400 EUR each month (inclusive of 7.7% Swiss VAT)

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FinTech Compliance Collective

Compliance Collective membership offers ongoing support, group trainings and individual 1:1 coaching  for ambitious self-driven FinTech leaders, Heads of Compliance, MLROs and CCOs who would like  to accelerate their professional progress, improve visibility with their stakeholders and deliver better and faster results for their companies.

Compliance knowledge alone will not guarantee the appreciation and respect of your management or a meaningful career progression… but something else can!

Is it true for you?

  1. Your to-do list keeps growing despite the fact that you consistently work very long hours, and you often find yourself rushed or under pressure from senior management to complete tasks and compromise quality, but still leaving your management unsatisfied.
  2. You secretly wonder how your company is still in business with so many risks and why nobody faced legal consequences. 
  3. You resent that the main outcome of your efforts "nothing bad happened" is taken for granted.
  4. Many of your recommendations are ignored and your budget requests are postponed with a comment “sure, but not now”.
  5. You tried changing jobs hoping that the new company will value and appreciate what compliance has to offer only to be disappointed in a few months.

If that sounds familiar, maybe you have been asking yourself "How long can I keep this up?" or "Do I need to change jobs again?"

If this feels true... then read on!

Let me guess - have you made the following mistakes trying to "fix" the problems?

  • You took on even more responsibilities and volunteered for new projects but your unpaid contribution did not lead to a promotion or new opportunities. 
  • You completed a few professional certifications or Oxford/Harvard FinTech courses hoping to become more "strategic",  to add credibility ... only to find out that you still depend on the old hierarchy and important decisions are still made by people who know much less than you.
  • You kept asking for resources and and continued documenting deficiencies, gaps and things that your company does not have feeling there is not much else you can do. 
  • You study and memorize new regulations, because you believe information is power and that knowing more regulations will help you avoid mistakes and make better decisions.
  • When you are hesitant about what needs to be done, you prefer to collaborate, suggest having more meetings, escalating issues to committees or seek external legal advice. 
  • When you submit your budget requests, you emphasize why this investment is mandatory and that the company will be in breach otherwise. 

Many struggling compliance professionals believe that knowledge and more resources determine success in FinTech compliance, however, in my 13+ years in FinTech compliance, I came to realize that a real path to success in compliance is largely based on your ability to complete small projects by doing the right things at the right time.

In other words: most compliance professionals hope to get appreciated and valued by trying to demonstrate to their management how complex and difficult and serious compliance challenges can be. I am making the case that your success in compliance will come easier and faster when you find a way to demonstrate to your management that compliance can be easy, simple, and actionable.

The fastest and most reliable way to persuade your CEO or founder to value compliance is when your actions make their job easier; and the only way to achieve that is when you take on more responsibilities and make final decisions about compliance. 

But it feels scary, right?  What if something goes wrong? What if there are things outside of my control? What if I fail and get fired?

Many of my clients and students are initially afraid of ultimate responsibility because they are afraid to make a mistake. They have this crazy idea that it’s better to be safe than sorry and delay decisions rather than making a mistake.

However, if you want to create better opportunities for yourself, you need to learn how to get things done even with incomplete information and limited resources, you must act with the imperfect information you have. 

Just show me one successful professional who was given all the answers and solutions in advance, who always worked with perfect teams, never faced any uncertainties and waited for the perfect timing, and had perfect clarity before they acted. You probably can’t. 

Most prominent and powerful leaders share that having a sounding board, a mentor and a place to bounce off ideas was one of their keys to success.

This is exactly why I created Compliance Collective!

Compliance knowledge is about 10% of your success and you can Google /ChatGPT it at any time. The rest of your professional success depends on your attitude and decision-making. To level up these valuable skills most experts need a sounding board, implementation guidance, a mentor, and a place to bounce off ideas.

Just think about it… If you tried to convince your management that compliance is hard and complex, you have probably been successful. In fact, your senior management likely believes that:

  • Solving regulatory problems takes a long time and tons of money.
  • There are too many regulations and they are too complex and confusing.
  • It’s hard to find good people to handle compliance because other teams are always complaining about compliance requirements.
  • No matter how much we invest in compliance, it is never enough.

No wonder compliance feels costly, hard, and confusing... if that’s the belief system of your management!

How to reverse it? – You need to become a different kind of compliance officer who thinks differently, such as:

  • Compliance is simple and helpful, actually – it’s a lot of fun. 
  • We want to solve business problems and care about what happens to customers.
  • We don’t need to know everything, we need to know very few things to make the next steps and then we will evaluate again.  
  • Making mistakes is no big deal because most actions are reversible, and most mistakes are not really mistakes.
  • I can do much with less resources taking one step at a time.
  • Auditors and regulators are great, they offer feedback and they are not scary because they know less than we know about our business anyway!

 

The “Just in time” (and not “just in case”) approach is the new most efficient way to get things done, create a professional track record, and be paid well in FinTech compliance. This is exactly what I am going to share with you and help you implement as a part of the Compliance Collective. 

Compliance Collective is a monthly  coaching experience built on two main pillars:

  • 1:1 coaching calls with Yana Afanasieva. 60 minutes per month.
  • Group Coaching Monthly Office Hours where we discuss a particular topic of the month and where you can also ask Yana and other participants any questions about your “situation” or a problem that makes you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or frustrated. This is also an opportunity to learn from others in the same “boat”.  (The Office Hours calls will normally take place on the 1st Monday of each month at 1 PM CET) 

 * * *

BONUS 1 - VISIBILITY: Get instant access to the Compliance Accelerator  recorded training focused on networking skills, building authority, and establishing your credibility in FinTech (valued at 1200 EUR and FREE for you):

  • Changing jobs in FinTech Compliance. Strategies for resume building, interview conversations, assessing whether this company is a right fit for you.
  • How to find and secure board seats and paid advisory roles with FinTech startups.
  • How to select your specialization or expert niche within FinTech compliance so that you get known for your signature know-how and start sharing your unique perspective and insights.
  • How to start building relationships with media, industry experts, and influencers
  • How to engage with your growing audience, create a following, and build your future clients’ pipeline.
  • NEW!: How to optimize your LinkedIn profile and earn the Top LinkedIn Voice status within your category.

BONUS 2 - TIME SAVERS: Instant access to recorded trainings helping you master and implement two most misunderstood compliance projects of all times (valued at 600 EUR and FREE for you):

  • implementing FATCA/CRS requirements (for your own customers and for you as a bank client completing the 8W BEN E form);  and
  • completing due diligence reviews of your financial partners (to avoid the next Wirecard, FTX, or SVB situation). 

BONUS 3 - STAY UP-TO-DATE:  for each month you remain a member of the Compliance Collective you will be granted access to one of our 12 Project Management Workshops from the list below (valued at 297 EUR each and FREE for you). You choose which one and in which order.

  1. Annual Compliance Reporting 
  2. FinTech Licensing for Self-Starters 
  3. How to Open Bank Accounts 
  4. FinTech Business Wide Risk Assessment 
  5. Structuring White-label Solutions in FinTech . Choosing White-Label vs Licensing 
  6. E2E Scope of Crypto Compliance (including a special training on how to comply with Apple and Google Appstore requirements for crypto activities)
  7. Faster Onboarding of Corporate Clients
  8. Creating your Privacy Policy and GDPR Compliance 
  9. Managing Outsourcing Documentation 
  10. MICA implementation.
  11. Managing Compliance Resources and Compliance Budget
  12. Preparing your FinTech for external AML, operational and other audits

 * * *

Time and Logistics: 

  • Pre-recorded workshops and templates are released instantly. 
  • We will have one Office Hours Session per month. Office hours will normally take place on the first Monday of each month. 
  • You will be able to schedule your monthly calls with Yana (either one 60 minutes call or two 30-minutes calls per month) once you receive the confirmation email after you join. Individual calls usually take place on Wednesdays.
  • After you have made the payment, you will be granted access to the password-protected area of the course portal where all recorded content and templates will be delivered to you. You will be prompted to create your login and password which you will need to access the program recordings at any time in the future. 
  • Your membership can be cancelled at any time. 100% satisfaction or money-back guarantee during the first 30 days. If during the first 30 days of your membership, you have attended the Office Hours call and your 1:1 call, and don't feel satisfied with the value we offer, you will get a full refund and your membership will be cancelled – no questions asked.

https://competitivecompliance.co/service-terms/

What current students & alumni say:

I’ve got so much to share about Yana and her impact on my professional journey! About a year ago, I randomly stumbled upon Yana's podcast just by searching ‘compliance’ in Spotify, and I got hooked instantly. I couldn't wait for the next episode each week; it was like a revelation to me. I come from a legal background, and my mindset was all about being conservative, risk-averse, and disconnected from the business. But then Yana's podcast changed everything. I was shocked when I first heard that compliance should genuinely care about the business, understand marketing, care about conversions. It hit me like a lightning bolt - "Wait, aren't we the second line of defense, independent from the business and guarding company from the risk?" It took me a little time to realize that I had been wrong all along, even with my four CAMS certificates feeling useless and like a waste of money (despite some companies still requiring them!). Before long, I discovered Yana's concept of 'business-like and just in time compliance,' and it was like magic. Suddenly, compliance was being heard, invited to important meetings, and kept in the loop about product changes way ahead of time. We became trusted partners to the business, no longer just the department of 'NO.' It's crazy to think about how far we've come. From a company in its 'age of innocence,' with undocumented growth, to a compliance function that's now a 'leverage' for the company. We're securing crucial partnerships, opening bank accounts, obtaining licenses and authorizations, and acing audits. Yana's guidance has been invaluable. I wholeheartedly recommend her products, especially the Compliance Collective. They have been one of the absolute best investments in my professional career. Yana rocks!

Anastasiia Vasylieva – Head of Group Compliance, DPO • Robocash

Yana has incredible depth of knowledge on the compliance and regulatory needs in the Fintech and Crypto space across the UK and Europe. She has provided the highest level of insight and been very proactive to help us achieve our company goals.

Elizabeth Rossiello – Founder & CEO • AZA/BitPesa

Yana is an outstanding and seasoned compliance & regulatory professional who has extensive experience and knowledge in crypto and fintech in general. She is one of the most valuable partner for our strategic advisory from compliance point of view. As her company name suggests, if you want your compliance team to be “competitive”, she is the best person to speak to.

Rikiya Masuda – Board Member • Takumido

It’s rare that you come across standout talent like Yana. I had the pleasure of working with her for nearly three years at BitPesa (now AZA) and Founders Bank collectively, we often collaborate closely on FinTech projects with heavy compliance requirements. I am always impressed by Yana's ability to bridge the gap between scalable technical solutions and solid compliance leadership and guidance—effortlessly. That skill often takes years to develop, but it seemed to come perfectly naturally. I always enjoy working with Yana, as a team member or a leader, Yana earns my highest recommendation.

Dearg O'Bartuin – Co-Founder & CTPO • Mara

Yana has been an invaluable support in providing feedback and practical solutions to queries I have had relating to new or old regulations. Yana not only provides clarity but also rich templates that can be easily adapted and incorporated into new or existing governance processes. Yana's experience ensures these solutions are operational to add value to any business or fintech solution.

Pat Patterson – Director, Compliance • Tilia (Ireland & Europe)

​I find materials and courses by Yana Afanasieva very inspiring, the insights she shares help me find effective solutions in my everyday routine. Moreover, I have changed my attitude and drafted documents, and reports, and answered requests from another perspective, as a result - me and my colleagues think positively, meet the challenges of business requests with due responsibility, but the overall set of measures aims to ensure simplification of processes.

Anna Lind – Legal Counsel | Compliance Specialist (ICA) • Communicator Groupe, LLC

All information is professionally aggregated, filtered and presented - Competitive Compliance is a real timesaver for FinTech companiesuilding and enhancing our policies and procedures.Thank you, Yana, for sharing your experience and expertise! - Iaroslav Kovshikov, SnapSwap

Iaroslav Kovshikov – Operations Officer / IT Security Officer / Board Secretary • SnapSwap International S.A.