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.

CONNECT WITH US


CONNECT WITH US


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.  Our EFT compliance services 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.

1 of

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 fund management 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 fund management compliance 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

highway at night from overhead

Five Key Takeaways from ACA’s Boston Hedge Fund Briefing

ACA’s Hedge Fund Practice hosted a breakfast event in Boston with local CCOs, with a fireside chat with senior staff from the Securities Exchange Commission’s (“SEC”) Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (“OCIE”) and Division of Enforcement. The SEC staff discussed priorities pursued by OCIE and Enforcement, the SEC’s use of data analytics, challenges related to deficiencies (or a lack there of) stemming from exams, and expectations around firm’s trade surveillance policies, procedures, and practices. Read our key takeaways.

Article
  • Compliance
highway at night from overhead

Returning from summer holidays – A prudential year-end “to do” list

Leaving annual review prudential regulatory preparations until December creates a last-minute crush of work, and may result in key areas being overlooked. We discuss the importance of reviewing and refreshing prudential programmes in a timely manner

Article
  • Compliance
  • FCA
curved glass building looking up at a blue sky

CSSF Brexit preparations: Action required for AIFMs, MiFID firms and UCITS firms

The Luxembourg regulator, (the CSSF) has outlined provisions to allow for contract continuity of existing relationships established and serviced via passporting rights under various EU directives for 12 months. Application deadline is 15 September 2019. What does this mean for financial services firms?

Compliance Alert
  • Compliance
forest of trees from above

Delivering on SM&CR – Do firms need to move faster?

Poll findings reveal that less than 2% of firms ready for the Senior Managers & Certification Regime, which comes into force in less than 100 days. It's clear that solo-regulated firms must accelerate the pace at which they are preparing for regulation ahead of 9 December implementation but is the work required ahead of the deadline being underestimated?

Survey
  • Compliance
highway at night from overhead

When it Comes to Compliance, is Ignorance Bliss or a Potential Liability?

With a raft of regulatory changes coming into force over the last few years, financial firms have incurred many system, process, policy and procedure changes. Overseeing and managing all of the moving pieces presents a challenge for compliance teams. How can Senior Management and Compliance Officers be confident that their governance, risk, and compliance framework is current, sufficiently comprehensive and ultimately effective to avoid regulatory scrutiny?

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

FCA Raises Further Concerns on Access to Inside Information

Following the conviction of a former compliance officer of a major investment bank, the FCA raises concerns on the control of access to inside information. We examine the regulator's findings and recommendations, and what this means for financial services firms.

Compliance Alert
  • Compliance

News

ACA Group Acquires Financial Compliance Firm, FINOP Consulting

Acquisition strengthens ACA’s outsourced financial operations offering for broker-dealers.

ACA Group Recognized on ESGFinTech100 Among Top Industry Innovators

We are thrilled to announce that ACA Group has earned a spot on the prestigious 2024 ESGFinTech100 list, joining the ranks of the world's most innovative ESG technology providers.

Financial Services Firms Lag in AI Governance and Compliance Readiness, Survey Reveals

The 2024 AI Benchmarking Survey by ACA Aponix and NSCP reveals that, despite enthusiasm for AI, financial firms lack formal AI governance frameworks, testing protocols, and third-party oversight.

Upcoming events