Member Article

Bribery on menu at Newcastle seminar

A north east business compliance expert has delved into the murky and mysterious under-world of bribery and corruption in a bid to warn his business clients about the far reaching implications of a new piece of legislation.

Bryan Conway is the Managing Principal Consultant of Blyth based Compliance Management Systems (CMS), a group of expert business practitioners with the necessary skills to provide a one stop solution and practical support to SMEs and large organisations on compliance with statutory requirements. CMS’s team of consultants and advisers have been developing policies, protocols, processes and procedures for diverse business subjects for more than 25 years and their latest conference deals with the implications of the UK Bribery Act which took effect on 1stJuly 2011.

Regulators estimate that $1,000bn is paid out worldwide in bribes every year and envelopes stuffed with cash are no longer the traditional method of exchanging favours. Promises of gifts, golf outings or even expensive art are the subject of investigations by HMRC and every business large or small needs to be aware of the consequences of what was once rarely spoken of but regarded as custom and practice.

To get across the main parts of the act, Mr Conway has enlisted the specialist help of a team of experts in law enforcement and anti-corruption to deliver a unique conference and workshop for SME owners, business leaders and executive managers of banks, solicitors, accountants and public bodies.

Guest speakers at the event on Friday 15thJune at the Marriott Hotel, Gosforth Park include Tom Monaghan and George Clydesdale who have both worked at the top level in both the police and the political world for the European Commission. Mr Monaghan was a member of the EC’s Anti-Fraud Department (OLAF), based in Brussels. More recently he has advised senior police forces, public prosecutors and worked with officials in Eastern Europe.

Mr Clydesdale also worked on EC matters and was based full-time in both Lithuania and Rumania where he was a resident specialist advisor on inter alia, organised crime, corruption, fraud and financial investigations. He also worked in Poland and Lithuania as an EU advisor to the police and customs departments.

Mr Conway is delighted that these two experts are able to lead the conference and workshop which is aimed at top level executives.

“Our experts will bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the table and show delegates ways to avoid putting their business on the firing line for bribery. The conference will also show ways to fight corruption and give delegates practical experience of forensic audits. CMS will add to the conference by covering important aspects such as risk assessments and relevant aspects of the law. Many consultants tell you what needs to be done, we go the extra mile by showing you how to do it. I don’t want any of my clients to fall foul of this legislation, forewarned is forearmed,” he said.

Photo shows: Bryan Conway shows how to stamp out bribery at his new seminar.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Keith Newman .