ESG—or environmental, social, and corporate governance—has become a top priority for organizations as regulators, investors, and consumers take an increased interest in these areas. Outside of external pressures to demonstrate corporate responsibility, business leaders are recognizing ESG’s role in value creation. According to research from McKinsey & Company, a majority of executives and investment professionals agree that ESG programs create both short- and long-term shareholder value. Moreover, organizations with a strong ESG proposition have…
As technology’s role in critical business operations continues to grow, so does the importance of effective IT risk management. The landscape of cyber threats and compliance requirements is constantly evolving, and organizations need to adapt. However, businesses often struggle to develop a flexible approach to managing risk and security, and many IT leaders recognize the gap between their teams’ current practices and the demands of a changing environment. According to a recent study, 90%…
Since Colorado and Washington legalized the recreational use of cannabis in 2012, another 17 states have followed suit, while 37 states allow medical use. However, until cannabis is legalized on a federal level, marijuana-related businesses (or MRBs) will continue to struggle to access financial services. Providing services to MRBs remains a thorny issue for financial institutions as well, not only because of legal risks, but also due to regulatory issues like anti-money laundering and reporting…
Effective third-party risk management recognizes that vendor relationships bring both value and potential risk exposure. That’s why integrated risk management — coordinating efforts and data across operational, compliance, and risk and control functions — is so important. Financial institutions without an integrated approach often contend with significant challenges and consequences, ranging from compliance penalties to data breaches to reputational damage, because they don't have a holistic view of their third-party network and the risks…
An effective internal audit function is a pillar of good corporate governance, playing a key role in an integrated governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) strategy. How Internal Audit Supports Sound Governance Through independently assessing the effectiveness of GRC processes, internal auditors support their organizations in fostering accountability and achieving objectives. In its position paper on internal auditing’s role in corporate governance, the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) highlights three ways audit functions bring value…