Finance Monthly. Expert Insight Expert Insight Finance Monthly. TRUST & CORPORATE SERVICES IN THE MIDDLE EAST Financial Architecture in a Higher-Scrutiny Era Cross-border structuring is no longer about optimisation alone. In today’s enforcement climate, it is about defensibility, documentation and longterm sustainability. For corporates and private clients operating between Europe and the Middle East, advisory support has evolved into strategic infrastructure — embedded into governance, transaction planning and capital flow management. Founded in Nicosia, Cyprus in 1998, Aspen Trust Group positions itself as a global financial architect — structuring international transactions, building compliant frameworks and guiding businesses through planning, implementation and long-term management. At the centre of that strategy is Marina Zevedeou, a Chartered Accountant and London School of Economics graduate whose career spans PwC in London and Athens, senior advisory roles in Cyprus, and more than two decades in international structuring, tax advisory and family office services. Finance Monthly spoke with Zevedeou about regulatory pressure, Middle East market dynamics and why professional financial advice has shifted from a cost-saving exercise to a risk discipline. 10 11 Structuring, Risk and Strategic Growth What does disciplined cross-border structuring look like in today’s regulatory climate? It begins with clarity. Clients want certainty around compliance, transparency in reporting and structures that can withstand regulatory scrutiny across multiple jurisdictions. Disciplined structuring means aligning legal, tax and operational frameworks from the outset — not retrofitting them later. It also means anticipating how decisions taken today will be examined during an audit, refinancing, IPO or sale years down the line. Our role is to ensure structures are efficient but also defensible. What differentiates advisory firms that succeed in the Middle East from those that struggle? The region is dynamic, sophisticated and relationship-driven. Success requires three things: regional understanding, global connectivity and rigorous compliance. We have built a network of trusted associates across the UK, US, UAE, Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mauritius. That allows us to coordinate international structuring seamlessly. Equally important is service integration. Clients do not want fragmented advice. They require entity formation, reporting, cross-border mergers, family office structuring, residency support and intellectual property advisory delivered cohesively. Firms that cannot integrate these services under strong governance frameworks often struggle. How do you ensure innovation does not outpace regulatory defensibility? Innovation must strengthen compliance, not undermine it. We invest in digital reporting systems and operational efficiencies, but every technological enhancement is assessed against regulatory requirements. We continuously monitor global developments and adapt accordingly. Transparency, internal controls and documentation standards remain central. Innovation without compliance discipline creates long-term risk. Where are the next regulatory and reputational pressure points emerging in the region? Two areas stand out: enhanced cross-border information exchange and ESG integration. International transparency initiatives mean structures must be coherent and well documented. At the same time, investors and stakeholders increasingly examine governance and sustainability practices. Advisory firms must align structuring strategies with both regulatory obligations and reputational expectations. That alignment is becoming essential for investor confidence. What governance controls become critical as advisory firms expand internationally? Expansion requires robust internal systems. Clear reporting lines, independent compliance oversight, documented processes and secure data management are fundamental. “We have built a network of trusted associates across the UK, US, UAE, Cayman Islands, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mauritius. That allows us to coordinate international structuring seamlessly.
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