Kashnie Naidoo

I am the Founder and CEO of Crescent Compliance Solutions – we are proud to be a level 1 B-BBEE black female-owned EME business. Crescent’s aim is to provide, develop and promote compliance excellence through our CompTech solution – CóRIS (Compliance Regulatory Integrated Solution).

I have worked in the stockbroking industry and specialising in AML for over 20 years. I am passionate about both the industry and AML compliance within the industry. I am a proactive, results-oriented, persuasive compliance and AML/CTF professional. My role and responsibilities have included providing support and advise the management team of stockbroking members, asset managers, banks, stock exchanges and industry bodies in their duty to safeguard and ensure complaint business operations.

I have been the strategic compliance partner to many management teams. I have been part of commenting on legislative changes from a country level (Financial markets and AML) and was involved in the 2019/2020 SA FATF county review. I have built and managed compliance program for various stockbrokers and exchanges. I have advised on the handling of compliance risks and compliance-related matters such as AML/CTF to exchanges, stockbrokers and industry bodies.

I have been involved in writing policies, keeping them up to date with new developments. I have experience in developing, scoping and conducted monitoring reviews (compliance checks and controls) I with specific legislation from a regulator and regulated entity perspective. I have participated actively in the South African financial market forums and have good working relationships with market participants, regulator(s) and industry bodies. I am a technical specialist for The South African Institute of Stockbrokers, lecturing, setting examinations and creating course content for Legislation and Rules. I review and comment on financial markets and AML papers, proposals etc. at a country level.

What makes you a Risky Woman?

I have laid it all on the line for my passion, I am a mum of two and I chose to take the risk and start my own company, having identified a need in the market for a system that could assist with compliance management I invested all of my savings in building CóRIS Crescents legislative compliance management tool. It was scary and tough but it was worth it, and the journey is no where near its end … watch this space.

Name your top 3 achievements

1. Starting my own compliance company
2. Developing and building CóRIS, a proprietary legislative management tool
3. Lecturing for the industry on legislation and markets

What is the biggest risk you’ve taken in your career?

Leaving a well paying stable job environment with being a mom and taking the risk to start my own compliance company.

What’s something most people don’t know about you?

I love to read and write poetry.

What is the best quality for successful leaders in Risk?

Passion, drive and wanting to contribute to make a positive change.