Our Firm

Premier Consulting Partners

At Premier Consulting Partners, we take a unique approach to developing a relationship with our clients.

As the leaders and founders of PCP have combined over 100 years of financial services experience in executive positions, we understand that it's not about the consulting firm or how good we say we are. It's about the delivery of services, as promised, and standing behind our services not as consultants but as partners.

That is why we call ourselves Premier Consulting Partners. Our company name demonstrates our commitment to you, our partner. The name provides our firm with tenets to deliver services to our clients, our partners, as follows:

  • Premier: Is you, our client
  • Consulting: Is us, your provider
  • Partners: Is you and us together in a partnership
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What does this mean to you?

It means that PCP will base its delivery of services on a sound understanding of your profile, your business, and your unique risk. PCP will design your internal audit, compliance, and risk management deliverables based on your needs.

PCP will stand behind our services by providing the necessary support during your regulatory examination to explain and walk through the delivered services. PCP will be your partner and trusted advisor who thrives on providing you with expert guidance, support, and high-quality information both in and outside of the engagement process.

What it ultimately means is that PCP is committed to the success of you and your organization.

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Joseph Sabatino, CPA, CAMS

Managing Director, Head of Financial Services

Joseph Sabatino oversees the Financial Services practice of the Firm. With over 25 years of extensive audit and compliance experience in the financial services industry, Joseph is instrumental with the development and implementation of strategic internal audit and regulatory compliance solutions.

Specifically, Joseph has developed several comprehensive methodologies to comply with regulatory requirements including BSA/AML Independent Testing, AML, OFAC, and Customer Risk Rating Model Validations and audits of Fiduciary Activities.

In addition, Joseph has also led several many BSA/AML/OFAC projects that include High Risk Reviews, Transaction Monitoring Rule Optimization, and Regulatory Remediation Assistance. Joseph actively provides expert guidance to many financial institutions regarding their compliance, internal audit, and risk management programs.

Prior to joining Premier Consulting Partners, Joe was a Director of Risk Advisory Services at KPMG LLP, where he supervised numerous internal audits, compliance, and process improvement engagements.

Specifically, he was the lead manager on many audits and projects for top-tier banking, asset management, and brokerage firms, assisting them with the design, execution, and reporting of their internal audit plan and compliance requirements. In addition, Joseph led several BSA/AML and OFAC compliance engagements for various sized institutions.

He was also actively involved with process improvement projects to assist clients with merger-related activities, reconciliation processes, and the analysis of operational procedures.

At Lazard Freres & Co. LLC, Joe served as an Audit Manager of the Asset Management and Capital Markets Divisions. He developed and implemented a risk assessment methodology and approach across the division.

In addition, he developed and maintained a continuous monitoring database to enhance ongoing monitoring and risk assessment procedures. Joe also developed and implemented the firm’s anti-money laundering audit program and assisted the Compliance Department in implementing trade surveillance procedures.

He managed several asset management and alternative investment engagements that ranged from portfolio management and trading to risk management, compliance, and back-office operations.

At Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Joe was a Vice President in Internal Audit. He managed all global capital markets audits across branches and subsidiaries, covering front, middle and back-office operations and involving a wide array of products.

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Highlights

Education & Certification

  • BS, Accounting – St. John’s University
  • Series 7 examination
  • Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS)

Industries

  • Banking
  • Prepaid
  • Asset Management
  • Broker Dealer

Areas of Expertise

  • BSA/AML/OFAC Compliance
  • Regulatory Compliance
  • Prepaid Operations
  • Trust & Fiduciary Activities
  • Bank Operations
  • Internal Controls
  • Fraud Prevention

[email protected]
(347) 576-9308

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Michael Gardner, Esq., CAMS

Managing Director, Head of Regulatory Compliance

Michael Gardner oversees the Regulatory Compliance Division of Premier Consulting Partners, providing professional customized regulatory compliance risk management and advisory services to a wide range of financial institutions.

Michael has served in key compliance and legal roles within national and state charted financial institutions, witnessing first-hand the obstacles, challenges, and successes of financial institutions.

In working alongside all levels of management within the internal structure of banks, Michael had the opportunity to serve as liaison for banks internal and external auditors and regulators during reviews and examinations, including the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Reserve Board, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the State of Florida Office of Financial Regulation.

While serving in various roles within the financial sector, Michael was responsible for the development, implementation, and oversight of regulatory compliance programs, including BSA/AML & OFAC, consumer compliance, fair lending, community reinvestment act, and fraud prevention.

Michael also maintained oversight of monitoring of high-risk account relationships, customer account activity, and the filing of suspicious activity reports. Michael’s compliance responsibilities included the performance of risk assessments and ongoing compliance monitoring and reviews, which incorporated comprehensive risk-based testing, discussing and vetting findings, preparing and issuing reports, and performing follow-up of reportable findings to verify the completion of management’s responses and action plans.

Michael actively participated in bank board and management committee meetings, from both a compliance and legal perspective. Michael also provided direct guidance and oversight to all levels of management and personnel, including more complicated banking relationships such as trusts, guardianships, estates, receiverships, foreign entities, and power-of-attorneys.

As a Managing Director with Premier Consulting Partners, Michael continues to assist clients with many of the same compliance duties and responsibilities, including the performance of BSA/AML & OFAC and compliance audits, reviews, risk assessments, and system validations.

Michael also provides ongoing compliance risk advisory services to financial institutions, including the development and enhancement of the BSA/AML/OFAC and compliance programs, policies, and procedures, participation in board and management committees, assistance with the rollout of new and amended products and services, and providing of guidance in preparing and implementing changes related to new and amended laws and regulations impacting client operations.

Michael also helps banks fulfill their ongoing CRA monitoring and reporting requirements, including the development of performance contexts and the execution of performance evaluations.

Michael assist financial intuitions with the remediation of regulatory findings and supervisory enforcement actions, including, matters requiring attention, memorandums of understanding, and consent orders.

Michael also develops and provides customized, job-specific live compliance training to all levels of management and personnel, taking into consideration each financial institution’s unique size, business operations, applicable laws and regulations, and examination and audit results.

The experience and direct insight Michael has gained within the financial industry allows him to have a comprehensive and realistic understanding in assessing a financial institution’s practices, processes, and procedures for complying with the vast amount of laws and regulations impacting day-to-day operations of a financial institution.

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Highlights

Education & Certification

  • JD, Florida State University
  • Member of the Florida Bar
  • Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS)

Industries

  • Banking
  • Pre-Paid
  • Non-Traditional Lenders
  • FinTech
  • Private Lending

Areas of Expertise

  • BSA/AML & OFAC
  • Fraud Prevention
  • Regulatory Compliance
  • Bank Operations
  • Prepaid Operations
  • Compliance Training

  • Internal Controls
  • Loan & Credit Administration
  • Loan Operations
  • Collection & Loan Workouts
  • Trusts & Fiduciary Duties
  • Legal Compliance Analysis

[email protected]
(954) 665-9813