FrontLine Compliance

About

We show top-tier investment firms the strategic and economic advantages of thinking proactively and strategically about compliance. We save our clients time, stress, money and resources by teaching them to think more like the senior-level compliance insiders we were before our founding. Our deep-dive, customized approach is rigorous, but irrefutably successful. Our clients enjoy prompt response and ready access to our senior executives. That’s our policy.

Contact us to learn more about the successful relationships we develop with our clients.

You want Amy Lynch on your team when the going gets tough. Amy’s knowledge coupled with her ability to execute ensures excellent results. We’ve had only positive experiences with Amy and her consultants.

— CEO, Broker-Dealer Client/Investment Adviser Client

Management Team

Amy Lynch, Founder and President - FrontLine Compliance

Amy Lynch, CRCP

Founder and President 301-231-5800

Amy has earned her industry expert status through her regulatory experience with the SEC and FINRA, and through senior management private-sector roles as CCO, DOC, and Vice President. Amy founded FrontLine Compliance on this extensive experience. And on the unshakeable belief that forming true partnerships with firms not only helps them avoid unnecessary human- and compliance-related costs, but that it can also make them stronger and more competitive. It’s through this experienced, critically focused lens that Amy oversees all client projects.

Amy’s range of knowledge encompasses her 20+ years in the regulatory compliance field. She began her distinguished career conducting examinations for the SEC. Working in both the New York and Washington, DC offices, Amy examined mutual funds, investment advisers, and insurance firms nationwide.

As a Special Investigator with FINRA, Amy specialized in heightened regulatory issues confronting the securities industry. She expertly managed several industry-wide sweeps conducted by FINRA Enforcement.

In the private sector, she has served as DOC and CCO for Mercantile Capital Advisors and E*Trade Financial. As Vice President at RegEd.com, she developed a leading branch-audit software program.

Amy is recognized as an expert on regulatory issues involving investment adviser and broker-dealer compliance, insurance products, mutual funds, and private funds. She was one of the first graduates of the FINRA Institute/Wharton School Certification Program and holds the Certified Regulatory Compliance Professional (CRCP) designation in addition to her B.S. in Business and Economics.

Amy has spoken at conferences sponsored by every major industry organization. She is a regular presenter at conferences and webinars for leading media and event groups, explaining topics as diverse as investment adviser compliance, product compliance and supervision, fund compliance, valuation, advertising, and CCO effectiveness.

Amy is an active member of several industry groups, including Ellevate, 100 Women in Hedge Funds (100WHF), the National Society of Compliance Professionals (NSCP) and the Institute of Management Consultants USA (IMC USA).

To speak with Amy is to know instantly the confident experience and invaluable understanding she is uniquely qualified to bring to your firm’s immediate and long-term needs.

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Chip Arvantides, Executive VP, Director of Business Development - FrontLine Compliance

Chip Arvantides, CRCP

Executive VP, Director of Business Development 301-231-5800

Chip spent seven in-the-trenches years with FINRA’s Enforcement Department, rising to the level of Special Investigator. As a consultant with KPMG’s forensic and litigation group, Chip focused on financial services consulting. Prior to that he accumulated experience in financial markets research, sales, marketing and investor relations. Chip’s 20+ years in the industry have proven invaluable in honing the customized approach that has been so successful for FrontLine Compliance clients.

At FINRA, Chip acquired expert-level knowledge working on the regulator’s highest-profile investigations. He led deep, rigorous investigations into firms of all sizes, which gave him intimate insights into how even subtle, firm-specific nuances can profoundly affect compliance programs. His role leading FrontLine’s program development, strategic partnerships and marketing is enhanced by his additional private sector financial industry experience.

Chip holds the FINRA Institute/Wharton School-sponsored Certified Regulatory Compliance Professional (CRCP) designation, in addition to his B.A. from Hobart College.

It only takes a short conversation with Chip to realize how decades of top-level experience, combined with a comprehensive immersion into your business, can mean the difference between surviving your compliance requirements and mastering them.

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Our Consultants

We insist on compliance professionals with both the depth and the breadth of experience needed for our know-your-business-inside-and-out approach. The result: the savviest, most experienced compliance pros in the industry. We have a 10-year experience prerequisite for our consultants; they’re former SEC examiners, FINRA investigators and CCOs fluent in Investment Adviser and Investment Company ’40 Act rules, FINRA/SEC regs and compliance technology. They’re who you want on your team.

Our Clients

Who do we work for? Our client list is custom-tailored to the broad range of expertise we offer. Institutional money managers and large sell-side firms seek us out for our specialized offerings not found elsewhere. Clients include middle- and large-market SEC advisers, private fund advisers including hedge fund, private equity and fund of fund advisers (FOFs), insurance company affiliates, managers of managers and large indie firms with numerous branch offices.

Here are samples of the types of firms we work with, and what we do for them:

Education and Training

2018

Although it is technically not required under any specific SEC regulation, during an SEC exam, examiners ask for copies of all training materials provided to employees.  The SEC expects firms to train employees on compliance requirements as part of Rule 206(4)-7 or Rule 38a-1 compliance.  There is a specific training requirement for NFA registered firms.

All clients of FrontLine Compliance are encouraged to participate in our Annual Compliance Training Programs. We conduct the compliance training for the firm that meets the SEC and/or NFA’s expectations by focusing on employee requirements, ethics, and supervision of employees.

Regulatory Response Services

2016-2017

Several of our long-term clients underwent routine regulatory examinations in 2016 and 2017.  These were both SEC and NFA exams.  Most of the clients were regular participants in our Quarterly Forensic Testing Program which made for a very smooth exam process with minimal deficiencies.

However, in one case, the project began unexpectedly.

Case Study:  An SEC registered venture capital firm found itself under regulatory scrutiny as part of the SEC’s targeted Custody Exams.  It’s CCO had recently transitioned and the firm needed help; the new CCO came to us via a referral from another client. Together, we worked to bring the firm’s custodial practices into compliance and responded effectively to the Custody Exam.

Then, just a few months later, the SEC began a full scope routine exam.  Between exams, FrontLine Compliance performed a GAP Analysis of the compliance program and many corrective measures were in process.  However, many were as of yet still incomplete at the start of the second exam.

Again, we worked with the firm throughout the examination and guided the responses to requests to ensure a successful outcome.  The exam went very smoothly, just 6 months, and the firm even received a phone call stating the “exam was over” and the examiners thanked the firm for providing such a detailed outline to the compliance manual changes and updates (FrontLine created).

Typically, firms do not know when an exam is over (officially) and certainly don’t get thanked by an examiner. This is a prime example of FrontLine’s regulatory response effectiveness.

Annual Compliance Reviews

2015

FrontLine assisted the majority of its clients with their Annual Compliance Review. Our proven system of thorough testing combined with a comprehensive and cohesive written report was stress tested by regulators multiple times throughout the year. Our clients received positive comments back from regulators each time.

Case Study: A large indie firm client was to have its Annual Compliance Review conducted by its Internal Audit Department, but found out just two weeks before the report was due that the Internal Audit team could not complete the task. FrontLine was hired to pick up the slack and complete the review, including all testing, in less than two weeks.  Even with the short time allotted, FrontLine consultants performed an onsite GAP analysis, conducted the forensic testing, and created a comprehensive written report for the Board of Directors.  All on time and under budget!

SEC Exam Prep

2014

FrontLine Compliance helped many hedge funds and private equity firms of various sizes face their first SEC exam in 2014—either one of the new “Presence Exams” or full-scope reviews. We worked with these firms to ensure that all documents produced were accurate, responsive, and contained no “red flags.” Our mock exam and mock interviews were utilized to successfully prep the firms. In one case, the SEC visit lasted less than three days and resulted in no findings whatsoever. No client had any material findings. Just as we planned!

Forensic Testing Program – A Client’s Commentary

2011-2014

“The forensic testing program is a crucial resource; it can be a real challenge for a CCO to know what constitutes good testing and even, in some cases, how to do it. Being able to rely on real experts in the field gives me a lot of confidence in facing an exam as well as in the strength of our program and conducting our annual review; it also allows much more thorough testing and documentation than I would have been able to complete with the time and resources I have available. I do learn from our results—FrontLine offers guidance on areas where my knowledge is weaker and sometimes has, through feedback, updated me both on what the SEC seeks and on market and industry practice. So FrontLine offers both knowledge and solutions!”

– General Counsel and CCO, Hedge Fund Client

Strategic Consulting

2012-2013

A large indie firm hired FrontLine Compliance to bridge the strategic gap between its business line managers and its compliance. The business side had important goals to expand third-party relationships, launch new products and acquire additional firms. But compliance wasn’t on board because of unanswered questions. With the two sides bogged down, they called us to help them navigate through the impasse. Working closely with both sides, we ironed out differences to bring them together in a way that made each side comfortable in moving forward with a unified plan.

Mock SEC Exam – Regulatory Consulting

2011

FrontLine Compliance was hired to evaluate the compliance program of a multi-billion dollar hedge fund adviser after an affiliate was charged with a SEC enforcement action. We recommended they perform an SEC mock audit of the firm. Within months of completing our review, the SEC actually audited the firm. After three days on-site, the SEC had uncovered no significant findings. The firm was prepared thanks to our work.

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Careers

If you have senior-level experience and understand our customized approach to partnering with our clients, we’d like to hear from you. If you’ve been frustrated by other firms’ standardized, off-the-shelf approach and want to explain to a business how a proactive compliance strategy is an absolute necessity, we’d like to hear from you. Here are the professionals we’re currently seeking:

Compliance Project Manager Expand Collapse

Rockville/N. Bethesda Office

FrontLine Compliance is the leader in the value-based compliance consulting nationwide. We are seeking a seasoned Compliance Project Manager to join our team-oriented company. If you are a passionate self-starter with effective communication skills, this is a great opportunity for you. The Compliance Project Manager will be based in our Rockville/N. Bethesda office near Washington, DC.

Description:
The individual in this position will provide project oversight and support for teams of Consultants working on multi-faceted investment adviser and private fund compliance projects. Experience as a project manager in compliance, operations, or supervision roles with investment or consulting firms or a regulatory body such as the SEC or FINRA is preferred. This position reports directly to the president of our company.

Duties Include:
The Compliance Project Manager would play a vital role at our firm, and offer their skills and knowledge in the following areas:

  • Determine and define project scope and objectives
  • Predict resources needed to reach objectives and manage resources in an effective and efficient manner
  • Track project costs and work scope in order to meet budgets and deadlines
  • Develop and manage a detailed project schedule and work plan via our SAS project management system
  • Provide project updates on a consistent basis to various stakeholders about strategy, adjustments, and progress
  • Communicate project status and updates to both senior executives as well as consulting staff responsible for deliverables
  • Utilize industry best practices, techniques, and standards throughout entire project execution
  • Monitor progress and make adjustments as needed
  • Measure project performance to identify areas for improvement
  • Lend general support to consulting services, as needed

Requirements:

  • Proven ability to solve problems creatively and efficiently
  • Ability to listen and follow directions as given and follow-up as necessary
  • Strong familiarity with project management software tools, methodologies, and best practices
  • Demonstrated track record of projects completed according to their outlined scope, budget, and timeline
  • Excellent analytical skills
  • Impeccable communications skills with the ability to communicate effectively, motivate others and offer positive feedback
  • Strong interpersonal skills and extremely resourceful

4-6 years of professional experience is required. The candidate should possess a bachelor’s degree and a concentration in Finance, Business or Economics is preferred. Please note any specific accreditation in project management skills training that you may have achieved.

SEC Investment Adviser Consultant Expand Collapse

Remote Position

We are seeking Consultants with Investment Adviser regulatory compliance experience in both retail and institutional accounts. Open-end mutual fund experience a plus. Experience as a former or current SEC examiner or consultant preferred.

Description:
Skilled and energetic individuals needed for high-level, multi-faceted investment adviser compliance projects. The SEC Investment Adviser Consultant would become part of a highly skilled, entrepreneurial team of compliance professionals, and would offer their expertise in the following investment adviser compliance areas:

  • Forensic Testing and Internal Control Reviews
  • Review and draft compliance policies and procedures
  • Mock audits
  • SEC registrations and filings
  • Advertising and marketing reviews
  • Personal trading compliance reviews
  • Electronic surveillance reviews
  • Written reports of compliance recommendations
  • Compliance program implementation and ongoing consulting support
  • Webinar participation (optional)

Requirements:
The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 10 years’ experience in investment adviser compliance, with expertise in the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 and the Investment Company Act of 1940. The candidate should possess solid writing abilities and exceptional communication skills. Bachelor’s Degree required. Certified Regulatory Compliance Professional (CRCP) or equivalent certification desired.

Private Fund Consultant Expand Collapse

Remote Position

We are currently seeking Consultants with Private Fund regulatory compliance experience with an emphasis on hedge funds, private equity, venture capital, or other private fund structures. Additional experience with NFA/CFTC firms a plus. Experience as a former or current SEC and/or NFA examiner or consultant preferred.

Description:
Skilled and energetic individuals are needed for multi-faceted private fund compliance projects. The Private Fund Consultant would become part of a highly skilled, entrepreneurial team of compliance professionals, and would offer their expertise in the following private fund compliance areas:

  • Forensic Testing and Internal Control Reviews
  • Review and draft compliance policies and procedures
  • Mock audits
  • SEC and NFA/CFTC registrations and filings
  • Advertising and marketing reviews
  • Personal trading compliance reviews
  • Electronic surveillance reviews
  • Written reports of compliance recommendations
  • Compliance program implementation and ongoing consulting support
  • Webinar participation (optional)

Requirements:
The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 10 years’ experience in private fund compliance, with expertise in the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, the Investment Company Act of 1940, and NFA/CFTC regulations for CPOs and CTAs. The candidate should possess solid writing abilities and exceptional communication skills. Bachelor’s Degree required. Certified Regulatory Compliance Professional (CRCP) or equivalent certification desired.

Dual Registrant Consultant Expand Collapse

Remote Position

We are seeking Consultants with Broker-Dealer regulatory compliance experience with an emphasis on dual registrants with retail accounts. Experience as a former or current FINRA or SEC examiner and/or CCO of a dually registered firm with a history of broker-dealer and investment adviser compliance work is preferred.

Description:
Skilled and energetic individuals are needed for multi-faceted dual registrant compliance projects. The Dual Registrant Consultant would become part of a highly skilled, entrepreneurial team of compliance professionals, and would offer their expertise in the following dual registrant compliance areas:

  • Review and draft WSPs and RIA policies and procedures
  • Forensic Testing and Risk Assessments
  • Branch Office Audits for both RIA and BD
  • Due Diligence Reviews
  • FINRA ​and SEC Annual Compliance Reviews
  • Mock Regulatory Audits
  • FINRA and SEC registrations and filings
  • Advertising and marketing reviews; FINRA filings
  • Trading compliance reviews
  • Compliance evaluations and written reports of recommendations
  • Compliance program implementation
  • Product reviews and analysis

Requirements:
The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 10 years’ experience in dual registrant compliance, with expertise in FINRA/NASD rules and regulations, the Securities Act of 1933, the Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. The candidate should possess solid writing abilities and exceptional communication skills. Bachelor’s Degree in Finance, Business, Accounting, or related field required. Certified Regulatory Compliance Professional (CRCP) or equivalent certification desired.

We offer a competitive compensation rate based on the candidate’s level of experience. Travel may be required (generally less than 20 percent). For Remote Consultant Positions, relocation is not necessary. For Rockville/N. Bethesda office-based positions, partial coverage of relocation expenditures is available.

To be considered, please email your resume to careers@frontlinecompliance.com.

FrontLine Compliance is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, religion, age, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or medical condition.

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