Compliance & Risk

Compliance as a Competitive Advantage

In today's regulatory environment, robust compliance is not a cost centre, it is a prerequisite for maintaining banking relationships, accessing international markets, and preserving the credibility of your corporate structures.

Overview

Navigating Mauritius's Regulatory Framework

Mauritius-licensed entities operate under a comprehensive regulatory framework enforced by three principal authorities: the Financial Services Commission (FSC), the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), and the Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA). Meeting these obligations requires specialist expertise in AML/CFT, FATCA/CRS, FSC licensing conditions, and evolving international standards.

Aurevya's compliance team provides ongoing compliance management, conducting annual compliance reviews, implementing and maintaining AML/CFT programmes, managing FATCA/CRS registrations and filings, and providing proactive guidance on regulatory developments that may impact your structures. We approach compliance not as a box-ticking exercise but as a genuine risk management discipline, one that protects the integrity of the entity's licence, its banking relationships, and its commercial standing.

In a regulatory environment that changes with increasing frequency and consequence, having a specialist compliance team embedded in your administrative function is not a luxury, it is a prerequisite for operating a sustainable international structure from Mauritius.

3
Regulatory Bodies, FSC, FIU & MRA
Each with distinct regulatory mandates, inspection powers, and reporting requirements, all managed by Aurevya's specialist compliance team.
Annual
Compliance Reviews
Structured annual reviews of each entity's compliance posture, identifying gaps, recommending remediation, and documenting the review for FSC inspection purposes.
FATCA/CRS
Compliant Reporting
Full registration and annual reporting management for FATCA and the OECD Common Reporting Standard, the two primary international automatic exchange of information frameworks.

What We Provide

Key Features of Our Compliance Service

AML/CFT Programme Design
We design, implement, and maintain tailored AML/CFT programmes for each entity we service, incorporating risk-based customer due diligence procedures, transaction monitoring frameworks, suspicious activity reporting protocols, and staff awareness training.
FATCA & CRS Reporting
Aurevya manages the complete FATCA and Common Reporting Standard lifecycle, from initial registration with the MRA and US IRS (for FATCA purposes) through to annual reporting submissions. We classify account holders, identify reportable accounts, and prepare and submit all required reports.
FSC Condition Monitoring
Each FSC licence carries specific conditions that must be observed throughout the life of the entity. Our team maintains a comprehensive schedule of FSC licence conditions for each client entity and monitors compliance on an ongoing basis, flagging any developing issues before they become regulatory problems.
Annual Compliance Reviews
We conduct a structured annual compliance review for each entity, assessing the effectiveness of the AML/CFT programme, reviewing KYC files for completeness and currency, checking statutory filings, and producing a compliance review report that demonstrates the entity's compliance posture to the FSC.
Policy & Procedure Development
From AML/CFT policies and KYC procedures to data protection frameworks and business continuity plans, Aurevya develops the written policies and procedures that underpin an effective compliance function, tailored to the specific nature and risk profile of each entity.
Regulatory Intelligence
Mauritius's regulatory framework evolves continuously. Our team monitors FSC circulars, FIU guidance, OECD developments, and FATF updates, translating regulatory change into practical guidance for clients and implementing any required adjustments to compliance frameworks proactively.

Process

How It Works

01
Compliance Audit
For new engagements with existing entities, we conduct a comprehensive compliance audit, assessing the current state of the AML/CFT programme, KYC files, FSC condition adherence, and FATCA/CRS status against the applicable regulatory requirements.
02
Programme Design & Implementation
Based on the audit findings (or from inception for new entities), we design and implement a tailored compliance programme, including all policies, procedures, and controls required to meet FSC, FIU, and MRA expectations.
03
KYC/CDD Framework
We establish the entity's Know Your Customer and Customer Due Diligence framework, including risk classification methodology, due diligence requirements by counterparty type, and ongoing monitoring procedures for existing relationships.
04
Annual Review Process
Each year, we conduct a structured compliance review of the entity, assessing effectiveness, identifying any gaps or weaknesses, reviewing and refreshing KYC files, and producing a documented review report for board sign-off and FSC inspection readiness.
05
Regulatory Reporting
We prepare and submit all required regulatory reports, including FATCA/CRS annual returns, suspicious transaction reports to the FIU where applicable, and any ad hoc FSC notifications required by the entity's licence conditions.
06
Proactive Monitoring
Between formal reviews, our team monitors the entity's activities and the regulatory environment on an ongoing basis, advising clients promptly on any developments requiring action and ensuring that the compliance function operates continuously rather than episodically.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

A GBC holding a Global Business Licence from the FSC is classified as a "reporting entity" under the Financial Intelligence and Anti-Money Laundering Act 2002 (FIAMLA) and is required to implement a comprehensive AML/CFT programme. This programme must include: a risk-based customer due diligence framework; transaction monitoring procedures; suspicious activity identification and reporting protocols; record-keeping systems; and staff training. The entity must appoint a qualified Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) and conduct periodic reviews of the programme's effectiveness. Aurevya manages all of these obligations as part of its compliance service.
FATCA (the US Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) requires Mauritius financial institutions to identify and report on accounts held by US persons to the Mauritius Revenue Authority, which shares the information with the US IRS. CRS (the OECD Common Reporting Standard) is the multilateral equivalent, requiring financial institutions to identify and report accounts held by tax residents of participating jurisdictions to their domestic tax authorities for onward exchange. Whether and how these regimes apply to a specific Mauritius entity depends on whether it is classified as a "Financial Institution" under the applicable rules, a determination that Aurevya's compliance team makes as part of the initial compliance setup process.
FSC guidance and best practice require that a formal compliance review be conducted at least annually for each licensed entity. The review should assess the effectiveness of the AML/CFT programme, the completeness and currency of KYC files, adherence to FSC licence conditions, and the entity's overall compliance posture. The review must be documented and presented to the board, and the resulting report must be retained for potential FSC inspection. Aurevya schedules and conducts annual compliance reviews for all entities under its administration as a standard component of its ongoing compliance service.
The consequences of regulatory non-compliance in Mauritius can be severe, ranging from formal FSC warnings and financial penalties to suspension or revocation of the entity's licence. In serious cases, the FSC may refer matters to the FIU or the Director of Public Prosecutions. Beyond regulatory sanctions, non-compliance can trigger banking relationship termination, reputational damage, and challenges in accessing international markets. Aurevya's proactive compliance model is specifically designed to prevent non-compliance, but where a breach is identified, our team provides immediate remediation support and manages the regulatory engagement process on the client's behalf.
The FSC requires each licensed entity to designate a Compliance Officer, an individual responsible for overseeing the entity's compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and FSC conditions. The Compliance Officer monitors regulatory developments, implements compliance programmes, manages the KYC and AML/CFT framework, and serves as the primary point of contact for the FSC on compliance matters. Aurevya provides experienced Compliance Officers for client entities, individuals with deep knowledge of the Mauritius regulatory framework who fulfill this role as part of the ongoing compliance management service.

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