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About the Webinar

In our latest 91����ԭ�� Strategy Booster webinar, experts from across the payments and compliance landscape explored how firms can achieve operational excellence amid increasing regulatory complexity and market change.

The discussion focused on how organisations can evolve their compliance operations, from tackling process bottlenecks and adopting automation to redefining culture, data management, and talent strategies.

Meet the Panellists

Moderator: Adam Parkinson, Editor, 91����ԭ�� Insights Team (Payments Compliance)

Panellists:

• Louise Beaumont, Independent expert
• Pete Chapman, Partner, Richardson Lissack
• Kate Jones, Compliance Specialist, Kana Consult

Together, they explored what it takes to turn compliance from a perceived bottleneck into a strategic business enabler.

Questions We Explored

1. What are the biggest operational bottlenecks in payments compliance today?
   
   
2. How can embracing automation or AI tools reduce delays without compromising regulatory oversight?
   
   
3. How can organisations attract and retain compliance talent in a competitive market?
   
   
4. How do teams ensure they act on relevant, actionable information rather than being overwhelmed by data?
   
   
5. How can compliance be positioned as a business enabler rather than a blocker?
   
   
6. What practical steps should firms be taking right now to ensure they are maximising operational efficiency?
   
   

Key Findings

1. Bottlenecks Often Stem from Legacy Thinking

Operational inefficiencies in compliance are rarely caused by regulation alone. The greatest barriers often lie in outdated systems, manual workflows, and siloed communication between teams.

The panel highlighted that many firms still treat compliance as a final “check” rather than an integrated part of strategy. Embedding compliance at the start of projects not only prevents last-minute delays but enables teams to innovate with confidence and speed.

2. AI and Automation Deliver Value When Used with Purpose

AI is transforming the compliance landscape, but success depends on clear intent and governance. Automation can free up valuable human capacity — particularly in triaging alerts or reducing false positives — yet technology should never replace human judgment.

The message was clear: use AI to support decision-making, not define it. Explainability and transparency remain essential to maintaining regulatory trust and internal confidence.

3. Culture and Talent Are the True Differentiators

Technology can streamline processes, but culture determines whether change sticks. Forward-looking firms are reframing compliance as a strategic, purpose-driven discipline — one that empowers teams, values expertise, and attracts top talent.

Authentic leadership and visible support for compliance goals are key to retention. When professionals feel their insights are heard and respected, they stay engaged and invested.

"Bake cultural understanding into the very recipe of your product, not as decoration but as a core ingredient. And don’t treat compliance as a constraint — it’s the flour in your cake: foundational, not optional."

-Louise Beaumont, Independent Expert and CEO, Vector Associates

4. Data Alone Isn’t Insight

Many organisations are collecting more data than ever before — but often lack the structure to turn it into meaningful insight. The discussion emphasised the importance of clarity over volume: identify the key risks that matter most, and focus analytics around those priorities.

Regular calibration of compliance models helps ensure that data remains relevant and actionable as risks evolve.

"The greatest risk in compliance, above doing nothing at all, is trying to absorb all of the data and move everything forward simultaneously. Look at your own risk and exposures, and consider what data can be used to help address those. This creates a much more tailored risk management process, and allows you to explain what you are doing far more clearly to the regulator, and is more effective than trying to do all things for all issues."

- Pete Chapman, Partner, Richardson Lissack

5. Compliance as a Business Enabler

When compliance is positioned strategically, it drives growth rather than restricting it. Efficient controls, streamlined onboarding, and faster decision-making all enhance customer experience and trust - directly supporting revenue goals.

Operational excellence in compliance creates agility: firms with well-defined frameworks can expand into new markets or launch new products more easily, because their risk and governance structures are already built to scale.

"I don't believe AI could ever do a complete role of compliance. I think there is always a need for human interaction, pragmatism, and judgement. However, there is definitely a use for it within the function, but it is about making sure you are clear and engaged on its use, the benefits it brings and the problems it solves within your business.”

- Kate Jones, Compliance Specialist, Kana Consult

6. Practical Steps to Drive Efficiency

1. Embed Compliance Early: Operational excellence starts with foresight and compliance guidance can be really beneficial early on. When compliance is integrated at the concept and strategy stage, it shapes innovation rather than constraining it. Early engagement builds speed, reduces rework, and positions compliance as a natural part of decision-making - not a barrier to it. 

2. Adopt AI and Automation with Purpose: Technology delivers value only when it serves a defined purpose. Automation and AI should be designed around specific outcomes - improving accuracy, scalability, and auditability - rather than implemented for their own sake. The goal is clarity and control, not complexity. To help, ask yourself these questions to better understand what you’re outcome you’re driving for:

• Is this helping me get more time?
• Is this helping me surface a greater level of detail?
• Is this helping me provide a better audit trail?
• Is this helping me scale in a cost effective way without relying on recruiting more staff?

3. Build a Culture That Values Compliance: Processes and tools matter, but culture determines impact. A strong compliance culture encourages curiosity, open dialogue, and the confidence to challenge - because compliance is a mission critical role, it can often be contentious - compliance professionals need to feel comfortable enough to speak up and have the difficult conversations that are sometimes needed. When teams feel trusted and supported, compliance becomes proactive, adaptive, and aligned with commercial ambition. Ensure new applicants can see clear career pathways where they can go in your company in compliance. 

4. Focus on Targeted, Risk-Based Data Management: More data doesn’t mean better oversight. The real differentiator lies in knowing which risks matter most - and structuring data to illuminate those. Tailored, risk-driven analysis enables faster, sharper decisions and a clearer narrative for regulators and stakeholders alike.

Operational excellence, the panel concluded, is not about perfection, it’s about alignment, adaptability, and consistent improvement. Compliance is no longer just a defensive function. When approached strategically, it becomes a source of speed, confidence, and commercial advantage.

Firms that integrate compliance early, empower their people, and leverage technology intelligently are best placed to navigate the next phase of regulatory evolution, and to thrive within it.

"You've got to continually tune your compliance process to make sure it's optimal. Calibrate your models periodically and thoughtfully, so that you're optimised for risk. Because risks don't stay static, they're always adapting - and you need to adapt too."

-Louise Beaumont, Independent Expert and CEO, Vector Associates

Want to Hear the Full Conversation?

You can access the full 91����ԭ�� Strategy Booster: Unlocking Operational Excellence webinar on demand here to hear the detailed discussion, case examples, and expert insights that shaped these findings.