The architecture of institutional defence.
Sound governance is not an administrative exercise. It is the primary mechanism through which a regulated institution demonstrates to its supervisory authority that it is in control of itself — and that it will remain so under stress.
Governance compliance and governance strength are not the same thing. The gap between them is where institutional risk concentrates.
Most boards approach governance as a compliance obligation — policies, committees, and periodic reviews assembled to satisfy the regulator. This produces documentation that is technically adequate but institutionally hollow. When governance is tested — by a supervisory inspection, a credit event, or an unexpected leadership transition — the gap between compliant and sound becomes immediately apparent.
CB Advisors designs governance frameworks with the operational reality of the institution in mind. Every board mandate, control environment structure, and audit committee arrangement we develop is built to withstand scrutiny — not merely to satisfy it.
A governance mandate follows four structured phases. Each builds directly on the preceding one — from an objective assessment of the current state to a framework that holds under regulatory scrutiny.
Diagnostic Assessment
An independent review of the current governance state — examining board mandate clarity, control environment gaps, policy hierarchy coherence, and alignment with the three lines of defence. Output: a structured gap analysis with a prioritised remediation trajectory.
Framework Design
Development of the governance architecture: board and supervisory board terms of reference, committee mandates, internal control environment documentation, and the policy hierarchy that translates governance intent into operational practice.
Implementation Support
Operational installation of the approved framework — including AO/IB internal control review, audit committee support and coordination, and preparation for supervisory dialogue. CB Advisors bridges governance design with institutional reality.
Review & Assurance
Periodic governance assessments, structured gap reviews at defined intervals, and ongoing advisory as the regulatory environment or institutional circumstances evolve. Sound governance frameworks require active stewardship, not static documentation.
The principal deliverables of a full governance mandate. Scope is confirmed at the conclusion of the diagnostic phase and adapted to the institution's specific gap profile.
- Board governance frameworks and terms of reference
- Internal control environment design and review (AO/IB)
- Audit committee mandate and coordination support
- Three lines of defence framework implementation
- Governance gap assessment and structured improvement roadmap
- Commercial banks under CBvS supervision
- Credit unions and cooperative banking structures
- Regulated investment funds requiring governance frameworks
- Government-linked entities subject to statutory oversight
- Institutions preparing for licensing or regulatory review
Governance mandates are accepted subject to a preliminary scope assessment. CB Advisors works with a select number of clients at any one time to maintain the standard of attention each engagement requires.
Governance
by design.
CB Advisors accepts governance mandates subject to scope assessment.
Initial consultations are confidential and without obligation.