BCCP Blog

Interesting LinkedIn commentary regarding cultural differences & how we bridge the gap in a globalized economic and business environment

2010-01-22T00:29:00.000-08:00

Dearest Readers,

Please read the following LinkedIn exchange and give me your thoughts and perspectives. This has to do with job postings I recently published in connection with two full time positions in the Middle East on behalf of one of my firm's strategic business partners. For further perspective on this subject, please refer to my earlier blog posts where I advertised two positions in Kuwait -- and for which I added a footnote to make it more US "PC."

As far as I'm concerned, there is no real right or wrong answer. I'm simply interested in hearing your perspectives on this particular issue because these types of discussions and mindsets will become more commonplace as our global economy continues to evolve. How do we bridge these differences, and how do we find common ground and gain better understanding of the rest of the world's cultural norms without imposing a "my way or the highway" mentality with our fellow global citizens?

I welcome your thoughts and commentary,
Carrie
Here's an excerpt of my blog posting that prompted the commentary below:

"Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Full-Time Position in Kuwait #2: Director, Risk & Compliance

Mark G: "Carrie - I just checked out the blogs pertaining to the two Director-level jobs in Kuwait and noticed that there were age requirements attached to each. You should be aware that this type of thing is probably a violation of Federal anti-discrimination laws.

Mark G."

Carrie: "Hi, Mark. You are correct; however, these jobs are non-US jobs through non-US employers; my intermediary is in Kuwait and not the US. 99% of the applicants are non-US nationals. The applicants don't contract with my firm at all; I'm simply the intermediary who passes on the CVs to my global alliance partners.

The age restriction is my client's mandate and so I have to say this up front.

While this is clearly illegal in the US, it's a widely accepted and legal practice in the Middle East. My firm's #1 market is the Middle East and right now the US is last. I have to tailor what my clients needs to the culture of each client or I cannot compete effectively in the global marketplace.

Having said that, I can see where you're coming from. The problem is that in the US we don't put our DOB on resumes like they do in other parts of the world. It's awkward to ask the age after someone has submitted one because then they ask me why I didn't disclose it up front.

It's a global world full of conundrums and pitfalls for the unwary, and in this case it's a Catch-22. I will add a caveat to the blog entries so that US people understand the context of where these jobs are

One other thing I wanted to mention to you is that, unlike in the US where there is an aging population, in most MENA countries over 50% [some are 75%] of the population is under the age of 25, so the dynamics are different. Unlike in the US where there are so many displaced, unemployed professionals over 40, it is the exact opposite in the Middle Eastern countries.

Another reason for the age emphasis, besides the fact that it's a widely accepted business practice, has to do with cultural reasons. In the Middle East, many children are either sent to school in the US or Europe and often they don't return to their own country, resulting in a brain drain. They don't return because there are no opportunities, something the region is trying to change by moving away from an oil-based economy to a global financial and tourism economy.

The other side to this coin is if there are no jobs or biz opportunities in the home country, the youth that stays in the country with no future business prospects -- those young people become targets for terrorist groups; similar to restless youths in our own country who turn to drugs, gangs, crime -- and more recently home-grown terrorism.

How do I know all this? Because I've worked in the MENA region for over 3-1/2 years. On my very first visit in 2007, I heard this message from the very lips of the head of the Dubai International Financial Centre, who was reiterating what Sheikh Mohammed Al-Makhtoum had expressed numerous times; I have an excellent WSJ Opinion article written by the UAE leader and published in 2007 which outlined these concerns for the future of the youth and the Middle East as a whole.

Finally, I can remember when I was young seeing age and gender restrictions pertaining to jobs in our own country -- as late as the 1970s.

Carrie "

Mark G: I appreciated your emails explaining the rationale behind the age requirements in your position ads. Obviously, you feel strongly about the matter, and offered heartfelt justification for the practice. Normally, I wouldn’t bother replying since I have a lot of other things to do, but the more I thought about it, the more I became convinced that your points required a reply.

First, on general principles, Americans have fought a long, bitter struggle to eliminate these kinds of socially destructive practices. I’m assuming you’re too young to remember the “Whites Only” signs in restaurants throughout the South, even as late as the 1960s. I remember asking my Mother what those signs meant, and why Black people had to sit at the back of the bus. And the reasons I heard then made no more sense than they do now. Discriminating against people for reason of color, religion, sexual orientation, and, yes, age is morally wrong. Period. We’ve spent too many years and too many lives fighting against these notions to accept them now simply because it’s commercially expedient.

Second, as an economist I consider this practice to be weirdly self destructive. It works against the organization’s own economic interests, whether they realize it or not. Recruiting the best talent available for the price should be the objective of any hiring organization. To do less – to deny one’s own best interests in favor of a purely arbitrary discrimination policy -- wastes resources, and if practiced on a broad scale can make the difference between a successful, competitive firm and a financial failure.

Finally, I just don’t buy your arguments about Middle Eastern culture. I’ve spent more than twenty years working and living overseas – including long term stints in Armenia, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia – and I never had the slightest hint that my clients would have preferred someone else simply because of my age. I have an upcoming assignment in Algeria, and I anticipate that they will be very happy with the work product I will provide them, even though I am well above 45 years of age. And I simply don’t buy the argument that if we don’t hire young people, they’ll turn to terrorism to express their frustration. Please.

In many parts of the world, such as Korea, China and Japan (where I have also worked extensively), older persons are often selected because of their age, even if there are more suitably qualified younger persons available. These cultures value age – and the experience it conveys – over youth precisely because youth has a greater tendency to take the easy path in the short term while ignoring the long term implications of their actions.

In closing, I would just say this. Even if you’re right – that your clients are forcing you somehow to explicitly discriminate against a large class of qualified people (forget for a moment that it’s a direct violation of U.S. law) – what does it say about your firm if you simply go along and post the ad? Does your company value the short term monetary benefit that may come from such a placement over the principle that people should be treated fairly? Does your company not have the courage to say no to this practice, or the wisdom to counsel its client that this is a self-defeating? Integrity often carries a high price, there’s no question about it. But, this is an issue your firm has to struggle with on its own. Your rationalizations are sufficient if you can all look yourselves in the mirror and honestly tell yourselves that it’s perfectly all right. But if you can do that, then yours is not the kind of firm I’d want to work with on a job search, or any other business endeavor for that matter.

Best Regards,

Mark G

Full-Time Position in Kuwait #2: Director, Risk & Compliance

2010-01-19T19:33:00.000-08:00

Grade: Director
Department: Advisory

Title: Director, Risk & Compliance
Reports To: Partner, Advisory
Reports On: IARCS and AAS Team

Any nationality
Must be age 45 or younger*
*[Note: This is a non-US job for a non-US employer in non-US countries where the labor laws do not prohibit age limits and where it is a commonly accepted business practice to impose age limits on potential candidates.]

Must have RECENT BIG 4 EXPERTISE

· Package – KD 2700-3100 (US$9,436.27 - US$10,834.24)
· Bonus Scheme
· Relocation Package
· Mobile Allowance
· Tkt & Private medical – self and family

Position Overview
Develop the strategy for the Internal Audit and Risk Compliance Services and the Accounting Advisory Services in line with overall Advisory strategy. Develop market opportunities, driving penetration of market across private and public sector organizations to grow both business lines. Full responsibility for Risk Compliance across all lines of business.

Main Responsibilities
IARCS/AAS

Assisting in developing the IARCS and AAS strategy and planning the operation to deliver sector specialization such as Banking & Finance, Telecoms, and Manufacturing Services etc.
Directing and managing IARCS/ AAS mandates, ensuring a quality service and the timely dispatch of the deliverables.
Leading on delivery of specialist, large mandates.
Management
Providing strong leadership and direction to designated teams.
Mentoring, coaching and management of the teams.
Assisting with the setting of measurable goals for employees and providing feedback to employees on their performance against such goals.
Facilitating employees’ development to help them realize their full potential and assistance with career management plans.
Keeping partners up to date with all developments on various issues falling within job description.
Monitors and upholds a high quality of service and deliverables to clients (internal and external).
Act as an ambassador and champion of the firms’ values to employees and clients alike.
Play an integral role in the Firm’s drive to become an Employer of Choice, by leading the team in a manner and style that inspires and drives them in a positive way.

Business Development & Client Management

Leading the business development activity within the designated region.
Being the first choice point of contact for clients. Manage fee negotiations, project costs, fee increase and agreeing dates for cash collection.
Actively seek new business opportunities for the firm across all service lines with new and existing clients.
Reviewing and presenting key deliverables to clients.
Keeping up to date with IT’S's products and service offerings and identifying sales opportunities that will help IT’S grow its audit / tax / advisory work.
Build the reputation and Brand Image of KMPG through proactive and professional conduct, quality of work, knowledge and experience.
Assist with the preparation of marketing materials, brochures, updates/alerts, press articles, etc.
Prepare for and present seminars and conferences.
Develop a strong network of clients, both existing and new from which the firm can develop strong revenue opportunities.
Ensure that teams are efficient in their output and utilization rates are in line with Firm policies.

Key Interfaces

Engagement teams
Wider Firm employees
Client employees
Regulatory authorities
IT’S colleagues in other divisions and other practices

Competencies

IARCS / AAS
High level of attention to detail.
Able to understand and interpret all relevant regulations and laws.
Able to take a commercial view on advice.
Highly analytical.
Be a subject matter expert in all IARCS / AAS matters.
Able to process large volumes of information quickly and efficiently.
Able to assess and quality check IARCS /AAS deliverables.
Able to understand and assess all areas pertaining to risk management, independence and compliance.

Communication

Fluent in English, written and verbal.
Able to clearly communicate in a concise manner.
Able to confidently present.
Proven ability of good listening skills.
Able to provide honest and constructive feedback.

Interpersonal

Confident and friendly approach.
Excellent team playing ability.
Ambitious and totally professional.
Accountable and business focused.
Capable of building relationships and developing people.
Prepared to work the hours required of the role.
Flexible and adaptable.
Sustain a high level of drive and resilience
Demonstrate enthusiasm and a positive attitude when coping with pressure at work.
Continuously learn from experiences.
Seek out feedback and development opportunities.

Management

Able to manage multiple teams.
Capable of setting clear team objectives and ensuring they are achieved.
Able to set out in depth concurrent project plans.
Capable of supporting and mentoring employees.
Capable of taking full responsibility for own and teams’ work.
Able to manage in a motivational and respectful way.

Business Development

Able to develop strong and meaningful business relationships.
Capable of identifying and gaining access to new clients and business opportunities.
Able to close sales opportunities.

Experience Required

Degree educated from a reputable institution, ideally with a further post graduate qualification in finance
A qualified accountant ACCA/CA/CPA
A Senior Manager/Director in Big 4 audit firms in similar roles or have been the head of internal audit at a bank/insurance company/Telco/Large corporate.
A strong understanding of financial, operating policies/procedures and risk management and compliance principles.
Sound understanding of IFRS / GAAP

Deliverables
Short Term

Develop the Risk & Compliance strategy, set budget, targets and team requirements
Identify the recruitment strategy.
Identify key target client list and assign them to the team.

Medium Term

Complete the initial recruitment of the Risk & Compliance teams.
Have made significant in roads to the target list, having penetrated a minimum of 60%, which means having entered into meaningful dialogue
Be on or surpassing business targets.

Long Term

Have penetrated and made significant in roads to all target clients.
Developed the Risk and Compliance team into a full efficient and effective team, who are at the top of all clients’ lists to call when relevant work comes up.
Be on or surpassed all business targets.
Secured IT’S Risk and Compliance services to be the unquestionable number 1 in the market place, within the big 4.

Full-Time Position in Kuwait #1: Director Performance & Technology

2010-01-19T19:25:00.000-08:00

Director Performance & Technology
Reports To Head of Advisory
Reports On IT Advisory & BPS Teams

Any nationality
Must be age 45 or younger*

*[Note: This is a non-US job for a non-US employer in non-US countries where the labor laws do not prohibit age limits and where it is a commonly accepted business practice to impose age limits on potential candidates.]

Must have RECENT BIG 4 EXPERTISE

· Package – KD 2700-3100 (US$9,436.27 - US$10,834.24)
· Bonus Scheme
· Relocation Package
· Mobile Allowance
· Tkt & Private medical – self and family

Position Overview
To develop and implement a growth strategy for the firm in the Performance & Technology departments. Leading and expanding the teams of specialists across the entire field of performance & Technology. To grow the business and expand the client base. Setting the objectives for the function, and cascading these down throughout the teams and business to ensure that the Firm is perfectly positioned to take full advantage of any opportunities in the market.

Main Responsibilities
Strategic

Develop and implement a cutting edge ITA and BPS Advisory strategy that is designed to maximize and harness the full potential of the market in Kuwait.
Ensuring the strategy is focused on the quality end of the market, creating value add for the client and maximum return for the firm.
Develop a business development strategy that focuses on key accounts, both new and existing. Which identifies not only who the key target accounts should be but also how the Firm will break into those accounts and harvest the maximum return from them.
Be a key member of the Advisory senior management team, driving the cross pollination of the advisory services across our client base.

Business Development

Lead the business development activities for each of the functions, target key clients ensuring the firm is well presented, to enable the teams to secure advisory work from them.
Work with the ITA and BPS advisory team and attend client meetings and presentations with them, providing extra weight when required and leading the efforts when necessary.
Ensuring that all ITA and BPS advisory staff are employed effectively, and that they have job rotation, they share the lead and collaborate on the achievement of personal and functional business goals.
Develop a strong network of Executive level contacts in Kuwait and ensure the network is harnessed to deliver results.

Management

Take overall responsibility for the engagement management of the entire ITA and BPS Advisory activities, having ultimate sign off and approval on all engagements. Mitigating risk and ensuring quality.
Day to day management of the department ensuring that the teams have sound yet challenging objectives set and that they are constantly evaluated against those objectives.
Playing a key role in the Advisory teams management function, providing insight, coaching and mentoring to the less senior members of the team.
Hold full profit and loss responsibility for the ITA and BPS Advisory function, ensuring that the business secured is in line with the functions objectives and that the gross margin is in line with the goals set.
Approving all recruitment into the function, ensuring the team members are of the highest quality and have the right skill sets to compliment the existing team and ensure that each function achieves its targets.
Report monthly on the progress of the function, in terms of revenue, profitability, target account successes, issues etc
Take the responsibility for the function’s compliance with the firm’s risk management policies
Representing the firm at local and regional networking events.
Where appropriate represent the firm at IT’S global committees and events.
Play an integral role in the Firm’s drive to become an employer of choice, by leading the team in a manner and style that inspires and drives them in a positive way.

Key Interfaces
· EXCOM
· Head of Advisory
· All Directors
· All Performance & Technology Teams.
· External Clients
· IT’S Global colleagues

Competencies

Business Focus

Clear analytical and strategic thought process
Able to process large amounts of information quickly and efficiently
Able to identify key areas of development in the relevant market
Able to set out a clear and concise vision and strategy
Excellent ability to articulate and implement strategy.

Business Development

Highly developed networking skills
Excellent ability to ‘open doors’
Highly skilled at influencing people.
Excellent negotiation skills.
Excellent ability to identify and clarify client requirements.
Highly skilled in positioning an offer.
Excellent ability to close deals.
First rate ability to develop strong, meaningful and long lasting business relationships.
Results focused.

Developing People

Proven leadership skills
Confident and friendly approach.
Excellent team playing ability.
Ambitious and totally professional.
Accountable and business focused.
Capable of building relationships and developing people.
Prepared to work the hours required of the role.
Flexible and adaptable.
Sustain a high level of drive and resilience
Demonstrate enthusiasm and a positive attitude when coping with pressure at work.
Continuously learn from experiences.
Seek out feedback and development opportunities
Excellent coach and mentor, for developing people
Communication
Excellent communication skills
Fluent in written and spoken English
Highly refined presentation skills
Able to provide honest and timely and constructive feedback
Experience Required
Graduate, ideally with a MBA / Bachelors in a related field.
At least 15 years experience of working in the ITA/ BPS field, of which at least 7 years must have been in an executive level position focused on strategy.
Proven experience in business development, both harnessing existing accounts and developing new ones.
Preferably having extensive experience within a large consultancy company, ideally a ‘Big 4’ firm
Experience of selling ITA and BPS and / or consultancy is essential

Deliverables
Short Term

Develop the Performance & Technology Strategy, set budget, targets and team requirements
Start recruiting the required additional team members, and begin the development of the current team.
Identify key target client list and assign them to the team.

Medium Term

Completed the initial recruitment of the Performance & Technology teams.
Have made significant in roads to the target list, having penetrated a minimum of 60%, which means having entered into meaningful dialogue
Be on or surpassing business targets.

Long Term

Have penetrated and made significant in roads to all target clients.
Developed the Performance & Technology team into a full efficient and effective team, who are at the top of all clients’ lists to call when relevant work comes up.
Be on or surpassed all business targets.
Secured IT’S Performance & Technology teams to be the unquestionable number 1 in the market place, within the big 4.

Full-Time: General Management Position in Baghdad

2010-01-19T19:13:00.000-08:00

Agriculture / Forestry / Fishing General Management

Salary to US$130,000 Baghdad

Seeking a Senior Regional Manager to work in Iraq on a USAID Agribusiness project. The objective of the program is to promote economic diversification and employment generation, with a clear focus on creating growth in the agribusiness sector.

The Senior Regional Manager is responsible for the implementation of a diversified agribusiness portfolio. The Senior Regional Manager provides leadership and direct supervision to 20 Iraqi advisors in analysis, program design, and implementation management in support to the creation and diffusion of innovative agribusiness opportunities in 14 provinces of Iraq. The Senior Regional Manager relies on expatriate and Iraqi subject matter experts in four value chains: livestock, fish and poultry, fruits and vegetables, and business development. Additional support comes from a training office, engineer staff, and program economists.

Qualifications:

Education: University degree in business, agriculture or life sciences required. Other relevant degrees may be accepted. Master's degree in complementary field desirable.

Required Experience:

1. Ten or more years practical experience in managing successful commercial agribusiness or leadership in a similar development project, with personal responsibility for profit and loss.
2. Seven years work in developing countries on rural business development, production agriculture (except grains or swine), or agricultural marketing.
3. Understanding of production and marketing of livestock, farmed fish, broilers, and a broad range of horticultural products.
4. Demonstrated ability to coordinate and manage complex operations and staff.
5. Familiarity with and ability to manage formal systems of commodities and services procurement.
6. Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, adaptable to unforeseeable events, self-motivating, and innovative.
7. Demonstrated ability to manage cross-culturally among Western and non-Western cultures, including issues of work performance and moral hazard.
8. Ability to speak, read, and write English at the USG Foreign Service FSI 4 level or equivalent.
9. Excellent oral and written communication skills.
10. Demonstrated personal commitment to business ethics.

Desirable Experience:
1. Experience in Iraq or Arabic culture.
2. Ability to speak and write Arabic.
3. Ability to design project activities in compliance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations.

You are cordially invited to join us for our Business Continuity Management web event on Wednesday, December 16 @ 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time

2009-12-14T09:00:00.000-08:00

Please join us. You are invited!

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/127240576

BCCP PRESENTS: BEKKER COMPLIANCE INSTITUTE (BCI) WEB EVENT

PART II: BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLANNING & MANAGEMENT: BE PREPARED!

How to stay in business during an operational crisis

Wednesday, December 16 @ 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time

Featuring:

A-TEAMER ROBERT CONLON, BUSINESS CONTINUITY PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT EXPERT

CARRIE BEKKER, FOUNDER & CEO OF BCCP/BCI

In today's tough economic times, the workplace is fragile. If your firm is faced with an unanticipated business disruption -- and if you do not have a resilient Business Continuity Plan – it could paralyze your firm’s ability to do business!

IF YOUR FIRM CANNOT CONDUCT BUSINESS, THEN YOUR FIRM MAY NOT STAY IN BUSINESS. IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH THESE DAYS TO PUSH BUSINESSES TO THE BRINK OF BANKRUPTCY, AND IT DOESN'T TAKE TOO LONG EITHER.

BUT YOU ARE NOT ALONE ... WE CAN HELP!

To register, please click here: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/127240576

In the meantime, please feel free to visit our website at www.bccp-llc.com for additional information about BCCP/BCI and the consulting and education/training solutions we provide to our global financial services clientele.

Happy Holidays to you and your family!

All the best,
Carrie

Carrie F. Bekker

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

BEKKER COMPLIANCE CONSULTING PARTNERS, LLC (BCCP)

BEKKER COMPLIANCE INSTITUTE (BCI)

BEST IN THE WESTSM VIRTUAL OFFICE SOLUTIONS (BITW)

With Us It’s All About YouSM

January 2010 is just around the corner! Don't wait until the last minute to fulfill your 2009 year-end compliance obligations!

2009-12-02T15:58:00.001-08:00

Is your Compliance Department shorthanded due to lean staffing?
Are you still grappling with finishing up your 2009 year-end obligations, such as:

Independent AML audit?
1940 Acts 38a-1, 206(4)-7 annual review?
FINRA/NASD 3012/3013 annual review?
OSJ and branch office audits?

Do you have other year-end compliance obligations that you are still challenged to complete?

If your answer is “yes” to any one of these questions:

BCCP CAN HELP! And we’re just a phone call away – 818/836-1291 – or by email cbekker@bccp-llc.com. Also please visit our website at http://www.bccp-llc.com.

We have scores of seasoned, experienced Senior Consultants at all levels – auditing, compliance, risk management, governance, operations, and IT -- located across the USA, Canada, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and other regions around the globe. Whatever your firm’s needs are – whether it’s an extra hand in December, getting that annual AML audit done, or other year-end pressing compliance matters – we have the right Senior Consultant to help you with your firm’s unique requirements.

BCCP also offers affordable year-end regulatory “health checks” that will give your firm a clearer idea of the compliance risks your firm will need to address in early 2010. For example:

Registered Investment Advisers

· IARD Administrative Functions	· Action Plan for Annual Review
· Form 13F Reports	· Code of Ethics Enforcement
· Form U4 Amendments	· Calculation of Assets Under Management
· Employee Certifications and Acknowledgements	· Advertising Reviews
· Solicitors	· Form ADV Reviews
· Records Management	· Testing of Disaster Recovery Plan
· Compliance Training	· Updating IPS or Client Investment Objectives and Risk Tolerances
· Privacy	· Vendor Relationships

Broker/Dealers

· Business Continuity Plan	· Electronic Storage of Books and Records
· Firm Element Plan (CE)	· AML Plan
· Firm Element Training/CE Done to Date	· AML Independent Audit
· Written Supervisory Procedures	· Limited Size and Resources Exemption (if applicable)
· Public Disclosures on Form BD and Elsewhere	· Annual Compliance Meeting
· Registered Representative Limitations	· Membership Agreement Provisions
· Business Line Limitations or Restrictions	· ·State Renewals
· Required Notices to Customers Under GLB, Reg. S-P (or other rules)	· Control/Ownership Changes

PLEASE CALL BCCP TODAY for a complimentary consultation! We’re here 24 hours a day, 7 days a week @ cbekker@bccp-llc.com & 818/836-1291. Also please visit our website at www.bccp-llc.com.

Best wishes for an enjoyable, safe, and compliant Holiday Season!

Carrie

Carrie F. Bekker

Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Bekker Compliance Consulting Partners, LLC (BCCP)

Bekker Compliance Institute (BCI)

Best in the WestSM Virtual Office Services (BITW)

cbekker@bccp-llc.com

skype: bccp-llc, +1.818.381.4805

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/bekkercompliance

Senior Consultants, Subject Matter Experts & Instructors Worldwide!

Global Headquarters:

19360 Rinaldi Street, Suite 453

Porter Ranch, CA 91326

Phone: +1.818.836.1291

www.bccp-llc.com

Follow me on Twitter! BCCPbekker

WHY I LOVE BCCP: AN ESSAY WRITTEN FOR A BIZ-OPP GRANT

2009-10-04T13:28:00.000-07:00

Good morning/afternoon/evening wishes to you, each and every one!

Carrie Bekker here. I hope you had a lovely, relaxing weekend like we did. Southern California weather -- sunny, light breeze, high 60s/low 40s -- is a wonderful thing. Fabulous sleeping and sweatpants/robe weather. Also a great time to get out of the house and work outdoors, which is what I'm doing right now as I write this "good morning" message to you.

I have a special gift I'd like to give to each of you today:

I’d like to share with you the essay I recently wrote and submitted in the hopes that BCCP can land a Biz Opp grant for 2010. I spent over two weeks writing this essay about my beloved company, it’s a fine piece of work (if I say so myself), and I think you’ll enjoy reading it too.

The contest closed on September 30, and they will be announcing the winners shortly. Please wish me luck on being one of them!

Many thanks,

Carrie

TADA! HERE IT IS!

"Research from the Harvard Business Review proves that conducting business in-person improves client relationships and its direct impact on the bottom-line. Right now, somewhere in the world is a great opportunity for your business."

MY ESSAY ON BEHALF OF BCCP:

Briefly describe what your business does.

Bekker Compliance Consulting Partners, LLC (BCCP) is a full-service virtual consulting firm that caters to the financial services industry worldwide. We specialize in developing customized solutions in the following areas: compliance, risk management, governance, technology, and training. Our clientele includes brokerage firms, investment advisers, hedge funds, and private equity firms; we also serve educational institutions and governmental agencies. We recently added a suite of services geared towards helping the latest crop of financial services startups; these services include: Entity formation; SEC, FINRA, and state registration; outsourced compliance and virtual assistant support.

We pride ourselves in delivering impeccable boutique-style service to each and every one of our clients, no matter where they are in the world or what time zone they are in. Our mantra is: With Us It's All About You(SM), and we mean it.

Members of our Senior Consultant Consortium deliver these services to our clients. Our Consortium is comprised entirely of seasoned professionals with diverse "real world" background and experience. For example, our Members include former regulators, compliance officers, lawyers, auditors, risk managers, professors, and information management experts.

BCCP recently added two new divisions: Bekker Compliance Institute (BCI), which is the education and training arm of the organization; and Best in the West(SM), which provides virtual office and assistant services (BITW).

Tell us about your business’s specific goals and objectives in 2010.

As Founder and & CEO of BCCP, I AM the face of my company. I've traveled extensively ever since I started the business because I KNOW how critical face-to-face interaction is to develop, nurture and sustain strong personal and business relationships. Travel is my passion, and I shine brightest when I'm on the road to meet personally with clients, consultants, and fellow colleagues. I also spend a great deal of time traveling to develop new business relationships, whether it be prospective clients, new consultants, Global Alliance Partners, or networking at industry events. BCCP was built on relationships, and my three years of constant global travel to meet people in person has been the foundation of my firm's success to date, and will continue to be the lynchpin to ensure BCCP's future success and expansion in the global marketplace. Because BCCP’s business model is a virtual one, which allows me to expand and sustain my business in a way that would be impossible with a traditional business model, personal contact is the most CRITICAL component of all. Although I often develop my business relationships virtually first, it's the face- to-face visits that seal the deal, keep the relationships healthy, and foster word-of-mouth referrals.

The majority of our existing and potential clients and consultants are in the US, Middle East/North Africa (MENA), Asia Pacific, and India. However, most of our existing and future business is not in the US, but rather in MENA, Asia Pacific, and India. Face-to-face contact is CRITICAL in these regions where developing a business relationship based on trust is first and foremost; money is secondary to trust. Meeting face to face fosters trust and cements the relationship. I've spent the past three years developing and growing business relationships in the Middle East, especially in Dubai and Saudi Arabia, and the face-to-face visits over that three-year period was essential to my firm's success in penetrating those markets.

As a result of the foregoing, my firm's primary objective for 2010 is to continue to expand our global footprint, especially in the Middle East/North Africa (MENA), Asia Pacific, and India where we already have established strong business relationships and networks. Our goal is to open branch offices in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore by year end 2010 or early 2011. In order for us to meet this goal and objective, it is critical that I be able to continue my personal visits to these regions. But travel is expensive, and the global economy has been tough for quite some time now.

What specific business objective could travel and face-to-face meetings help you achieve that remote communication (i.e. phone or video conference) could not?

The human factor. It is impossible to really and truly get to know someone without meeting him or her in the flesh. There is and never will be a true substitute for human contact to establish and cement rock solid relationships. The sheer sensation and excitement of shaking my client’s hand for the first time, sitting down over a cup of coffee to chat, having our picture taken together, getting to visit my client’s offices, meet the team, shaking their hands and talking to them, shaking my client’s hand and bidding farewell until next time. You just can’t do that over video or on the phone. It’s not the same. It never will be.

When we meet people in person, we can engage all five of our senses: touch, smell, hear, see, feel. In a virtual environment, we can only engage two: hear and see. The other three – touch, smell, feel – are absent. How can you possibly establish a relationship of trust if you can only engage two of five senses? It simply can’t be done. No matter how advanced our technology becomes, there is no feeling like looking into someone’s eyes and talking to them.

As mentioned above, my firm's primary objective for 2010 is to continue to expand our global footprint, especially in the Middle East/North Africa (MENA), Asia Pacific, and India where we already have established strong business relationships and networks. Our goal is to open branch offices in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore by year end 2010 or early 2011. In order for us to meet our primary goal and objective for 2101, it is critical that I be able to continue my personal visits to these regions. But travel is expensive, and the global economy has been tough for quite some time now, which has limited my ability to travel and have the face-to-face contact and interaction that is essential to my firm’s continued success in the global marketplace.

How will having the opportunity and continuity of a year’s worth of travel and business support benefit your organization?

My firm would benefit significantly because having the opportunity and continuity of a year’s worth of travel and business support will enable me to sustain my ability to continue to develop business relationships in MENA, Asia Pacific, and India, where I already have developed strong business relationships, where I want to continue to develop new business relationships, and where I want to nurture and sustain those relationships so that my firm can continue to grow and expand in these regions and beyond. Without this opportunity and continuity to travel and meet face to face, it will be extremely difficult for me to continue to do so because the economic downturn has curtailed my ability to travel due to financial constraints. Although our firm does have US business, it is our weakest market because it is driven strictly by money and not relationships.

Please keep your fingers and toes crossed for me! If you don't mind, please throw in a few prayers too!

All the best,

Carrie

BCCP PRESENTS: BEST IN THE WEST (“BITW”) VIRTUAL ASSISTANT SERVICES...

2009-09-29T19:06:00.000-07:00

JUMP ON THE BANDWAGON AND JOIN US ON OUR WAY TO THE NEW FRONTIER:
BCCP’s Best in the West^SM (BITW) Virtual Assistant Services!!!

Shorthanded? Can’t afford to hire staff? Need assistance running your Business AND your Life?

You are not alone … we CAN help!

Best In the West^SM (BITW) virtual assistant services to the rescue! Our dedicated VAs are online – AND on duty – 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! So wherever you are in the World – from your hotel in Hong Kong or Dubai, or even from your living room sofa -- we are always here when you need us, any time of the day or night.

➢ Need someone to answer your phones and screen your calls?

➢ What about making hotel and car reservations for you while you’re stuck on the tarmac waiting for takeoff?

➢ And that Powerpoint presentation you’ve been wrestling with all week trying to get it to look right? [Sigh]

We can do all that … and much much MORE. You tell us what you need and we CAN DO it for you. Our mission is to free YOU up so that you can focus on what YOU do best – RUN your Business and ENJOY your Life!

Flexible pricing. Reasonable rates. Monthly packages available. You name it, we can do it for you (as long as it’s legal of course!).

So what are you waiting for? CLICK HERE to call us NOW! Your dedicated Virtual Assistant is waiting for your call and is ready to serve you.

With Us It’s All About You^SM……..

BCCP/BCI UPCOMING WEBCAST ON JUNE 17 @ 12 NOON! REGISTER TODAY FOR THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE!

2009-06-06T18:07:00.000-07:00

BEKKER COMPLIANCE INSTITUTE (BCI) PRESENTS:

“IS THE WRITING ON THE WALL FOR OFFSHORE FINANCIAL CENTRES AND TAX HAVENS?”

Tune in and find out!

BEKKER COMPLIANCE CONSULTING PARTNERS, LLC (BCCP)

AND BEKKER COMPLIANCE INSTITUTE (BCI)

CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO JOIN US FOR THIS VERY SPECIAL WEBCAST TO BE HELD ON WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17, 2009 @ NOON EASTERN TIME!

Featuring A-Teamers:

Mark McKenzie and Ken Barden
& Carrie Bekker as Moderator!

Please check out our A-Team page for more info about Mark & Ken!!!

TO REGISTER FOR THIS VERY SPECIAL EVENT, AND TO BE ADDED TO OUR CONFIDENTIAL MAILING LIST FOR FUTURE EVENTS, PLEASE CLICK ON THE URL BELOW AND COMPLETE THE “CONTACT US” SECTION: http://www.bccp-llc.com/contact.php

Got Advertising? BCCP WANTS YOU!

To promote this event, BCCP has already launched a unique multimedia campaign which will soon feature advertising from our Sponsors. If your firm provides professional services complementary to ours and if you are interested in exploring opportunities for significant exposure through our state-of-the-art multimedia network, , please complete the “Contact Us” page @ http://www.bccp-llc.com/contact.php. Availability is limited, so don't delay!

REMEMBER ... YOU HEARD IT HERE FIRST!

We look forward to seeing you online!

All the best,
Carrie

Founder & CEO

BCCP in the News! Also Sajith Kumar of JRG, our Global Alliance Partner in MENA/India!

2009-05-14T02:48:00.000-07:00

Press Release

Appointment of Sajith Kumar P K as CEO and member of the Director Board of JRG Metals & Commodities DMCC

Dubai, May, 2009

The Board of Directors of JRG Metals & Commodities DMCC appointed Mr. Sajith Kumar P K as the CEO and Director of the company. The CEO will be fully responsible for all the day to day functions of the company. Since 2006 onwards, Mr. Sajith was holding the position as Vice President with JRG Metals & Commodities DMCC.

Sajith has 15 years experience in the financial services industry, including working with Stock Exchanges and Brokerage Houses. He holds Masters Degree in Computer Applications and Sajith started his career with Cochin Stock Exchange and joined with JRG Group in 2000 in JRG Securities Ltd., the parent company at Cochin, India. JRG obtained the Membership in Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DGCX) and started operations in 2006 under the leadership of Mr. Sajith. He was holding the position as Vice President. Projects & Depository in JRG Securities Ltd. in India.

JRG Metals & Commodities DMCC is a leading Broker & Clearing Member of Dubai Gold Commodities Exchange (DGCX) and one of the subsidiary companies of JRG Securities Ltd., an India-based listed company at Bombay Stock Exchange, India.

Under Sajith’s leadership, JRG launched a highly advanced mobile trading to the global investing public via the Dubai Gold and Commodities Exchange (DGCX) trading platform. JRG initiated the world’s first delivery of steel futures contracts with DGCX.

Sajith is also a Council Member of Gerson Lehrman Group Councils (GLG Group), Austin, Global Alliance Partner of Bekker Compliance Consulting Partners, Los Angeles and acted as a strong member of Economic Affairs Panel of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Kerala Chapter.

HAZZA MOHAMMED
CHAIRMAN

Appointment%20of%20CEO%20-%20JRG%20Metals%20%26%20
Commodities%20DMCC%2C%20Dubai.pdf

BCCP Crew in the News: John Schrier, our Director of Regulatory Compliance!

2009-05-13T20:05:00.000-07:00

APRIL 27, 2009, 11:33 A.M. ET
COMPLIANCE WATCH: Follow Through On Marketing Promises
By Suzanne Barlyn
A DOW JONES NEWSWIRES COLUMN

NEW YORK (Dow Jones)--Many investment advisers explain their due diligence strategies in marketing materials as a way to attract clients. But it's important to make good on those promises to avoid unwanted attention from regulators.

A recent settlement between the Hennessee Group LLC, a New York-based hedge fund consultant, and Charles J. Gradante, its principal, and the Securities Exchange Commission, is an example of the difficulties that may surface when regulators question whether advisers have followed through on diligence procedures explained in their marketing materials.

The SEC, in an administrative proceeding, charged that Hennessee and Gradante violated securities laws by not performing a "Five Level Due Diligence Process," which they advertised, before recommending that clients invest in the Bayou hedge funds that were later discovered to be a fraud. Gradante and Hennessee consented to the SEC's order, announced April 22, without admitting or denying guilt.

Hennessee, the SEC says, told clients its due-diligence process included a detailed review and analysis of the fund's investment portfolio, an on-site visit to a fund's offices to interview key personnel, and a background check on the fund's manager. But Hennessee breached its fiduciary duty and materially misled clients, the SEC says, by not performing the portfolio analysis or verifying conflicting statements about the identity of Bayou's auditor.

Nearly 40 Hennessee clients collectively lost more than $56 million in the Bayou scam, according to the SEC.

The settlement requires Hennessee to adopt policies that ensure its client disclosures about hedge fund selection and monitoring are adequate. Hennessee and Gradante also agreed as part of the settlement to pay the SEC a $100,000 fine and $714,644 for the return of profits.
Peter D. Greene, a hedge fund attorney in New York, says advisers, as a result of the settlement, should review their written compliance procedures and marketing materials. "[They] should take a look at the policies on their shelves and ask, 'Are we doing all these things?'" he says. If not, then modify them, he says, "so they more accurately mirror reality."

Compliance professionals should also review marketing materials and written procedures with people who work on the business side of an investment adviser or brokerage, says John Schrier, an asset management and tax lawyer in New York.

A portfolio manager and trader, for example, are often best able to verify whether a written trading strategy is described accurately, he says. The extra steps will likely improve an adviser's ability to follow written procedures, and to minimize future legal problems with investors and regulators.

(Suzanne Barlyn writes Compliance Watch, a column that focuses on compliance and regulatory issues affecting financial advisers. She can be reached at 201-938-4546 or by email at
suzanne.barlyn@dowjones.com.)

Article - WSJ.com http://online.wsj.com/article_email/BT-CO-20090427-711649-kIyVDA...
1 of 2 4/27/2009 12:05 PM

BCCP Blog: DMCC Gold Convention at Atlantis Hotel, The Palm Jumeirah -- April 27, 2009!

2009-05-03T19:55:00.000-07:00

BCCP Blog: DMCC Gold Convention at Atlantis Hotel, The Palm Jumeirah -- April 27, 2009!: "DMCC Gold Convention at Atlantis Hotel, The Palm Jumeirah -- April 27, 2009!"

DMCC Gold Convention at Atlantis Hotel, The Palm Jumeirah -- April 27, 2009!

2009-05-03T18:18:00.000-07:00

Hello, Carrie Bekker here with a special report:

Last week Sajith Kumar of JRG graciously invited me to attend this very special DMCC event co-sponsored by JRG.

Please read on for details ...

Venue: Atlantis Hotel, The Palm Jumeirah

Date: April 27th 2009
Time: 2:00 - 7:00pm

"Are you a banker, a trader, an investment professional, a jeweller, a miner, a refiner or a stakeholder in the gold industry?

Have you wondered:

How gold has held its appeal while other asset classes are experiencing serious challenges.
Where the gold price is heading in the short and long term.
How in the midst of the financial crisis, Dubai can continue to hold its own as the region’s premier gold hub.

If yes, then the “DMCC Gold Convention” is the perfect event for you.

Share your insights and knowledge, express your opinions, air your concerns and debate ideas with some of the best known names in the industry - the “DMCC Gold Convention” will offer an ideal platform to discuss all current gold-related issues.

You may also get a chance to walk away with a copy of one of the leading industry publications, the GFMS Gold Survey 2009, and possibly a Visions of Dubai gold coin.

The half-day event will be followed by a networking cocktail reception."

DMCC_Event-Program-DMCC-Gold-Convention-2009.pdf

http://www.jrg.co.in/
http://www.dmcc.ae/

Spotlight: Please join me in welcoming Sajith Kumar, BCCP's Newest Global Alliance Partner!

2009-05-02T17:22:00.000-07:00

Hey, A-Team & Friends of BCCP! Carrie Bekker here with an important announcement to make:

I would like to introduce you to Sajith Kumar of JRG, BCCP's newest Global Alliance Partner!

Sajith [left] is based in Dubai. He is BCCP/BCI's representative in MENA and India. Sajith is also Vice-President and Compliance Officer of JRG Metals & Commodities DMCC, UAE, a leading Broker & Clearing Members of DGCX and one of the subsidiary companies of JRG Securities Ltd., an India based listed company at Bombay Stock Exchange, India.

Attached is Sajith's profile and professional credentials.

Please join me in welcoming Sajith as part of BCCP's A-Team and Global Alliance Partners!

Many thanks,
Carrie

sajithkumar_pk.doc

Spotlight: John Schrier, BCCP's Director of Regulatory Compliance!

2009-04-14T01:40:00.000-07:00

Hey, A-Team & Friends of BCCP! Carrie Bekker here ...

Please check out the IA Week article in which John Schrier, J.D., MBA, our Director of Regulatory Compliance, is quoted in the article entitled "A few suggestions to jazz up your annual review after a rocky year" which begins on the front page of the newletter. Way to go John!

For those of you who do not know John Schrier, he is our Director of Regulatory Compliance for the Tristate region -- New York, New Jersey, Connecticut. John is based in New York.

John has a wealth of 23 years experience specializing in asset management law, compliance and tax. For more information about John, please check out our Management Team page on the BCCP website.

Please join me in welcoming John to the BCCP Management Team!

Your%20April%2013%2C%202009%20issue%20of%20IA%20Week%20Online.pdf

MY NAME IS CARRIE BEKKER AND I ENDORSE JOE MENDOLA FOR NYC COMPTROLLER 2009! VOTE FOR JOE! JOE IS THE BEST!

2009-03-12T02:59:00.000-07:00

Hey, A-Team & Friends of BCCP! Carrie Bekker here with an important announcement to make ...

My friend and colleague JOE MENDOLA, is running for NYC Comptroller this year!

Way to go JOE! VOTE FOR JOE! JOE IS THE BEST!

For those of you who don't know JOE MENDOLA, he is an A-Team alum and one of our A-Team's "Friends of BCCP" (a/k/a FOBs). JOE is of course based in NYC, as are over at least 25 A-Teamers and FOBs.

I have known JOE for quite some time now. He has done high-level consulting work for BCCP's financial services clients, who have always given me rave reviews about Joe's diligence and seriousness in getting the job done and getting it done right -- and what a pleasure he is to work with. JOE is a warm and friendly guy, and also he has a great sense of humor. JOE is one of the most ethical people I know, and he commits himself completely to everything he does, whether it's his work or spending time with his family and friends.

PLEASE CHECK OUT Joe's campaign resume, stump speech and talking points which are attached to this blog posting. Also PLEASE BE SURE TO VISIT "Vote For Joe" website at www.joemendola.com. You can also follow JOE on Twitter at joemendola at http://twitter.com.

MY NAME IS CARRIE BEKKER AND I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE!
VOTE FOR JOE! JOE IS THE BEST!
SPREAD THE WORD!

Campaign%20Talking%20Points.doc Campaign%20Platform.doc Campaign
%20Resume.doc Campaign%20

In Today's News: Bloomberg quotes A-Teamer "Friend of BCCP" Bruce Zagaris on the Stanford case

2009-02-20T18:12:00.000-08:00

Hey, A-Team & Friends of BCCP! Carrie Bekker here ...

Please check out the Bloomberg article in which A-Teamer Bruce Zagaris is quoted.

Way to go Bruce!

For those of you who don't know Bruce Zagaris, he is a partner at Berliner, Corcoran & Rowe. Bruce is part of our A-Team's "Friends of BCCP," more commonly known as FOBs. Bruce is based in DC, as are over at least two dozen A-Teamers and FOBs. Please check out Bruce's firm and his profile by visiting the BCR website at: www.bcr-dc.com. I've also included a pic of Bruce and me meeting over dinner during a December trip to our Nation's Capital. Bruce has also written some fabulous articles that I'd be happy to share with you upon request.

Dear Readers: if you have an article, white paper which you authored or quoted and if you like for me to share it with our A-Team & FOBs, please send it to me! The same goes for events in which you a moderator, guest speaker, sponsor, or exhibitor. Everyone wants to be recognized for their excellent work, ESPECIALLY in these tough times --- and so now's your opportunity to get your 15 minutes of fame, brought to you by BCCP!

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&refer=columnist_woolner&sid=aAjCQ6jWS7zI

For Stanford, a Rich Guy’s Guide to Fleeing U.S.: Ann Woolner

Commentary by Ann Woolner

Feb. 20 (Bloomberg) -- For financier con man Robert Vesco, Central America and the Caribbean beckoned when he was charged in the U.S. with a $224 million mutual fund fraud.

Movie director Roman Polanski made do with Paris as his home 30 years ago to avoid jail for having sex with a 13 year- old girl in Los Angeles.

Charged with evading millions of dollars in U.S. taxes, commodities trader Marc Rich lived openly in Switzerland for 18 years as one of the FBI’s most wanted fugitives.

R. Allen Stanford, on the other hand, holed up in Virginia. What’s with that?

How does a man worth billions, someone with dual citizenship, two passports, his own jets and friends around the world, turn up in Fredericksburg, Virginia?

Until then, it looked like a great escape in the making. Two days earlier the Securities and Exchange Commission accused him of an $8 billion fraud of stunning audacity and multinational reach. Suddenly, Stanford was nowhere to be found.

If he was going to flee, that was the time to go. No warrant demanded his arrest. No criminal charges filed. The feds merely needed to hand him papers: the SEC complaint and a resulting court order freezing his assets and instructing him to give up his passports.

Until then, there was nothing to stop him from leaving the country.

What’s Next

It’s a good guess that criminal charges and an arrest warrant might eventually follow. The SEC complaint alleges deliberate and massive fraud, and ABC News reports that a Stanford plane seized in Mexico seems to tie him to a murderous drug cartel there.

So if right about now, Stanford’s picturing jetting off to some island paradise and living the good life, he’ll have to settle for his own home on St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Americans don’t need a passport there, but it’s not an escape from the reach of U.S. law, either.

Besides, unless he hid lots of cash or a secret bank account, he’s not going anywhere, much less living the good life. All his accounts and his businesses’ are frozen, leaving Stanford without a working credit card.

And unless he can figure out a way to sneak in, his citizenship in Antigua won’t help, either, his knightship there notwithstanding. He can’t pull a Polanski.

French Shield

Polanski’s French citizenship rescued him from punishment in his other homeland, the U.S. Without it, France couldn’t have shielded him from extradition all this time.

Would Antigua protect Sir Allen, even though it has an extradition treaty with the U.S.?

Probably not.

“Antigua is a tiny country,” says Bruce Zagaris, a Washington lawyer who edits the International Enforcement Law Reporter. “It really needs the U.S. and England.”

Whatever goodwill Sir Allen’s businesses and multimillion- dollar cricket sponsorships generated for him there, he has suffered a sharp drop in popularity. Note the hundreds of angry investors lining up at Antigua banks wondering where their money went.

Nor could Stanford count on Switzerland, as Rich did until President Bill Clinton pardoned him in 2001. Rich benefited from Switzerland’s view that tax evasion is no crime. But if Stanford gets accused of aiding drug smugglers or defrauding investors, he can forget about a Swiss chateau.

Should he find a way to run, Stanford would be safest in a country with no extradition agreement with the U.S.

Cuban Connection

“The list of countries that you can go to are pretty small, and often not that attractive,” Zagaris says.

Iran, anyone? Zimbabwe?

Cuba is home to 70 fugitives from U.S. justice, the Associated Press reports. Hijackers, cop killers, bank robbers, militant Puerto Rican nationalists and Black Panthers have found sanctuary there. And then, of course, there was Vesco.

When he fled the U.S. in 1972, Vesco traveled by yacht and private plane around the Caribbean and Central America. He settled in Costa Rica, but a new president forced him out.

Then, to the Bahamas. Three years later, he fled again ahead of deportation orders.

“When you go to a country like Costa Rica, your welcome often is short-lived, and it’s often also very expensive,” says Zagaris, a partner in Berliner, Corcoran & Rowe. “Leaders are usually hitting you up for money.”

After dipping down in Antigua and Nicaragua, always inviting more trouble and finding it, Vesco wound up in Cuba in 1982. That’s where he died in 2007, according to the Associated Press.

Cuba is easy enough to get to from Antigua, but in 2006 it stopped granting sanctuary to Americans running from the law.

Maybe Fredericksburg isn’t such a bad place to land.

(Ann Woolner is a Bloomberg news columnist. The opinions expressed are her own.)

To contact the writer of the above article: Ann Woolner in Atlanta at awoolner@bloomberg.net.
Last Updated: February 20, 2009 00:01 EST

FREE Webinar Invitation

2007-11-12T15:12:00.000-08:00

AML INDEPENDENT AUDIT: DON'T LEAVE WORK WITHOUT IT!

Join us for a Webinar on November 13

Bekker Compliance Consulting Partners, LLC (BCCP), a full-service global consulting firm that specializes in providing proactive compliance solutions to the financial services industry .has announced today that it will hold its first webinar , to be hosted on BCCP’s website: www.bccp-llc.com. The webinar will feature Ross Delston, CAMS, attorney and former banking regulator, and Kenneth Barden, CAMS, attorney and international consultant, both Senior Compliance Consultants. “Independent audit has been targeted by financial regulators as an area for special attention, particularly for banks, broker-dealers and mutual funds. Insurance companies and MSBs are also subject to an independent audit requirement. Learn more about how to avoid common mistakes, whether independent really means independent, and why regulatory examiners take all of this so seriously. And we'll have some fun, with two experts who are also accomplished speakers with a sense of humor.”
Title:

AML INDEPENDENT AUDIT: DON'T LEAVE WORK WITHOUT IT!
Date:
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Time:
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EST

System RequirementsPC-based attendeesRequired: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista
Macintosh®-based attendeesRequired: Mac OS® X 10.3.9 (Panther®) or newer

Space is limited.Reserve your Webinar seat now at:https://www.gotomeeting.com/register/428978871

2007-10-19T12:18:00.000-07:00

Live from the 2007 NSCP Conference, it's Katie Hanks!

Hello from the Basement of the JW Marriott in Beautiful Downtown Washington, DC!!

This year’s NSCP conference, the 19th I’ve attended in 22 years, was back in the City after several years in the nearby suburbs of Crystal City, VA.

As a DC-ophile I can proudly say, the Dine-Around was much better attended than in those last several years. Indeed, it was sold out 10 days before the conference started! Now just why do I talk about the Dine-Around??? Well, from my perspective the informal meetings with colleagues still provides the greatest kernels of actionable facts and thoughts – those that I will take home, ponder, and implement in my own inimitable fashion. Which is not to say that the meetings weren’t good – they were. And, even more importantly, given that my purpose at the conference this year was also to spread the word about Bekker Compliance Consulting Partners, LLC, it was at lunch on the second day that generated my one strong lead of the conference!

The best panelist story award goes to Pamela Fritz of MWA Financial Services. She related this interaction between one of her staff members in compliance and an RR they were considering hiring. After an FBI report came back on the prospective rep, her compliance officer quizzed the salesman on his record of having stolen ‘a steak’ at age 18.

The answer came back as a question, “Haven’t you ever been high and hungry?”

Presumably there was no response by the compliance officer.

No word was given about whether they hired the guy.

~Katie Hanks

BCCP News You Can Use!!

2007-10-10T06:26:00.000-07:00

We've had a busy autumn season here at BCCP!! The ACAMS Conference in Las Vegas was a huge success and now we are organizing trips for CEO Carrie Bekker to the GAIM Middle East Conference in Dubai, Nov. 26-28 as well as a journey to the major financial centers of Asia to discuss regulatory compliance issues and opportunities.

In the personnel department, we welcome our two new Executive Assistants, Michelle Page and Nikki Gonzalez. Michelle is our Research Specialist, while Nikki will be giving direct assistance our CEO Carrie.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

We are hard at work on our first Webinar, hosted by Carrie Bekker and presented by Kenneth Barden JD, ACAMS Jakarta, Indonesia and Ross Delston JD, ACAMS, Washington DC. The topic will be:

Robust Independent AML Audit:

Don’t Leave Work Without It!

How NOT to follow in the footsteps of
American Express…

Please plan to join us for this informative webinar on Nov. 13, 2007, 12:00 PM EST. To sign up for our mailing list for the webinar, please email me at mkradnich@bccp-llc.com

BCCP University is coming!

Coming soon to the BCCP website: BCCP University Online, which will include Firm Element/CE and other courses, that we will be offering for a nominal fee to our clients and other website visitors who wish to partake of this new service! Stay tuned for more details …

Did You Know?

BCCP Consultants are available for speaking engagements on a variety of compliance topics. If you are looking for a speaker, please contact our COO Kelli Hillmar at khillmar@bccp-llc.com.

And lastly, I want to share a special treat from Caesars Palace & the ACAMS Conference last month. The BCCP Exhibtor Booth was conveniently located at the doors of the main ballroom. And the bar for the cocktail reception was set up right next to our booth! In chatting with the bartender, Rob Reinherz, I requested something tasty and a little sweet to drink. He created the Bekker Compliance Cocktail for us!! We want to share the recipe with all of you, our readers:

The Bekker Compliance Cocktail

Captain Morgan Rum

Orange Juice

Pineapple Juice

Sweet and Sour

Cranberry Juice Cocktail

Enjoy and have a great week!

~ Mary Kay Radnich CIO

Photos from ACAMS 2007 @ Caesars Palace, Las Vegas !

2007-10-02T10:08:00.000-07:00

Top photo: Carrie Bekker CEO with Jeffrey Aronofsky, CAMS, Account Executive

Bottom photo: Kelli Hillmar, COO of Bekker Compliance Consulting Partners LLC, manning our booth at the ACAMS conference.

ACAMS Las Vegas 2007 !!

2007-09-30T18:33:00.000-07:00

At this year's ACAMS/Las Vegas Conference, BCCP's first time with an exhibitor booth was a huge success!! We visited with many friends, both old and new, catching up and spreading the news of the services offered by BCCP.

Without a doubt, our "tchotchkis" were a big hit, especially our "Got Compliance?" hand sanitizer - keeping you both compliant AND clean! Our grand prize drawing was a Solio solar battery charger for small electronics and its uniqueness created a lot of "energy" on its own.

One of the highlights of the conference for me was attending the presentation by James Richards of Wells Fargo Bank on mining the web for information. Very informative and apropos to the essential aspect of due diligence and KYC.

Another highlight was having dinner with the AML Unit of the Fairfax County Police Dept.'s Narcotics Division. These gentlemen, by using their CAMS knowledge, were able to break up a very large narcotics ring. ACAMS awarded them for their success in the field. The dinner was hosted by ACAMS' own Jeffrey Aronofsky, Account Executive.

But the best highlight for me was, unquestionably, meeting my CEO and friend, Carrie Bekker and her husband Robert!! With a virtual business model, meeting the various A-Team consultants and other management team members can be quite a challenge. Thus far I have met Kelli Hillmar, COO and ace assistants Brenda Smith and Michelle Page. At the ACAMS conference I also was very privileged to meet A-Team members William Akel and Brian Stoeckert. While riding his bike in Las Vegas, Willliam Akel had the misfortune of being hit by a car and consequently was sporting a bright blue cast on his right arm! We wish William a speedy and complete recovery!!

Caesars Palace was an excellent venue for such a conference, with first class amenities and service. Many thanks to all who helped make the ACAMS conference such a huge success for both BCCP and the AML industry.

~Mary Kay Radnich, Senior Media Analyst

SOLIO

2007-09-24T07:44:00.000-07:00

UPCOMING EVENTS!!

2007-09-19T13:02:00.000-07:00

ACAMS Conference Las Vegas! Sept. 23-26, 2007: Bekker Compliance Consulting Partners LLC will be both a sponsor and exhibitor for ACAMS Las Vegas conference. Be sure to stop by our booth to learn more about our services as well as sign up for our grand prize drawing!

WEBINAR: October 17, 2007: Check back after the ACAMS conference for more information about our first ever BCCP Webinar hosted by CEO Carrie Bekker! Mark your calendars now!

BCCP Blog

Interesting LinkedIn commentary regarding cultural differences & how we bridge the gap in a globalized economic and business environment

"Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Full-Time Position in Kuwait #2: Director, Risk & Compliance

Full-Time Position in Kuwait #2: Director, Risk & Compliance

Full-Time Position in Kuwait #1: Director Performance & Technology

Full-Time: General Management Position in Baghdad

You are cordially invited to join us for our Business Continuity Management web event on Wednesday, December 16 @ 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time

ShareThis

January 2010 is just around the corner! Don't wait until the last minute to fulfill your 2009 year-end compliance obligations!

WHY I LOVE BCCP: AN ESSAY WRITTEN FOR A BIZ-OPP GRANT

BCCP PRESENTS: BEST IN THE WEST (“BITW”) VIRTUAL ASSISTANT SERVICES...

BCCP/BCI UPCOMING WEBCAST ON JUNE 17 @ 12 NOON! REGISTER TODAY FOR THE BEST SEAT IN THE HOUSE!

BCCP in the News! Also Sajith Kumar of JRG, our Global Alliance Partner in MENA/India!

BCCP Crew in the News: John Schrier, our Director of Regulatory Compliance!

BCCP Blog: DMCC Gold Convention at Atlantis Hotel, The Palm Jumeirah -- April 27, 2009!

DMCC Gold Convention at Atlantis Hotel, The Palm Jumeirah -- April 27, 2009!

Spotlight: Please join me in welcoming Sajith Kumar, BCCP's Newest Global Alliance Partner!

Spotlight: John Schrier, BCCP's Director of Regulatory Compliance!

MY NAME IS CARRIE BEKKER AND I ENDORSE JOE MENDOLA FOR NYC COMPTROLLER 2009! VOTE FOR JOE! JOE IS THE BEST!

Hey, A-Team & Friends of BCCP! Carrie Bekker here with an important announcement to make ...

In Today's News: Bloomberg quotes A-Teamer "Friend of BCCP" Bruce Zagaris on the Stanford case

FREE Webinar Invitation

BCCP News You Can Use!!

Photos from ACAMS 2007 @ Caesars Palace, Las Vegas !

ACAMS Las Vegas 2007 !!

SOLIO

UPCOMING EVENTS!!