FAWG Background Check Procedures

Financial Accountability Background Screen

(approved 11/9/11)

The Occupy Boston Financial Accountability Working Group (FAWG) will screen individuals who handle Occupy Boston financial accounts to ensure they are reputable and trustworthy. This is required for all individuals who have direct access to any Occupy Boston credit union, bank, or on-line fundraising accounts and/or whose signature is required to access those funds. This includes all individuals who can withdraw or transfer funds from a physical bank or on-line account or who are authorized to sign checks or possess a debit card associated with any Occupy Boston account, including any accounts that are not directly administered by the FAWG.

The background screen will consist of the following:


 * 1) Completion of the attached Financial Accountability Background Screen form.
 * 2) On-line research: Google, Facebook, Linkedin, and other websites.
 * 3) A credit report obtained from a credit agency.
 * 4) Interviews with at least 2 Occupy Boston working group members who are not on the FAWG who have worked alongside the individual.
 * 5) Interviews with at least 2 personal Boston-area references who have known the individual for at least 1 year.
 * 6) A meeting of the individual and the FAWG.  - notes of this meeting will not be kept
 * 7) A decision-making meeting of the FAWG that does not include the individual.

Because the above meetings will discuss confidential information, the meetings will be restricted to FAWG members only; outside observers may not attend.

In order to ensure the security of personal information of individuals who will handle Occupy Boston funds, all information collected as part of the screening process will be handled with limited or complete confidentiality.


 * Limited Confidentiality will apply to Page 1 of the Financial Accountability Background Screen. This document may be viewed by members of other working group member who are official liaisons to the FAWG.
 * Full Confidentiality will apply to Page 2 of the Financial Accountability Background Screen, credit reports, and any notes from any reference checks. Only core members of FAWG, who are those with completed Financial Accountability Background Screens, will have access to the fully confidential information.

All documents and related information collected as part of this screen will be stored in a secure location with FAWG’s other legal records. All documents will be returned to the individual if they are not approved or, if approved, when the individual no longer has access to Occupy Boston financial accounts.

page 1
This Financial Accountability Background Screen is to be completed by all individuals who have access to the Occupy Boston credit union, bank or on-line fundraising accounts (including all with check signing, on-line banking, and debit card authority). Page 1 of this Financial Accountability Background Screen may be viewed, by request, by members of other working groups who are liaisons to the Financial Accountability Working Group (FAWG). Page 2 is confidential and may be viewed only by core members of FAWG. All documents and related information collected as part of this screen will be stored in a secure location with FAWG’s other legal records. All documents will be returned to the individual if they are not approved or, if approved, when the individual no longer has access to Occupy Boston financial accounts.

Name(first, middle, last)_____________________________________________________________

Home Address ____________________________________________________________________

Years at current address ____________   (if less than 2 years, then also provide prior address, below)

Prior Address _____________________________________________________________________

Home Phone ___________________________________ Cell Phone_________________________

Employer ______________________________________ Position___________________________

Business Address _________________________________________________________________

Years in current job ______________________________ Work Phone________________________

PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS: (Please explain on a separate page if necessary).


 * 1) Have you ever had a position of financial responsibility in a business   [[File:]]  No    [[File:]]  Yes  (explain)

or non-profit organization?


 * 1) Are you the subject of any investigation or a defendant in any     [[File:]]  No      [[File:]]  Yes  (explain)

lawsuit or legal action?


 * 1) Have you ever been convicted of a felony or any financial crimes?      [[File:]]  No    [[File:]]  Yes  (explain)
 * 2) Are all of your federal and state income taxes current?      [[File:]]  No    [[File:]]  Yes  (explain)
 * 3) Have you ever used another name or alias?     [[File:]]  No    [[File:]]  Yes  (explain)

The above information is true and accurate. I hereby give my consent for the Occupy Boston Financial Accountability Working Group or its authorized representative to obtain my credit report from a credit bureau.

Signature: ____________________________________________            Date:



Financial Accountability Background Screen page 2
Confidential Information

Social Security Number ______________________ Date of Birth ____

Please provide two Boston-area references from individuals you have known for at least 1 year.

Name _________________________________________________________________________

Home Address __________________________________________________________________

Phone ______________________________ Email address ______________________________

Relationship __________________________ How many years have you known this person? ____

Name _________________________________________________________________________

Home Address __________________________________________________________________

Phone ______________________________ Email address ______________________________

Relationship __________________________ How many years have you known this person? ____