MLRO Responsibilities & Challenges in a Complex Regulatory Landscape

Speaker

Shawki Ahwash
About The Speaker

Shawki is a former banker with 20+ years of experience spanning multiple areas like cross-border payments and investigations, trade finance, customer onboarding and KYC operations, correspondent banking, and last but not least AML/CFT & sanctions.

In his compliance function, Shawki assumed the role of Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) and head of sanctions division for 10 years within Lebanese banking sector.

In parallel, Shawki is a university lecturer, speaker, and trainer at: Union of Arab Banks (UAB), ACAMS, Romanian Banking Institute (RBI-Bucharest), OECD/Paris, Governance Dynamics (UAE), General Council for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions (CIBAFI)-Bahrain, Emirates Institute of Finance (EIF-UAE), and other institutions tasked with countering money laundering, terrorist financing, sanctions evasion, & proliferation finance.

Moreover, he is adjunct trainer at PwC’s academy Middle East in Dubai & has been contracted as subject matter expert with other big 4 consultancy firms in London and KSA to render AFC services in different aspects. Shawki
is Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) and Certified Global Sanctions Specialist (CGSS) from ACAMS. He is also an ACAMS faculty
member accredited and authorized to deliver CAMS & CGSS training.

Among his other certifications, Shawki holds Combating Financial Crime (CFC) certificate from Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI)-UK.

Upcoming Event

MLRO Responsibilities & Challenges in a Complex Regulatory Landscape ( 10 hrs CPD)

  • 19th January 2026
  • 9 am to 1 pm
  • 20th & 21st January 2026
  • 9 am to 12 pm
  • Online
  • Rs 9,000 (MQA approved & HRDC refundable)
Register Now

Course Overview

Given the plethora of compliance tasks and responsibilities that MLROs need to shoulder in such a complex regulatory landscape, this course wi l walk attendees through in-depth view of the modern role and chalenges faced by MLROs in FIs.

Course Objectives

The course will aim at providing participants with the necessary tools and insights on how to cope and carry out successfuly the complex mandates of the compliance functions in order to protect the integrity of their institutions. In addition to the above-mentioned themes, the course wi l also offer a deep dive into evolving sanctions risks, new AML/CFT requirements for investment advisers and company service providers, and managing financial crime risks. Finaly, the course wi l address the reporting lines of the MLRO with competent authorities and board of directors as wel as shed light on how to manage blocked assets & dig for the ultimate beneficial owner in complex ownership structures.

What you will learn:

  • Comprehend the immense responsibilities of MLROs in an era of complexity, disruption, geopolitical shifts, and smart sanctions
  • Acquire a 360 vision on the diverse risks of financial crimes
  • Identify loop holes in internal controls and compliance systems
  • Foster a compliance culture and a “think-risk” mindset across organizational lines

Course Details

1. Reporting lines for MLRO & MLRO skill set & qualities

  • Keeping the Board of directors updated on major compliance KRIs
  • The buy-in from the board of directors
  • Governance and compliance structure

2. AML/CFT & sanctions risks in financial transactions

  • TBML & wire-stripping risks
  • New EU sanctions regulations affecting ownership and control
  • Enhancing KYC operations
  • Leveraging technology (AI, ML) for better screening and transaction monitoring

3. Laying the foundations of the compliance program

  • KYC, KYE, & KYV policies
  • The on-going due diligence process
  • Independent 3rd line of defense
  • Training and upski ling
  • The role of compliance and risk officers

4. Risk Assessment

  • Inherent Risk Matrix: Customer, Product, Geography, and Delivery Channels
  • The role of Risk and audit Board committees
  • Sanctions Due Diligence and Evolving Sanctions Risks
  • Compliance with UNSCRs, OFAC, & EU sanctions regimes
  • BIS restrictions and export controls

5. Dealing with correspondent banks, regulators, internal and external auditors

  • Independence of internal auditors does not mean isolation
  • Avoiding de-risking in correspondent banking services
  • Promptness and transparency in dealing with regulatory authorities
  • Remediation of audit findings should be a priority and must be discussed with Audit board committees

6. Anti-bribery & corruption (ABC) policy, and anti-fraud

  • Extraterritoriality of bribery offence
  • Fraud detection and reporting
  • Fraud analytics and fraud prevention techniques

Target Audience

MLROs, AML/CFT and compliance officers, Board members and secretaries, Regulators and examiners, Internal audit, Operations department ,Customer service ,Risk officers, External auditors, RMs & Mid-management in Financial Institutions departments , Government agencies and law enforcement, Lawyers, & Supply chain and procurement managers.

Register Now