Virtual
On the face of it, automation in compliance may sound like an oxymoron. With the exception of investment compliance, where robust systems handle pre-trade and post-trade compliance, and personal trading, many other areas of compliance tend to have fragmented bespoke processes requiring significant manual intervention. In this CutterCast, we examine the degree of automation in different functions within compliance, including the management aspects. We’ll discuss the challenges that asset managers face and the solutions they employ.
Gina McCafferty has 30 years of experience in the financial services industry. She served at Cutter from 1999 to 2011 as Principal and Managing Director of CutterResearch, and she was instrumental in growing that business. Gina returned to Cutter in 2017, and established and ran the company’s Wealth Management research division. In 2019, she was appointed to Head of Research, responsible for Asset Management and Wealth Management product development and delivery to over 200 member firms around the globe. Gina was previously at Investit Ltd., where she served for six years as head of the company’s research service. Prior to that, she held senior positions at DST International with product responsibility for their global accounting and performance measurement systems, and at SunGard as Vice President of Client Services for their securities trading products.
Shankar Subramanian has over 25 years of industry experience in investment management and technology solutions. Shankar has a deep understanding of investment data management, portfolio management, risk management, investment accounting, and alternative investments. At Cutter Associates, he heads the Risk and Compliance practice, helping client with investment risk management, and asset allocation, as well as providing support for compliance with consulting on trading forensics, communication surveillance, regulatory reporting, and guideline compliance. He advises on, and designs, operating models, selects systems, and implements business and technology solutions. He also leads development of Cutter’s alternative investments practices and the firm’s efforts to provide thought leadership and strategic and tactical advice to asset owner clients.
Prior to joining Cutter, Shankar held senior roles at IBM Global Services and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), advising clients and leading global delivery teams in large engagements. Shankar holds a Bachelor of Science in engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology and an MBA in finance and information systems from the Indian Institute of Management.
Todd Spillane brings more than 20 years of industry experience, with a focus on compliance and legal functions in investment management, to his Senior Director’s role at Cutter Associates. At Cutter, he is the subject matter expert and advisor on compliance initiatives, providing thought leadership as well as strategic and tactical advice. In addition to compliance, his areas of expertise include risk management, valuation, and legal oversight. A featured speaker at various industry forums on compliance-related topics, he has presented on compliance and risk management for investment managers. Prior to Cutter, he held several compliance, general counsel, and COO leadership roles, including most recently as GC, CCO, and COO of AlphaTrAI. He also was Executive Director at Morgan Stanley Investment Management, where he oversaw the compliance program for Morgan Stanley Funds. A graduate of Fairfield University and Western New England School of Law, Todd is a member of the Connecticut Bar.
Kevin Ehrlich is the Chief Compliance Officer and Manager of Regulatory Affairs for Western Asset Management Company, an investment adviser primarily focused on managing fixed-income strategies. Western Asset has offices around the globe and experience across the range of fixed-income sectors. Mr. Ehrlich has been with Western Asset since 2004. Prior to Western Asset, Mr. Ehrlich worked with Legg Mason, Inc. (Western Asset’s parent company at the time) and the Division of Trading and Markets (formerly Market Regulation) at the US Securities and Exchange Commission.
Ashley Mendelsohn joined Vulcan Value Partners in 2018. Prior to joining Vulcan Value Partners, Ashley served as a Senior Vice President at Regions Bank, where she was Chief Compliance Officer for Regions Investment Management and responsible for risk oversight for Regions Wealth Management. Previously she worked for Cook & Bynum Capital Management, where she was Chief Compliance Officer and Director of Fund Operations. Prior to that, Ashley was a Corporate Finance Analyst with the Robinson-Humphrey Company. Ashley holds a Certified Securities Compliance Professional Designation from the National Society of Compliance Professionals and Investment Advisor Certified Compliance Professional designation from NRS. Ashley earned her MBA with a concentration in Finance from the University of Alabama. She also has a BS in History and French with a minor in Markets and Management from Duke University.