GRC Solutions for Mutual Funds, ETFs, and Other Investment Companies

Our Investment Company Practice supports registered investment companies, as well as their advisers and sub-advisers, board of directors, and service providers to help them build, enhance and add controls to their compliance programs to meet Investment Company Act of 1940 requirements and SEC and industry standards.

We offer objective, innovative, and effective compliance reviews and solutions to prepare registered investment companies, as well as their boards, sponsors, advisers, sub-advisers, and service providers, for the rigors of SEC examinations. We provide solutions to assist firms with managing and mitigating related operational, regulatory, and reputational risks.

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Our solutions

Address financial crimes-related threats and regulatory concerns with our team of former regulators and auditors. Our team can support with independent money laundering reviews for mutual funds and transfer agents, AML compliance program reviews, and more.

We offer broker-dealer chaperoning services to non-U.S. asset managers and broker-dealers that seek to market private funds in the United States without registering as a U.S. broker-dealer.

Strengthen your compliance program with our global team of compliance professionals.

Our consultants can provide training on the many topics mutual funds, ETFs, and other investment companies need to comply with, or you can choose to use any of our online modules to train your staff.

Build cyber and operational resilience across your firm with our team of cybersecurity and technology risk experts.

ACA Foreside can sponsor (apply for, obtain, and maintain) an NSCC membership participant number for domestic funds, collective trusts, and foreign funds. Additionally, we can provide guidance to clients and their transfer agents with respect to administration, implementation, and maintenance of funds’ operational policies and procedures.

Gain clarity on your firm’s ESG requirements and build a strong compliance program with our dedicated ESG advisory practice.

Launching an ETF takes the right partner.  We stand ready to advise you regarding the regulatory, financial, operational and distribution requirements of your exchange-traded funds (ETFs). 

Our Fund Officer model provides a hands-on, tailored approach by placing experienced and independent Fund Officers close to the Fund’s Board of Trustees. They are exposed to multiple administrators, counsel, and advisors, and have valuable industry perspective allowing for a better understanding of best practices.

We distribute over $1 trillion of product for over 200 fund families through our broker-dealers and serve as the legal underwriter for registered funds (mutual funds, closed-end funds, and ETFs) and placement agent for private funds.

Liquidity Risk Management Program Support

ACA’s Investment Company practice is dedicated to supporting our clients in navigating the SEC’s liquidity risk management program rule through educational resources and alerts, benchmarking insight, help with program management and development of policies and procedures, annual assessments, and more.

Maximize your firm’s time and efficiency with our technology-powered managed services. Our team can assist with on- and off-site CCO support and outsourced mutual fund advertising and marketing reviews.

Stay in compliance with the GIPS® standards and investment performance rules with the world’s largest team of GIPS standards verifiers.

We can maintain a private-label broker-dealer on behalf of your firm, allowing you to focus on your core business. Our private label broker-dealer offering provides an opportunity for firms to have ACA Foreside own and manage a broker-dealer branded by you and dedicated solely to you as the client.

ACA Foreside can assist with all aspects of your FINRA licensing needs for both registered and private funds.

Build a scalable and resilient compliance program with our ComplianceAlpha® regulatory technology  platform backed by managed services support.

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Who we work with

We provide solutions for the following types of firms.

Business Development Companies (BDCs)

We provide objective, innovative, and effective compliance reviews and solutions to assist business development companies, as well as their boards, sponsors, and service providers — with preparing for the rigors of an SEC examination.

Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)

We provide objective, innovative, and effective compliance reviews and solutions to assist exchange-traded funds with preparing for the rigors of an SEC examination.

Registered Investment Companies

We offer diverse compliance review and compliance services, all scalable to individual client needs.

Variable Insurance Products

We help insurance companies and distributors understand and manage these complex compliance requirements and develop and implement the comprehensive, effective risk-based protocols necessary to meet regulators’ expectations.

Solution Spotlight

Investment company compliance solutions

Our team includes former regulators along with former along with former chief compliance officers and senior compliance managers from prominent financial institutions. Our team helps you to navigate the evolving regulatory landscape while considering the complexity of your firm’s unique compliance requirements.

Compliance solutions can include:

  • Adviser and fund policy and procedure customization and development
  • Mock SEC reviews
  • Rule 38a-1 compliance program reviews
  • Enhanced annual adviser compliance program reviews that is specific to Company Act requirements for advisers/sub-advisers
  • Customized focus reviews (e.g. liquidity risk management program, intermediary fees, cross trades, cybersecurity, valuation)
  • Compliance and internal audit testing support
  • Sub-adviser due diligence reviews
  • SEC inspection support
  • Mutual fund distributor reviews and financial intermediary oversight reviews (e.g. FINRA rule 3110, 3120)
  • Independent Consulting Mandate

By the numbers

Our market share

80%

of the top 100 mutual funds (as noted in the Mutual Fund Directory March 2020 ranking data)

Latest compliance insights

curved glass building looking up at a blue sky

SEC Guidance for Paycheck Protection Program Related Considerations

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission recently issued guidance to financial institutions regarding some of the disclosure requirements and other obligations related to the Paycheck Protection Program and the impact of COVID-19.

Compliance Alert
  • Compliance
curved glass building looking up at a blue sky

FCA Market Watch 63 Reminds Firms of Market Abuse and Reporting Requirements During the COVID-19 Crisis

The FCA’s recently published Market Watch 63 reminds firms that they must continue to comply with their obligations around market conduct and reporting during the COVID-19 crisis. It highlights some changes to market activities and alternative working arrangements which represent a higher risk. We examine how firms should respond to the regulator's concerns.

Compliance Alert
  • Compliance
  • COVID-19
  • Trade Surveillance
curved glass building looking up at a blue sky

Whistleblowing and Why it Matters During Lockdown

Whistleblowing is seeing the highest level of activity since 2015, with employees ready to take their concerns straight to the competent authorities if not satisfied by internal remediation. We examine the importance of whistleblowing in a robust compliance framework and why it matters during lockdown

Compliance Alert
  • Compliance
forest of trees from above

2020 Liquidity Risk Management Program Rule Survey

By participating in this survey, you can help us identify trends in how firms are complying with the rule and accounting for market closures and market volatility. Results will be presented later this summer so you can implement some of the most common practices at your firm.

Survey
  • Compliance
curved glass building looking up at a blue sky

The Regulatory Initiatives Grid and Implementing Regulatory Change in the UK

The Financial Services Regulatory Initiatives Forum (‘FSRIF’ or the ‘Forum’) recently published its Regulatory Initiatives Grid to help the financial services industry understand, and plan for regulatory change as a result of COVID-19. We examine the impact and areas of focus.

Compliance Alert
  • Compliance
Compliance Alert

SEC Examination Requests Related to COVID-19 Business Continuity and Operational Resilience

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) announced in March that it intends to engage in an ongoing outreach with registrants to assess the impacts of COVID-19, including challenges impacting operational resiliency. In the last few weeks, ACA has seen an increase in the number of examinations announced by the SEC examination staff.

Compliance Alert
  • Compliance
  • BCP
  • COVID-19
  • Cybersecurity

News

Cybersecurity Benchmarking Survey Lists Top Concerns and Preparedness Among Respondents

Our annual survey in partnership with NSCP reveals that investment firms overlook AI as a cybersecurity risk and remain wary about SEC cybersecurity enforcement and compliance with new rules

ACA Group Launches Dedicated Practice Group Providing GRC Solutions for Wealth Managers

ACA Wealth sets a new standard in GRC support for wealth managers, providing unmatched expertise and comprehensive solutions to address evolving regulatory requirements.

ACA's Celebration of Women's Impact from History to Herstory

ACA proudly joins the global celebration of International Women's History Month, commemorating the remarkable achievements and enduring legacies of women worldwide.

Upcoming events