Frequently Asked Questions
Clear answers about sanctions risk management, independent advisory services and how Comply Sphere Advisory can support more informed business decisions.
Understanding Our Advisory Services
Whether your business operates in commodities, international trade, shipping, logistics or other cross-border sectors, understanding sanctions exposure is an important part of managing commercial risk.
What does Comply Sphere Advisory do?
Comply Sphere Advisory provides independent consultancy focused on sanctions risk management and related business risks.
Our advisory work can include sanctions exposure assessments, ownership and control analysis, transaction risk reviews, policy and governance recommendations, and risk-management framework reviews.
We also develop technology-enabled decision-support solutions that help businesses structure and document their risk assessments.
Who are your services designed for?
Our services are intended for businesses with international commercial exposure, particularly commodity traders, importers, exporters, shipping and logistics companies, and other organisations managing complex cross-border risks.
The scope of each engagement is agreed individually, based on the client's business activities, risk exposure and applicable requirements.
Do you provide outsourced sanctions compliance or screening services?
No. Comply Sphere Advisory provides independent consultancy and decision-support services.
We do not operate a client's day-to-day compliance function, provide outsourced compliance officers, perform ongoing operational transaction screening, manage screening alerts or assume responsibility for transaction approvals.
Clients remain responsible for their compliance operations, legal obligations, internal controls and final decisions.
Can you help assess sanctions exposure involving international transactions?
Yes. We can provide independent risk-management advice concerning potential sanctions exposure associated with counterparties, jurisdictions, ownership structures, goods, shipping routes and payment arrangements.
Our work is intended to support the client's assessment and decision-making process. We do not approve transactions, issue sanctions clearance or determine legal permissibility.
Where a formal legal interpretation, licence or regulatory determination is required, the client should obtain advice or authorisation from an appropriately qualified professional or competent authority.
What is ownership and control analysis?
Ownership and control analysis examines corporate ownership structures, beneficial ownership, intermediate entities and relevant control relationships.
This helps businesses identify potential direct or indirect exposure to restricted persons or entities, including where a counterparty is not itself named on a sanctions list.
Our role is to provide independent analytical findings and risk-management recommendations. Any legal determination remains subject to the applicable sanctions regime and appropriate professional advice.
What is the Free Sanctions Exposure Scan?
The Free Sanctions Exposure Scan is a short online self-assessment designed to help businesses identify potential areas of sanctions exposure and self-reported control weaknesses.
It contains 12 questions and provides an indicative result with suggested areas for further review.
The scan is free and does not require registration to view results. It is an initial risk-awareness tool, not a formal compliance assessment, sanctions clearance or certification.
What is NEXUS™ and how does it work?
NEXUS™ is Comply Sphere Advisory's technology-enabled transaction risk assessment and decision-support platform.
It is designed to help users structure their review of factors such as counterparties, sanctions exposure, ownership and control, jurisdictions, transaction characteristics and relevant risk indicators.
NEXUS™ supports risk analysis and documentation. It does not replace customer due diligence, operational sanctions screening, legal advice, or a client's internal approval process.
How can my business engage Comply Sphere Advisory?
You can arrange an initial 30-minute consultation to discuss your business activities, potential sanctions exposure and the type of independent advice required.
Any subsequent engagement will be subject to client acceptance, an agreed scope of work, applicable legal and regulatory restrictions, and appropriate contractual terms.
How Exposed Is Your Business to Sanctions Risk?
Answer 12 quick questions and receive an indicative exposure profile with suggested areas for further review. No registration required to view results.
Have a More Specific Question?
Discuss your sanctions risk-management challenges with Comply Sphere Advisory. We provide independent advice and decision support tailored to an agreed scope of work.