VER™

Valyn Effectiveness Review — assessing and enhancing the practical effectiveness of governance, regulatory, and AML/CFT frameworks.

What is VER™?

VER™ (Valyn Effectiveness Review) is Valyn Advisory's proprietary advisory framework designed to assess and enhance the practical effectiveness of governance, regulatory, and AML/CFT frameworks.

VER™ focuses on how frameworks operate in practice—covering governance, judgment, controls, and outcomes—rather than the existence of documentation alone.

Our Assessments

Each assessment is calibrated to the depth and scope your institution requires.

VER™ Core

Foundational Effectiveness Review

VER™ Core provides a structured baseline review of an institution's governance and AML/CFT foundations to establish an overall view of structural soundness and regulatory alignment.

Scope typically includes:

Governance structure and oversight arrangements

Allocation of roles and responsibilities across control functions

AML/CFT framework foundations and governance

Coherence of policies, procedures, and internal frameworks

High-level alignment between risk profile and control design

Typically suitable for:

Newly licensed or newly established institutions

Institutions undergoing structural or organizational change

Institutions seeking an initial effectiveness baseline

VER™ Advanced

In-Depth Effectiveness Assessment

VER™ Advanced delivers a deeper, risk-focused assessment of how governance and AML/CFT frameworks function in practice, with emphasis on effectiveness, decision-making quality, and institutional maturity.

Scope typically includes:

Effectiveness of AML/CFT controls and escalation processes

Quality and application of risk assessments

Decision-making practices and management challenge

Effectiveness of management information and reporting

Sustainability and maturity of governance arrangements

Typically suitable for:

Established or complex institutions

Higher-risk operating environments

Institutions seeking to strengthen effectiveness beyond baseline compliance

VER™ Systems

AML/CFT Systems Effectiveness Review

VER™ Systems provides independent advisory focused on the effectiveness of AML/CFT systems and tools, assessed in coordination with internal compliance and technology teams. Valyn Advisory remains vendor-neutral and does not develop, sell, or resell AML/CFT systems.

Scope typically includes:

Review of system design, configuration, and coverage

Assessment of rules, scenarios, and alert logic effectiveness

Alignment between system outputs, policies, and institutional risk profile

Workflow, escalation, and reporting integration

Practical recommendations for system optimization and enhancement

Typically suitable for:

Institutions operating transaction monitoring or screening systems

Institutions planning system enhancements or reconfiguration

Institutions seeking independent, outcome-focused system advisory

VER™ Lite

Targeted AML Readiness Review

VER™ Lite provides a focused, risk-based review of an institution’s core AML/CFT control environment to determine immediate regulatory exposure and operational readiness. The review delivers a structured assessment of control adequacy, documentation quality, and functional alignment with applicable regulatory expectations.

Scope typically includes:

Governance oversight of AML/CFT function

Existence and adequacy of institutional risk assessment

Customer due diligence framework design

Sanctions screening controls and escalation procedures

Transaction monitoring structure (design-level review)

Suspicious transaction reporting process overview

Record-keeping and documentation standards

Training and awareness framework

Typically suitable for:

DNFBPs and smaller regulated entities

Institutions preparing for supervisory review

Entities requiring an independent compliance health-check

Organizations seeking a structured readiness snapshot

VER™ Charity

Charitable Organization AML Effectiveness Review

VER™ Charity is a specialized AML/CFT governance and risk evaluation framework tailored for charitable and non-profit organizations operating within the Kingdom of Bahrain. The review assesses exposure to misuse risks, governance robustness, donor and beneficiary controls, and alignment with relevant AML/CFT regulatory requirements.

Scope typically includes:

Board oversight and governance structure

Institutional terrorist financing risk assessment

Donor identification and screening controls

Beneficiary verification procedures

Cross-border transfers and geographic exposure

Fund flow transparency and traceability

Suspicious activity escalation mechanisms

Record retention and compliance documentation

AML awareness and governance reporting

Typically suitable for:

Registered charitable societies

Non-profit organizations handling cross-border transfers

Foundations receiving international donations

Charities seeking governance strengthening and regulatory alignment

Key Characteristics

Key Characteristics of VER™

Senior-led and experience-driven

Independent and vendor-neutral

Practical and outcome-focused

Tailored to institutional risk profiles

Designed to complement—not replace—internal control functions

Engagement Principles

VER™ Engagement Principles

VER™ engagements are:

Clearly scoped and time-bound

Conducted with discretion and confidentiality

Delivered in collaboration with management and control functions

Focused on practical, implementable outcomes

Technical Notes

Technical & Regulatory Notes

VER™ is an advisory framework, not an audit or inspection

VER™ does not involve regulatory decision-making or enforcement

VER™ outputs are advisory in nature and institution-specific

Request a VER™ Assessment

Understand the real effectiveness of your governance and AML/CFT frameworks.

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