Several areas of the FATF Standards often require specialised technical assistance for jurisdictions to fully address. This involves understanding, developing, and implementing the right approach for any specific jurisdiction. These are often complex areas, such as:
- BO transparency regimes (considering the recent FATF changes to R.24 and R.25);
- VASP supervisory regimes;
- Regimes for effectively implementing TFS;
- Asset-recovery strategies and regimes (considering the FATF updates to Immediate Outcome 8); and
- Regimes for ongoing monitoring and oversight of NPOs (considering the amendments to R.8 and guidance on mitigating unintended consequences).
Notably, in 2023, the FATF updated how it will assess the effective implementation of new BO and transparency requirements. These assessments will play a crucial role in ensuring that jurisdictions are taking effective actions to close the loopholes and regulatory weaknesses that allow shell companies or other legal persons and arrangements to be used as cover for criminal-related activities.
Revisions were also made to R.8 on NPOs, and updated guidance was issued, to ensure that measures introduced to safeguard the NPO sector against ML and TF are targeted and proportionate, and do not unintentionally or otherwise suppress civil society through over-application of the FATF Standards.
About this service
- Developing BO transparency frameworks and ensuring accurate and accessible BO data.
- Developing supervisory regimes, focusing on effective enforcement mechanisms.
- Developing FIU structures and effective use of intelligence, aligned with R.29.
- Guiding competent authorities on effectively implementing TFS, with an emphasis on supervision and use of intelligence.
- Developing effective frameworks for the oversight and monitoring of NPOs, aligned with revised R.8.
Effectiveness
Percentage of jurisdictions worldwide demonstrating high or substantial levels of effectiveness in investigating, prosecuting and convicting ML offences and confiscating the proceeds of crimes in the previous round.
BO transparency
Percentage of jurisdictions worldwide demonstrating a high or substantial level of effectiveness on BO transparency in the previous round.
Compliance
Percentage of jurisdictions worldwide assessed as having in place a compliant or largely compliant regime for NPOs (R.8) in the previous round.
Our Experts in Action
Meet the team leading this service
Ian Matthews
Associate Expert
Risk, Supervision, Beneficial Ownership
Ian Matthews is a legal and financial crime expert with significant experience in AML/CFT supervision, beneficial ownership, and international evaluations. A qualified solicitor (England & Wales), Ian brings a unique combination of legal drafting skill and practical regulatory insight, shaped by more than two decades of international engagement.
Ian served as Co-Chair of the FATF Evaluations and Compliance Group (2015-2020) playing a central role in shaping the global approach towards mutual evaluations and assessment. Equally, as part of the UK delegation to the FATF, he participated in both third and fourth round mutual evaluations and was seconded to the European Commission to work on the drafting of the EU’s Fourth AML Directive.
In recent years, Ian has worked closely with a wide variety of jurisdictions to improve risk-based supervision regimes, helping authorities tailor their frameworks to sector-specific risks and demonstrate tangible supervisory outcomes to assessment teams. This work has also involved acting as an expert for the IMF, being a scientific expert to MONEYVAL and working for the World Bank.
Kamal Abou El Nasr
Risk, Supervision and Financial Intelligence
Kamal Abou El Nasr is a seasoned financial crime and compliance expert with over 20 years of experience with notable skills in risk, supervision and financial intelligence.
Throughout his career, he has held significant leadership roles in both the public and private sectors, including within financial intelligence units, major financial institutions, and regulatory bodies.
As a FATF/MENAFATF assessor, Kamal contributed to the UAE’s 2020 mutual evaluation and re-rating assessment, playing a critical role in regulatory compliance evaluations. He has also served as a certified trainer and keynote speaker, leading international workshops on risk-based supervision, customer due diligence (CDD), enhanced due diligence (EDD), and financial investigations.
Kamal holds an MBA and CAMS certification and has been recognised for his expertise in shaping AML/CFT policies and strengthening compliance frameworks worldwide.
Julian Lamb
Registries, Beneficial Ownership and Risk
Julian Lamb is a leading expert on corporate registries and beneficial ownership frameworks, with over 40 years of experience in financial regulation and digital transformation. He currently works with Governments and international bodies, including the World Bank and the EU Global Facility on AML/CFT, on the implementation of effective registry systems.
As previous Executive Director and Registrar of Companies at the Jersey Financial Services Commission (1999 – 2024), Julian led the design and full-scale digitisation of one of the world’s most advanced company registries. He was directly responsible for building Jersey’s central register of beneficial ownership, ensuring alignment with FATF Recommendations 24 and 25 through hands-on policy, legislative, and technical development.
Julian brings recent practical experience from supporting registry and transparency reforms in countries across Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia. He is a Chartered Director, a Fellow of both the CISI and ACCA, and has received multiple international awards for innovation in registry design and implementation.
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Find out how we can help your organisation or jurisdiction navigate complex AML/CFT challenges and build robust, effective defences against financial crime.