Case study: Pre-employment screening for a global bank

Background: 

A leading international bank, operating in a highly regulated financial environment, required a robust pre-employment screening process to maintain compliance with stringent banking regulations. Given the industry's exposure to financial crime, fraud, and data security risks, the bank sought a comprehensive vetting program for all new hires, from senior executives and directors to administrative staff. The goal was to ensure all employees met strict integrity and compliance standards before joining the organisation.

Challenge: 

Operating in a highly regulated sector, the bank needed to ensure that all hires- ranging from senior executives and directors to administrative staff- met compliance and integrity standards. Given the risks associated with financial crime, fraud, and regulatory breaches, the bank required a comprehensive and legally compliant pre-employment screening process to mitigate risks, protect customer data, and uphold its reputation.

Solution: 

Conflict Advisory Group conducted an pre-employment screening program, in line with the bank's requirements, which included:

• Criminal record checks across multiple jurisdictions to identify any legal risks.
• Credit checks to assess financial responsibility and mitigate fraud risks.
• Identity verification to confirm official documentation and prevent identity fraud.
• Global sanctions and watchlist screening to ensure no candidates were linked to financial crimes or politically exposed persons (PEPs).
• Employment referencing to validate previous roles, responsibilities, and professional conduct.
• Annual screening conducted annually to ensure compliance with evolving regulations and maintain high-risk awareness.

Outcome: 

The comprehensive screening process identified several candidates with red flags, including undeclared criminal records, prior financial misconduct, and discrepancies in their work history. The bank was able to take preventative action, ensuring only fully vetted and trustworthy individuals were hired. The annual renewal screening further safeguarded the institution, identifying emerging risks among existing employees and ensuring continuous compliance with international banking regulations. Successful vetting was also completed on hires with vetting processes implemented remaining in place with the bank to this day.

At Conflict Advisory Group, we provide expert risk management solutions tailored to the UAE market. Whether it’s pre-employment screening, dispute resolution, due diligence, or corporate risk management, we help businesses and individuals make informed, secure decisions.