Page 6 - KZN Business Sense 12.4 - Terry Flack

WHY STRONG HIRING CONTROLS MATTER

IN THE WORLD OF REMOTE WORK

COMPLIANCE IS KEY TO HIRING REMOTELY WITHOUT THE RISK

Sameer Kumandan, can create additional compliance when hiring internationally to
Managing Director, challenges. Accountable ensure that every step, from
SW360 institutions must adopt more vetting to approvals, is done with
sophisticated identity verification, compliance in mind.
fast- screening, and ongoing
growing monitoring processes than would Implement compliance-
c
o
A mpany typically be required in purely focused training for hiring
hires a local hiring environments. teams: HR and recruitment
developer in teams must understand the
Poland, a Key Due Diligence Steps When specific risks that come with
marketing Hiring International Teams international hires. Training
lead in Accountable institutions cannot should cover everything from
Brazil, and view hiring simply as filling a identifying red flags in resumes
a finance role. Conducting thorough due or references to recognising
contractor in Kenya. And all of diligence during staff onboarding potential sanctions or criminal
these employees are brought in is a legal requirement and history issues. If HR is unaware,
without anyone ever setting foot essential to safeguard against they may onboard someone
in the same office. Meetings are regulatory penalties, reputational with a history of financial crime
held via video calls, documents damage, and operational risks. or sanctions, inadvertently
are accessed and shared in exposing the organisation to activities. As such, regular from SW360, aggregates multiple
the cloud, and the entire team By conducting thorough regulatory penalties. In line checks and continuous checks into a single platform,
collaborates across time zones. background checks and with this, international hires monitoring are essential to giving employers a consolidated
Today, a globally distributed verifications, companies can should receive comprehensive ensure that employees in view of a candidate and ensuring
workforce has become the norm, ensure they hire individuals FICA and anti-money- critical roles remain compliant that the people they bring in meet
as companies increasingly build who are not only skilled but laundering (AML) training to with FICA and that any risks both operational and regulatory
teams across continents to access also trustworthy and compliant. ensure they know about the are identified and addressed standards. By hiring responsibly
the best talent wherever it may be. Below, I’ve outlined a few key risks of non-compliance. promptly. and carefully vetting international
steps accountable institutions can talent, organisations can unlock
But hiring across borders take to ensure that having a global Conduct enhanced background Maintain clear audit trails: the full benefits of a global
introduces a new layer of team doesn’t put them at risk. checks: When hiring international As noted above, when visibility workforce without the risk. This
complexity when it comes to candidates or remote workers, into day-to-day activities is
vetting candidates and managing Establish clear hiring policies organisations should broaden limited, a well-maintained audit means accessing diverse skills
and fresh perspectives, while also
risk. When an employee has lived and controls: HR teams should their due diligence to include trail is essential. All identity limiting possible exposure to
or worked in multiple countries, develop formal, documented global databases and international verifications, sanctions checks, financial crime. 
verifying their identity, running policies for hiring employees watchlists. Access to systems Customer Due Diligence (CDD)
background checks and ensuring outside the country. These such as those maintained by and Know Your Customer (KYC)
compliance with regulations policies must include things like INTERPOL can help identify documents, and approvals must For more information contact
T: + 27 (0)86 034 0000
such as the Financial Intelligence how to authenticate different individuals who may be flagged be securely stored and properly E: info@searchworks.co.za
Centre Act (FICA) becomes far identity documents and assess internationally, ensuring that organised. These records serve W: www.searchworks.co.za
more complicated. remote work eligibility. As part organisations are not relying as evidence that the organisation www.voca.co.za
of this, it’s important to clearly carried out all necessary steps to
FICA regulations are largely establish which positions require solely on local records when
designed around verifying enhanced screening because vetting new hires. comply with FICA obligations.
individuals and transactions they involve access to client Prioritise ongoing monitoring: As the world of work becomes
within a domestic context. But funds, financial transactions, or When teams are widely more distributed, the systems
when employees, contractors, and sensitive data. It’s also critical to distributed, business leaders used to verify and vet people
clients operate across borders, this define the chain of responsibility have limited visibility of daily must go global as well. VOCA,

TEAM GAINS NEW EDGE

Lerato Ramango, National Marketing & Sharks (Pty) Limited before Her professional goal is to
Brand Manager, Cox Yeats commencing her articles of develop into a well-rounded
clerkship in 2024 at Pillay Cohen and responsible attorney, with a
ox Yeats is pleased to Attorneys Inc. in the Litigation particular focus on strengthening
announce the appointment Department, where she honed her her litigation skills and building a
Cof Caitlin Slade as an skills in dispute resolution. She was respected professional reputation.
Associate in its Construction and admitted as an attorney of the High Caitlin is committed to growing
Insurance Team. Court in 2026 and briefly served her knowledge in the construction
as an Associate in the Commercial and insurance sectors and
Caitlin brings a solid and Litigation Department before contributing meaningfully to her
foundation in litigation and a joining Cox Yeats. team and clients.
keen commitment to developing
specialised expertise. She was With a strong interest in Guided by the belief that hard
particularly attracted to Cox litigation, Caitlin thrives on work and persistence lead to
Yeats due to the firm’s strong the analytical demands of legal success, Caitlin approaches her
reputation in Durban and across practice and the opportunity career with dedication and an
South Africa, as well as its values- to engage deeply with diverse eagerness to learn. She looks
driven approach to legal practice, industries and subject matters forward to immersing herself
which closely aligns with her own to provide effective advice and in her new role at Cox Yeats,
professional aspirations. representation to clients. She is learning from senior colleagues,
particularly motivated by the and contributing to the firm’s
Caitlin completed her LLB degree continuous learning inherent continued success. 
at the University of Pretoria in in the legal profession and the
2022. She then gained valuable challenge of mastering new areas E:: lramango@coxyeats.co.za
professional experience at The of law. W: www.coxyeats.co.za

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