Differential Diagnosis on AML/CTF Systems

Differential Diagnosis on AML/CTF Systems

Let’s try to compare an „AML/ CTF System“ to a „human body“ to better understand the overall „condition“ as well as the „symptoms“, „diseases“ and „treatment“.

Human Body

Human Body Part	AML/CTF System Component	Function in AML/CTF System
Brain	AML Officer	Overseeing and making critical decisions in the AML/CTF system.
Heart	Risk Assessment	Central to identifying, evaluating, and managing risks.
Blood	Customer & Transaction Data	Vital information flowing through the system for analysis.
Eyes	Detection of Suspicious Behaviors and Transactions	The function in the AML/CTF system is observing and identifying potential money laundering or terrorist financing activities through vigilant monitoring and reporting mechanisms.
Ears	Whistleblowing	Receiving crucial information about potential issues or misconduct.
Hands	Sales & Marketing Staff	Acquiring new customers and bringing them to the system.
Teeth, Stomach, Intestines	Employees (Onboarding Team)	‚Digesting‘ and processing new customer information.
Immune System	AML/CTF Software (Screening & TM)	Protecting the system from illicit activities like money laundering.
Vocal Cords	SAR/STR Reporting	Communicating concerns about suspicious activities to authorities.
Lungs	Legal Inventory & Change Monitoring	Absorbing new legal and regulatory requirements and typologies.
Kidneys	Ongoing Controls by AML Officer	Filtering and maintaining the system’s regulatory ‚health‘.
Skin	Procurement Department	Acting as a barrier, evaluating and accepting suppliers.
Bones	Organizational Structure	Providing framework and support for the entire organization.
Muscles	Operational Structure	Executing tasks and strategies within the organizational framework.
Backbone	Customer Risk Rating (CRR)	Supporting and influencing key functions and customer management.
Bone Marrow	Customer Risk Rating Methodology (CRRM)	Producing criteria for assessing customer risk.
Fat	Records	Storing crucial information and documentation.
Fat Storage	Record Keeping	Accumulating and storing records for long-term reference.
Blood Circulation	Employee Training	Distributing essential information and skills throughout the organization.
Food	Customers	Providing data and money, essential inputs for the system.
Water	Employees	Essential for all processes, ensuring fluidity and functionality.
Bladder and Kidneys	Human Resources	Filtering and managing personnel-related risks.
Supply of Blood, Oxygen, Nutrients	Proper Training to Employees	Ensuring all parts of the system are equipped with necessary knowledge.
Liver	Compliance and Risk Management	Filtering and managing regulatory risks and compliance.
Tools (General)	Standard Functionalities in AML/CTF Software	Standard tools and features in AML/CTF software for routine tasks.
Special Tools	Specialized Functionalities in AML/CTF Software	Advanced or sector-specific tools in AML/CTF software for complex tasks.

AML Officer as the Brain:

• The brain controls and oversees all bodily functions. The AML Officer, like the brain, oversees the AML/CTF system, making critical decisions, interpreting information, and guiding the organization’s response to threats.

Risk Assessment as the Heart:

• The heart is central to the body’s function, pumping blood throughout to sustain life. Similarly, risk assessment is central to the AML/CTF system, ensuring that risks are identified, evaluated, and managed effectively across the organization.

Customer Risk Rating as the Backbone:

• The backbone provides structural support and protects the spinal cord, essential for body movement and function. In the AML/CTF system, the customer risk rating (CRR) supports and influences many key functions, determining how customer relationships are managed and monitored for risks.

Customer Risk Rating Methodology (CRRM) as Bone Marrow:

• Bone marrow is where blood cells are produced, a fundamental process for the body’s health. Similarly, the CRRM is fundamental to the AML/CTF system, as it produces the criteria and processes for assessing customer risk, crucial for the system’s overall effectiveness.

Lungs as Legal Inventory and Change Monitoring:

• The lungs are essential for breathing, taking in oxygen and expelling carbon dioxide. In your AML/CTF analogy, the lungs can be compared to the legal inventory and change monitoring system. This system ‚breathes in‘ new information, absorbing new legal and regulatory requirements as well as the latest typologies and methods of money laundering and terrorist financing.

Breathing as Intake of New Regulations and Typologies:

• Just as breathing is a continuous process of intake and release, keeping the body supplied with oxygen and removing waste gases, the process of updating the legal inventory and monitoring changes is ongoing. It involves continuously absorbing new information (like ‚inhaling‘) and adapting the AML/CTF system accordingly. This can include updating policies, procedures, and systems to comply with the latest legal requirements and counteract emerging methods of financial crime.

Guidelines, Policies, and Procedures as the Body’s Rules:

• Just as the body operates based on biological rules and processes, the AML/CTF system functions within the framework of established guidelines, policies, and procedures. These set the standards and methods for how the system should operate.

Kidneys as Ongoing Continuous Controls and Checks of the AML Officer:

• The kidneys perform essential functions in the body, such as removing waste products, controlling substance levels in the blood, and helping to regulate blood pressure. In the context of your AML/CTF system, the ongoing continuous controls and checks conducted by the AML Officer can be likened to the kidneys. Just as the kidneys continuously filter and maintain the body’s internal environment, the AML Officer continuously monitors and controls the AML/CTF system to ensure its health and effectiveness.

Liver as Compliance Management Functions:

• The liver plays a crucial role in the body by filtering blood and breaking down poisonous substances. In the context of an AML/CTF system, this could be analogous to the compliance and risk management functions within an organization.
• Just as the liver filters and detoxifies the blood, removing harmful substances, the compliance management departments work to filter out and manage risks, ensuring that the organization’s operations are clean from legal and regulatory risks, such as those associated with money laundering or terrorist financing.
• These functions involve continuously monitoring, identifying, and mitigating risks, much like the liver’s constant processing and detoxification of blood.

Bones as Organizational Structure:

• Bones provide the framework and support structure for the body, defining its shape and enabling movement in conjunction with muscles. In your analogy, the organizational structure of a company can be likened to the bones. It provides the fundamental framework that shapes and supports the entire organization, determining how different parts are connected and how they interact.

Muscles as Operational Structure:

• Muscles, which attach to bones, facilitate movement and function. They represent the operational structure in your analogy. The operational structure is responsible for the day-to-day execution of tasks and strategies within the framework provided by the organizational structure. Just as muscles must work in coordination with bones to produce movement, the operational structure must function within the confines of the organizational structure to achieve the company’s goals and objectives.

Employees as Teeth, Stomach, and Intestines:

• These organs are essential for breaking down food and absorbing nutrients. In the AML/CTF analogy, employees are crucial for ‚breaking down‘ and understanding new customer information (onboarding), ensuring it is processed correctly and efficiently.

Whistleblowing as Ears:

• Ears enable hearing and are essential for receiving external information. Whistleblowing functions similarly in an AML/CTF system, providing a channel for receiving crucial information about potential issues or misconduct from within or outside the organization.

Sales and Marketing Staff as Hands:

• Hands are used for acquiring and manipulating objects, essential for bringing things into the system. Sales and marketing staff, as the hands, are responsible for acquiring new customers, bringing them into the system for onboarding and risk assessment.

Employees as Water:

• Water is essential for life, involved in nearly every bodily function. In this analogy, employees are like water, essential and involved in all aspects of the AML/CTF system, ensuring its fluidity and functionality.

Human Resources as Bladder and Kidneys:

• The bladder and kidneys filter and remove waste, maintaining the body’s internal environment. In the AML/CTF system, Human Resources performs a similar function, ensuring that the organization is staffed with suitable individuals and managing personnel-related risks.

Records as Fat:

• Fat in the human body serves as a reserve of energy, provides insulation, and protects vital organs. Similarly, records in an AML/CTF system are a store of crucial information. They hold historical data, provide evidence for decision-making, and serve as a protective measure by documenting compliance and due diligence activities.

Record Keeping as Fat Storage:

• The process of gaining fat or fat storage in the body involves accumulating and storing energy for future use. In the context of your analogy, record keeping is the process of accumulating and storing records. Just as the body stores fat for energy, longevity, and protection, an AML/CTF system stores records for long-term reference, regulatory compliance, and as a safeguard against future risks or investigations.

Customers as Food:

• In the human body, food is the primary source of energy and nutrients, essential for growth, energy, and overall health. In the context of your AML/CTF analogy, customers are like food because they bring vital elements into the system: data and money.
• Just as different foods have different nutritional values and health impacts, different customers bring varying levels of data complexity and financial value, along with varying degrees of risk.

Data and Money as Nutrients and Energy:

• Nutrients and energy derived from food are crucial for the body’s functioning. In the AML/CTF system, the data provided by customers (like personal information, transaction history, etc.) and their financial activities are critical for the system’s operations.
• This data is ‚metabolized‘ in various processes (like risk assessments, transaction monitoring, etc.), akin to how the body metabolizes food for energy and to maintain its functions.

Customer and Transaction Data as Blood:

• Blood circulates nutrients and oxygen, essential for the body’s functions. In an AML/CTF context, customer and transaction data flow through the system, vital for identifying potential risks and irregularities.

Skin as the Procurement Department:

• The skin serves as the body’s protective barrier, regulating what enters and leaves the body, and providing a defense against external threats. Similarly, in your analogy, the procurement department can be likened to the skin of the AML/CTF system. It acts as a barrier and filter, determining which suppliers are allowed into the organization and ensuring they meet certain standards and criteria, much like how the skin controls what substances can pass through it.

Absorption Through the Skin as Onboarding of New Suppliers:

• Just as the skin selectively absorbs substances that are beneficial (like moisture or medication) and blocks harmful elements, the process of onboarding new suppliers involves carefully evaluating and accepting suppliers that meet the organization’s standards, while filtering out those that pose risks, such as potential for fraud or involvement in money laundering activities.
• This process is critical because it ensures that the organization’s ‚body‘ (its operations and supply chain) is not exposed to harmful ‚elements‘ (risky suppliers) that could compromise its integrity and health.

Employee Training as Circulation of Blood, Oxygen, and Nutrients:

• In the human body, the circulatory system delivers blood, oxygen, and nutrients to all parts of the body, essential for health and function. Similarly, providing proper training to all employees in an AML/CTF system is akin to circulating essential information and skills throughout the organization. Just as every part of the body needs blood and oxygen, every part of the organization needs training to function effectively and comply with AML/CTF regulations.
• AML Officer Training:
  • Just as the brain requires a complex and rich supply of oxygen and nutrients due to its critical functions, the AML Officer needs comprehensive and in-depth training. This includes advanced knowledge of AML/CTF regulations, leadership skills, decision-making in complex situations, and an understanding of the broader financial crime landscape.
• Human Resources Department Training:
  • Similar to how organs like the kidneys have a specialized function and require specific nutrients, the HR department needs specialized training. Their training should focus on reliability testing, understanding the competencies required for various roles in AML/CTF compliance, and recognizing the signs of integrity and ethical behavior in potential and current employees.
• Sales and Customer Onboarding Staff (KYC) Training:
  • Just like the digestive system, which needs specific nutrients to process different types of food effectively, sales and KYC staff require training focused on identifying and understanding customer profiles, detecting red flags in customer behavior, and understanding the nuances of customer due diligence.
• Transaction Monitoring (TM) Staff Training:
  • This group, akin to the body’s sensors that detect changes in the environment, needs training in monitoring transaction patterns, identifying anomalies indicative of money laundering or other illicit activities, and understanding the context of transactions in relation to customer profiles.
• Screening Team Training:
  • Comparable to the immune system which requires specific resources to identify and combat pathogens, the screening team requires training in effectively using screening tools, understanding watchlists, and recognizing potential matches that could indicate involvement in financial crimes.

Eyes as Detection of Suspicious Behaviors and Transactions:

• In our human body analogy, the eyes can be compared to the detection mechanisms for suspicious behaviors and transactions within an AML/CTF system. Just as eyes are essential for observing and identifying changes or anomalies in the environment, the detection mechanisms in an AML/CTF system are critical for identifying suspicious activities that might indicate money laundering or terrorist financing.
• These mechanisms involve vigilant monitoring of business relationships, transactions, and customer behaviors to identify anything that falls outside of normal patterns or raises suspicion based on criteria like those mentioned (origin of assets, links to terrorist financing, or lack of disclosure of beneficial ownership).

Vocal Cords and Ability to Speak as SAR/STR:

• The vocal cords enable speech, allowing a person to communicate and express concerns or information. In the AML/CTF system, SAR and STR function similarly. They are the means by which the system ’speaks out‘ or communicates concerns about suspicious activities or transactions to regulatory bodies or authorities.
• Just as the vocal cords must function properly for clear and effective communication, the process of filing SARs and STRs must be precise and efficient to effectively communicate the concerns about potential illicit activities to the relevant authorities.

AML/CTF Software as Tools in Daily Life:

• In everyday life, tools like hammers, saws, drills, screwdrivers, pincers, and cutters are essential for various tasks. They represent the standard functionalities in AML/CTF software. Just as these tools are found in most tool cases due to their broad utility, standard functionalities (like basic transaction monitoring, customer screening, etc.) are commonly found in most AML/CTF software solutions.

Special Tools for Special Purposes:

• Just as there are specialized tools for specific tasks not found in every tool case (like a mitre saw for precision wood cutting or a torque wrench for specific bolt tightening), there are specialized functionalities in AML/CTF software that may not be present in every solution. These could include advanced analytics, machine learning capabilities for pattern detection, complex risk assessment algorithms, or sector-specific compliance checks. These specialized tools are essential for addressing particular needs or challenges that standard tools cannot fully meet.

Family, Friends and Fools

Human Body Part	AML/CTF System Component	Function in AML/CTF System
At-Home Health Checks	Internal Audit	Regular internal assessments of the health and effectiveness of the AML/CTF processes and controls.
Visiting the General Doctor	External Audit	Independent, external evaluation of the AML/CTF system’s health, identifying areas for improvement.
State Medical Officer	Supervisory Authority	Oversees and ensures adherence to AML/CTF regulations and standards.
Trainers	Fitness Trainers/Coaches in a Gym	Providing group training and guidance in AML/CTF practices.
Consultants	Personal Trainers and Nutritionists	Offering specialized, individualized advice for AML/CTF challenges.
Wife	Board of Management Member	The ultimate decision maker in the organization.
Parents	Supervisory Board	Providing guidance, oversight, and strategic direction.
Children	Subsidiaries/Subsidiary Companies	Operating under the parent company with distinct characteristics.
Friends	Correspondent Banks	Trusted entities enabling extended financial services.
Friendships	Correspondent Relationships	Essential relationships for global banking network functionality.
Brothers and Sisters	Companies within the Same Group	Different entities within the same group, having unique operations.

At-Home Health Checks as Internal Audit:

• Using tools like a scale, blood sugar monitor, and heart rate monitor at home for regular health checks is akin to an internal audit in an AML/CTF system. These tools provide ongoing, internal assessments of health, just as an internal audit regularly evaluates the effectiveness, efficiency, and compliance of the AML/CTF processes and controls within an organization.

Visiting the General Doctor as External Audit:

• Going to the doctor for a check-up or when issues arise is comparable to an external audit in the AML/CTF context. Just as a doctor provides an independent assessment of your health, an external audit offers an objective evaluation of the AML/CTF system, identifying areas of improvement and ensuring compliance with external standards and regulations.

State Medical Officer as Supervisory Authority:

• A state medical officer, who oversees public health standards and compliance, can be likened to the supervisory authority in finance. This authority oversees financial institutions, ensuring they adhere to AML/CTF regulations and standards, similar to how a state medical officer ensures adherence to public health regulations.

Health Insurance as Directors and Officers (D&O) Insurance:

• Health insurance provides financial protection against medical expenses, similar to how D&O insurance protects corporate leaders from personal losses due to their managerial decisions. Just as health insurance covers individuals in case of health issues, D&O insurance covers the financial risks that directors and officers of a company might face due to legal actions brought against them for alleged wrongful acts in their managerial roles.

Trainers as Fitness Trainers/Coaches in a Gym:

• In the gym, fitness trainers and coaches guide, instruct, and motivate individuals or groups in exercise activities, including cardiovascular exercises, strength training, and stretching. In your analogy, trainers in the AML/CTF system can be compared to these fitness trainers/coaches. They are responsible for providing group training and guidance to employees, enhancing their skills and knowledge related to AML/CTF practices, much like how fitness trainers help improve physical health and abilities.

Consultants as Personal Trainers and Nutritionists:

• Personal trainers and nutritionists offer tailored advice and plans based on individual needs, goals, and conditions. Similarly, in the AML/CTF system, consultants can be seen as akin to personal trainers and nutritionists. They provide specialized, one-on-one consultation and advice to the organization, focusing on specific AML/CTF needs, challenges, or goals. This could include developing tailored strategies, addressing particular risk areas, or providing expert guidance on complex issues.

Parents as the Supervisory Board:

• In a family, parents provide guidance, oversight, and direction. They are responsible for the well-being and proper upbringing of the family. In the context of your analogy, the supervisory board is akin to parents. The supervisory board oversees the organization’s activities, provides strategic direction, ensures compliance with laws and regulations, and looks out for the overall health of the organization, similar to how parents care for and guide their family.

Children as Subsidiaries/Subsidiary Companies:

• Children, who are nurtured and guided by their parents, can be compared to subsidiary companies within a larger organization. These subsidiaries operate under the umbrella of the parent company, guided by its overarching strategies and policies, yet often with their own specific operations and challenges, just as children grow and develop under the guidance of their parents.

Friends as Correspondent Banks; Friendships as Correspondent Relationships:

• Friends in an individual’s life can be compared to correspondent banks in the financial world. Just as friends have relationships based on trust, mutual interests, and cooperation, correspondent banking relationships are built on trust and mutual benefit, allowing banks to access financial services in different jurisdictions and extend their reach.
• The concept of friendships represents the correspondent relationships between banks. These relationships are essential for the global banking network, enabling banks to facilitate cross-border transactions, currency exchange, and other international banking services, much like how friendships enrich an individual’s life and provide support and opportunities.

Brothers and Sisters as Companies Within the Same Group:

• Siblings, though they share the same parents, often have distinct personalities, interests, and paths in life. In your analogy, this can be likened to companies within the same corporate group. These companies are part of the same parent organization (like siblings with the same parents) but operate in different areas or sectors and have distinct characteristics, challenges, and operational focus.
• The diversity among siblings, even twins, mirrors the variety of companies within a corporate group that might hold different licenses and operate in different domains like credit institutions, insurance, leasing, factoring, payment service providers, asset management, crypto services, crypto service providers, real estate agents, etc.

Case Study: Symptoms

To draw parallels between medical symptoms and issues in an AML/CTF system, let’s look at the symptoms for each of the three examples:

Cancer (Criminal Employees):

• Medical Symptoms of Cancer: Unexplained weight loss, fatigue, pain, changes in skin appearance, persistent cough or trouble breathing, changes in bowel or bladder habits, difficulty swallowing, and unexplained bleeding.
• Analogous AML/CTF Symptoms: Unusual account activity that doesn’t match customer profiles, discrepancies in transactions, attempts to bypass standard procedures, consistent policy violations, unexplained wealth or transactions by employees, and signs of internal fraud or collusion.

Type 2 Diabetes (Outdated AML/CTF Software):

• Medical Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes: Increased thirst and hunger, frequent urination, fatigue, blurred vision, slow-healing sores, and frequent infections.
• Analogous AML/CTF Symptoms: Increased instances of missed suspicious activities, failure to flag high-risk transactions, frequent system errors or inefficiencies, inability to integrate with newer technologies or data sources, and growing backlog of alerts leading to delayed responses.

Common Cold (Misbehaving Customers):

• Medical Symptoms of a Common Cold: Cough, sneezing, fever, headache, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, and general body aches.
• Analogous AML/CTF Symptoms: Minor policy infractions by customers, occasional overstepping of transaction limits, slight deviations from typical transaction patterns, small-scale attempts to test the system’s boundaries, and complaints or warnings about customer behavior that are not indicative of major financial crimes but still require attention.

In these examples, the ’symptoms‘ in the AML/CTF system serve as indicators of underlying issues that, if not addressed, could lead to more severe problems. Just as medical symptoms signal the need for healthcare attention, these AML/CTF ’symptoms‘ signal the need for investigative, corrective, or preventive measures within the organization.

Case Study: Diseases

Applying the medical scenarios to the AML/CTF system in our body analogy, we can draw the following comparisons:

Criminal Employees as Cancer:

• In the same way that cancer is a serious condition requiring aggressive treatment like chemotherapy, criminal employees within an organization represent a severe risk that necessitates decisive action.
• If not addressed (akin to forgoing chemotherapy), these employees can cause significant harm to the organization, such as financial loss, reputational damage, and legal consequences. The ‚disease‘ could spread, leading to a broader culture of non-compliance or criminal activity, severely impacting the organization’s health and potentially leading to its downfall.

Outdated AML/CTF Software as Type 2 Diabetes:

• Outdated or ineffective AML/CTF software in an organization can be likened to improperly managed type 2 diabetes. Just as diabetes requires ongoing management with medication, diet, and exercise, an effective AML/CTF system needs up-to-date software capable of handling current threats.
• If the software is not updated (similar to not managing diabetes), the organization becomes vulnerable to financial crimes, regulatory penalties, and operational inefficiencies. Over time, these issues can escalate, leading to significant legal and financial repercussions, much like the severe health complications arising from unmanaged diabetes.

Small Misbehaving Customers as a Common Cold:

• Relatively small customers who misbehave can be compared to a common cold. While they may not pose a severe threat to the organization’s overall health, they can still cause issues, like minor regulatory infractions or administrative headaches.
• If these smaller issues are ignored (akin to not treating a cold), they might lead to discomfort in the form of increased scrutiny from regulatory bodies, or they could reveal systemic weaknesses in the organization’s AML/CTF system. However, they are generally less likely to cause severe damage compared to more significant risks like criminal employees or outdated software.

In each of these analogies, the importance of addressing issues proactively and appropriately is clear. Just as in health matters, where the severity of a condition dictates the treatment response, in an AML/CTF context, the severity of the risk or issue determines the necessary action. Neglecting significant risks can lead to dire consequences, much like ignoring serious health conditions, while managing smaller issues is also important for maintaining overall system ‚health‘.

Case Study: Treatments

Applying the concept of not following prescribed treatments in medical scenarios to the AML/CTF system in our analogy, we can draw the following comparisons:

Cancer and Chemotherapy (Criminal Employees):

• In medicine, not undergoing chemotherapy for cancer can lead to the disease’s progression, potentially becoming life-threatening.
• Analogously, in an AML/CTF system, not addressing criminal employees (akin to cancer) by firing and legally pursuing them can lead to severe consequences for the organization. These employees could continue their illicit activities, causing significant legal and financial damage, eroding the organization’s integrity, and potentially leading to regulatory sanctions or the downfall of the organization.

Type 2 Diabetes and Ozempic (Outdated AML/CTF Software):

• In healthcare, not managing type 2 diabetes with medications like Ozempic can lead to worsening of the disease and serious health complications.
• In the AML/CTF analogy, failing to update or upgrade outdated software is similar. The system becomes increasingly ineffective, unable to detect and manage emerging threats. This negligence can result in regulatory non-compliance, financial losses, and increased susceptibility to financial crimes, analogous to the health complications arising from unmanaged diabetes.

Common Cold and Symptomatic Treatments (Misbehaving Customers):

• For a common cold, not following treatments that relieve symptoms can prolong discomfort but typically doesn’t lead to severe health issues in healthy individuals.
• Similarly, in an AML/CTF context, not addressing misbehaving customers (akin to a common cold) by blocking accounts or terminating business relationships might lead to minor regulatory issues or administrative challenges. While these customers don’t pose a severe threat to the organization’s overall health, they can still cause inconveniences or minor compliance issues.

In each of these analogies, the severity and impact of not addressing the issue appropriately are highlighted. Neglecting significant risks in an AML/CTF system, such as criminal employees or outdated software, can lead to grave consequences, much like ignoring serious health conditions. Conversely, smaller issues, while important to manage, may not have as critical an impact if not addressed immediately.

Differential diagnosis on the AML/CTF System

Applying the concept of differential diagnosis to the AML/CTF System, as represented in our detailed body analogy, involves a systematic approach to identifying and addressing potential issues within the system. Here’s how it can be done:

Gathering Information (Symptom Recognition):

• Just like noting symptoms in a medical scenario, this step involves identifying signs of potential issues in the AML/CTF system. For example, an unusual spike in high-risk transactions (symptom) might be noticed by the AML/CTF software (immune system).

Listing Possible Conditions (Differential Diagnosis):

• Based on the initial information, list potential causes for the observed symptoms. For instance, the spike in high-risk transactions could be due to inadequate employee training (blood circulation), a lapse in compliance and risk management (liver), or a flaw in the operational structure (muscles).

Prioritizing the List (Assessing Probability and Risk):

• Prioritize potential causes based on their likelihood and potential impact. If recent changes were made in the transaction monitoring software (part of the immune system), this might be a more likely cause than a sudden lapse in employee performance.

Further Testing (Investigation):

• To narrow down the list, further investigation is needed. This might involve reviewing recent changes in the AML/CTF software, assessing employee training records, or analyzing the details of the high-risk transactions.

Refinement of the List (Analysis of Findings):

• As investigation results come in, refine the list of potential causes. For example, if it’s found that the AML/CTF software was recently updated without adequate employee retraining, this could be identified as a likely cause.

Final Diagnosis and Treatment (Resolution and Action):

• Once the most probable cause is identified, take appropriate action. Using our example, this might involve additional training for employees (blood circulation) on the new software features and a review of the recent software update to ensure it aligns with the organization’s risk profile.

In this differential diagnosis process, each component of the AML/CTF system (mapped to a part of the body) is considered for its role in the issue at hand. This approach ensures a thorough and systematic evaluation, leading to more accurate identification of the problem and more effective solutions.