), (including the professional certificates and the training courses attended by the (Compliance Officer)
Verifying that the (Compliance Officer) files a biannual report to the higher management and the Insurance Authority. Due Diligence procedures
a) The company takes measures based upon premises to understand the ownership and nature of the corporate person b) The company ensures the nature and type of the business relationship, which is established with a natural or corporate person c) The company controls on a continuous basis the business relationship with its customers, to the effect that it verifies the transactions conducted to ensure that they are in accordance with KYC and the details of the customer business and its risks as well as the source of the funds, as required. 5) Verifying if the company enters into business with a customer by using a false name or with an unknown person or opening an account with a fictitious name and if the name of the account holder is in accordance with the identity card or a copy of the passport or the trade license and if the staff in charge verifies that such copies are authentic and signed. 6) Verifying from the staff of the company if the following procedures and terms are adopted and complied with: a. Applying the due diligence procedures to the current customers, if: (1) There is a substantial change in the nature or ownership of the customer (2) There is doubt about the correctness or accuracy of the information of the customer (3) A big transaction is about to be concluded with or for the customer (4) There is another reason that may be held adequate by the company b. If the company is unable to identify the customer by a reliable and independent source of information, the company must:
Enhanced Due Diligence Performing all obligations for “Know Your Customer”, customer due diligence and enhanced due diligence, as set out in Cabinet Resolution No 10 of 2019 of the Executive Regulations of Federal Law No 20 of 2018 on Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Financing of Illegal Organizations
The number of the years of maintaining the documents (in the event of a court case and after the end of the court case or in the event that there is no legal action)
The existing transaction details (type, sum, etc.), including whether an STR or SAR is notified
The method of maintaining the data (in soft or hard files)
The existing system for document maintenance
If the system includes the dates of the commencement and end of the business relationship
In the event of notifying STR or SAR, whether the database contains a request from the FIU and what is the timeframe of dealing with such requests
The minimum requirements for storing (soft and hard) records, which may include the safety and the availability of the data in the event of a crisis Risk-Based Approach The company relays on a risk-based approach, which includes:
Assessing the risks of money laundering and financing of terrorism faced by the company, including a. The type of the company’s customers (and the purpose of the relationship) b. The products and services provided by the Company (and their objective) c. The technology used by the company (and the objective of this use) to provide such products and services
Establishing the required procedures for mitigating such risks
The existing classification and description of the risks of the business relationship, taking into consideration at least four risk factors of this business relationship: customer risk, product risk, operational risk and competent department risks Policies & Procedures Ensuring that the policies and procedures:
Are authenticated and approved for anti-money laundering and combating terrorism financing.
Include specified actions and standards for identifying the customers with high risk.
Include a specified and periodic mechanism for updating the lists of terrorism in Cabinet Resolution No 20 of 2019 and informing the regulator if the case is identified
Include the standards for notifying STR or SAR, (including the notification timeframe).
Require a timeframe for the regular update of the policies and procedures
Performing by the internal auditor a regular audit of the procedures for anti-money laundering and combating terrorism financing, which are adopted by the departments of the company
Verifying if the company adopts a policy for periodically reviewing the sufficient customer due diligence and enhanced due diligence for the customers and ultimate beneficiary owner and ensures a continuous update of the information, particularly, about the customers with high risk.
Verifying that the company adopts a process for periodically and regularly updating the tests of AML diligence.
AML Systems & Control Verifying that:
Internal Audit Report Form number (1) Internal Audit report for “name of insurance company “ Period of review: Timeframe of the review Date of Final Report: Date of submission to the Mgt. Name of Auditors Names of auditors involved
1- Executive Summary This section should contain the following • A brief background; • Objective and the scope of audit engagement; • Methodology; • Key findings; • Opinion; • Recommendations; • Limitations 2- Background This section should contain the following; • A brief background on the auditee; • Brief description of duties/functions of auditee; 3- Objective and Scope • Elaborate on the objective and scope of audit engagement and period covered by the current audit. 4- Methodology • This section should explain the methodology adopted to conduct internal audit vis-à-vis interview, observation, sampling, sample size and others used for test checking records, number of records checked, type of records checked. 5- Recommendations • This section will contain general recommendations if any that could not be covered as part of recommendations in the specific audit observations. 6- Conclusion • This section should constitute the auditors’ overall opinion about the functioning of the auditee unit with respect the overall objective of the audit engagement. • The strength of the auditee agency may be highlighted in this section along the areas needing attention and corrective action. 7- References This section should list all publish or unpublished materials used and referred in coming with the Internal Audit Report. 8- Limitations • Describe all your limitations in here. The limitations can be related to scope of the audit, methodology adopted, adequacy of the samples and adaptation of standards.
Form number (2) Internal Audit Report FINDING POTENTIAL EFFECT RECOMMENDATION PRIORITY * MANAGEMENT RESPONSE TARGET DATE Priority ratings have been assigned to issues raised in this report as follows: *PRIORITY OF INDIVIDUAL RECOMMENDATIONS Extreme Priority. Internal Audit considers the implementation of this recommendation to be fundamental to the proper working of the system. It should normally be carried out within 1 month of the report’s issue HIGH Internal Audit considers the implementation of this recommendation to be important to the proper functioning of the system. It should be carried out normally within 3 months of the report’s issue. MEDIUM Internal Audit considers that it would be aided or improved by its implementation. It should normally be carried out normally within 6 months of the report’s issue. LOW The system’s effective operation may not depend upon this recommendation, but Internal Audit considers that it would be aided or improved by its implementation. It should normally be carried out normally more than 6 months of the report’s issue.
Form number (3) Risk Assessment as of [DATE] Identified Risks and Schemes Likelihood Significance Risk Rating Controls Effectiveness Assessment Residual Risks Risk Response (List an action plan on how each residual risk will be mitigated) Insurance risk Credit risk Market risk Operational risk Regulatory risk Contagion and related party risk Financial crime risk Cyber risk Strategic risk Regulatory Risk
Likelihood Rating Based on Annual Frequency Based on Annual Probability of Occurrence Descriptor Definition Descriptor Definition 5 Very frequent More than twenty times per year Almost certain >90% chance of occurrence 4 Frequent Six to twenty times per year Likely 65% to 90% chance of occurrence 3 Reasonably frequent Two to five times per year Reasonably possible 35% to 65% chance of occurrence 2 Occasional Once per year Unlikely 10% to 35% chance of occurrence 1 Rare Less than once per year Remote < 10% chance of occurrence Significance Rating Descriptor 5 Catastrophic 4 Major 3 Moderate 2 Minor 1 Incidental
Control Effectiveness Control Risk Rating Description 5 Very effective (reduces 81–100% of the risk) 4 Effective (reduces 61–80% of the risk) 3 Moderately effective (reduces 41–60% of the risk) 2 Marginally effective (reduces 21–40% of the risk) 1 Not effective (reduces 0–20% of the risk) OVERALL ASSURANCE FULL “ Very effective” Full assurance that the system of internal control is designed to meet the organisation’s objectives and controls are consistently applied in all the areas reviewed SIGNIFICANT “ Effective” Significant assurance that there is a generally sound system of control designed to meet the organisation’s objectives. However, some weakness in the design or inconsistent application of controls put the achievement of particular objectives at risk. LIMITED “ Moderately effective” Limited assurance as generally moderate sound system in the design or inconsistent application of controls put the achievement of the organisation’s objectives at risk in the areas reviewed. Very LIMITED “ Marginally effective” Limited assurance as weaknesses in the design or inconsistent application of controls put the achievement of the organisation’s objectives at risk in the areas reviewed. NO ASSURANCE No assurance as weaknesses in control or consistent non-compliance with key controls could result (have resulted) in failure to achieve the organisation’s objectives in the areas reviewed.
Residual Risks for individual findings High Active management attention required as a high priority. Controls are not adequate to address the associated risk. Medium Active management attention required as a moderate priority. Controls are not adequate to address the associated risk. Low Active management attention not required on priority. Controls are more or less adequate to address the associated risk.
Form number (4) Internal Audit Report Controls Findi ng Potential effect Recommendation Priority Management response Target date Effectiveness From (1-5) AML/CFT systems Policies and procedures Risk-Based Approach ("RBA") Customer Due Diligence – CDD Suspicious Transaction reports Record Keeping Training AML Officer , Compliance Officer Ongoing monitoring Enhanced Due Diligence ("EDD") ETC….
Form number (5) External Audit Report Procedures FINDING Effectiveness From )1-5) Risk-Based Approach ("RBA") Customer Due Diligence - CDD Suspicious Transaction reports Record Keeping Training AML Officer , Compliance Officer Ongoing monitoring Enhanced Due Diligence ("EDD") ETC….