The challenge
Regulatory separation not fulfilled
As an e-money institution, SumUp was subject to strict regulatory requirements regarding the separation of own and third-party funds. The existing accounting and settlement processes did not adequately meet these requirements, as operational and accounting procedures were inconsistent and the entire cash flow – from acquirer settlement to merchant payout – was not fully compliant with regulatory requirements. SumUp needed a transparent, audit-proof structure that would prevent regulatory risks and function uniformly across Europe.
The solution
Transparent cash flow architecture
OSTHAVEN developed a consistent process design that fully ensures the separation of funds required by regulations. To this end, all relevant process steps were analyzed, redesigned, and coordinated with SumUp’s specialist teams. The entire cash flow was modeled transparently, dependencies between operational and accounting systems were harmonized, and regulatory documentation requirements were fully implemented. The implementation was carried out in close cooperation with SumUp teams from several European countries to ensure compliance with regulations across the group.
The result
Audit-proof and harmonized processes
The newly designed processes enabled a clear separation of own and third-party funds and corrected existing accounting errors. SumUp was able to present the regulator with complete, audit-proof documentation of the revised processes. The harmonization of processes also strengthened internal governance, increased cash flow transparency, and improved collaboration between operational and accounting teams. The project was completed on time and successfully.
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