Use the form on the right to contact me.
123 Street Avenue, City Town, 99999
(123) 555-6789
email@address.com
You can set your address, phone number, email and site description in the settings tab.
Link to read me page with more information.
I recently appeared on the Compliance Time Podcast to discuss different perspectives on continuous learning and how compliance professionals can build competitive advantages through their learning and development.
Read MoreSince the shocking terrorist attack of 9/11 and subsequent terrorism plots and attacks in numerous countries, terrorism has become the world’s greatest security threat. As countries like Canada try to respond appropriately and effectively, it has become increasingly important to better “understand” the distinctive nature and causes of modern terrorism and the special challenges it poses to the security of societies like ours.
Originally designed as an undergraduate course, Global and Domestic Terrorism is now offered as 12 week online course from Dalhousie University.
The course draws on the latest terrorism thinking and research from a variety of academic and other sources to develop a broad understanding of terrorism as a complex social phenomenon and a challenging domestic and global security problem.
Read MoreAre you interested in the Certificate in Financial Crimes Prevention and Mitigation offered through Seneca College? If you have viewed the course webpages and have questions - or would simply like to hear more about the course in a live environment - consider attending the free “Ask the Instructor” session I am running via Zoom on Friday 10th July 2020.
Read MoreThe Financial Intelligence Specialist (FIS) designation is awarded by ManchesterCF, a Canadian financial intelligence company, and accredited by University of New Haven.
Manchester CFs Financial Intelligence Specialist (FIS) designation was on my radar for a while because it is, in the world of financial crime certifications, unique. There are 12 modules, all completed via an online learning platform, on a range of subjects and each with their own knowledge assessment. Successfully obtaining 80% means you pass the module, and passing all 12 modules awards the Financial Intelligence Specialist designation.
Unlike many other certifications, there are no ongoing CPD or renewal costs.
From the outset I will say that the FIS has quickly become one of my recommended certifications, for reasons I will elaborate in this review.
Read MoreYou may also be interested in my own training course - the 40 hour Financial Crime Professional course:
548 page PDF Study Guide
17.5 hours of Video Content
I frequently get asked on social media for recommendations on what certifications and courses to take to a) increase job prospects or b) advance knowledge and understanding of Financial Crime. In this post I outline my recommended/preferred Financial Crime certifications and, in rank order, demonstrate what I think is the value they provide.
A word of caution: simply having certifications and courses on your resume does not make you a good Financial Crime professional - I have seen too many individuals who have all the certifications possible and lack the required skills and experience.
Certifications and courses should always be combined with “soft skills” and - where possible - experience.
You may also wish to check out my earlier post on 12 recommended books related to Financial Crime.
Read MoreAre you interested in the Certificate in Financial Crimes Prevention and Mitigation offered through Seneca College? If you have viewed the course webpages and have questions - or would simply like to hear more about the course in a live environment - consider attending the free “Ask the Instructor” session I am running via Zoom on Friday 10th July 2020.
Read MoreACAMS has been on a development spree in 2019/2020 with the release of two new certifications: the Certified Global Sanctions Specialist (CGSS), which I reviewed earlier, and the new Advanced CAMS - Risk Management (CAMS-RM). The CAMS-RM is also the only certification in the Advanced range from ACAMS that is exam-based.
Successful passing of the Advanced CAMS - Risk Management program awards the designation of Certified Advanced AML Risk Management Specialist (CAMS-RM)
Read MoreAs we enter the 5th (?) week of Stay at Home due to COVID-19, or Coronavirus, I’ve been reflecting on some of the “Silver Linings” that it has brought. Aside from being able to spend more time with family (of the same household), I believe there are many opportunities that our current situation brings to us as Compliance Professionals.
Read MoreThe Financial Crimes Prevention & Mitigation Program – FNC100 which is offered through the Canadian Institute for Financial Crime Analysis (CIFCA). The FNC100 is a unique, online (hybrid), 16-week professional development program that provides you with specialized training needed for the rapidly growing compliance and financial crimes prevention profession.
Read MoreSince recently passing the ACAMS’ new Certified Global Sanctions Specialist (CGSS) certification I’ve received a number of questions about the certification and my experience preparing for the examination.
I’ll try and address each of them and provide other information that I think could be relevant to someone thinking of taking the certification. If I have missed something, or you have any other questions, do reach out to me and I’ll try my best to answer.
In short, the Certified Global Sanctions Specialist (CGSS) is a certification produced by ACAMS towards the end of 2019 with the first examinations in January 2020 (I opted to take the examination on 16th January 2020 which was the earliest date available!).
Unlike the CAMS certification - the traditional certification for the AML professional - the CGSS focusses on…well…Global Sanctions.
Read More“Networking” is fourth instalment of a 4-part series aimed at newcomers to Canada working in Financial Crime roles.
As a result of my own experiences as a newcomer to Canada, I designed and launched the Financial Crimes Prevention and Mitigation program through Seneca College [Link] to address both the “Canadian Experience” and certification hurdles.
Having discussed the existence of “Canadian Experience”, the role of Contracting as a first step, and the value of Certifications and Courses, our attention turns to the concept of “Networking” .
The Financial Crime sector in Toronto (and other Canadian cities) is a very close knit environment. Given the proximity of many financial institutions within a small area, the opportunity to build a professional network with other professionals, at other financial institutions, is very present.
There are many after-hours networking events in Toronto hosted by several of the major industry associations and also by smaller organisations and even some of the many talent individuals in the field. Given the condensed nature of the profession in Toronto, you will quickly get to know the “key players” and many of the venues are located in the downtown core - within easy access of many employers and public transit.
Read MoreIn Part 2 of this series, I discussed the value of approaching contracting roles as an entry into the Canadian financial crime job market. Added to this, I introduced the role of Certifications and Courses as being “recommended” or “(strongly) preferred)…
… if you see those words in a job description, you should interpret them as “Required”. At least to get the interview. But I would argue that each of the below courses and certifications offer value to both your resume and your personal development, and are worthy of your consideration.
As an educator, it is no surprise that I value the idea of continuous professional development. Keeping your financial crime knowledge up to date and “relevant” cannot be understated. The financial crime space is constantly evolving as criminals adapt and exploit new and emerging technologies and products. To that end, Financial Crime professionals must keep up their own learning and development.
Read MoreIn my previous post I discussed the issue of - or lack of - “Canadian Experience” and the challenges this creates for newcomers to Canada in Financial Crime roles. One of the mitigations that I presented - and from my own experience - was to consider Contracting rather than Permanent roles (at least for the first Canadian jon)
Unlike some jurisdictions, there is a heavy reliance on contract roles in Financial Crime departments. Often the number of contract roles outweigh the number of permanent roles within an institution. Contract roles offer employers, and individuals, flexibility to account for increased short-term workloads - or changing budgets.
A quick search on LinkedIn and other job sites show a high number of contract AML / Financial Crime roles for contracts of 6-12 months. Many of these recruitment campaigns are for MULTIPLE positions - compared with just 1 position in many permanent offerings - this presents a greater chance for the right candidate to get the interview and thus showcase their skills to the hiring manager.
Aside from the greater possibility of getting an interview as part of a mass-hiring campaign - hiring managers often have a greater flexibility when it comes to lack of “Canadian Experience”. When hiring for multiple positions, lack of “Canadian Experience” may be overlooked. Therefore a contract role can be the perfect opportunity to get such Canadian Experience! Thus setting you up for success when applying for that next - permanent - role.en the number of contract roles outweigh the number of permanent roles within an institution. Contract roles offer employers, and individuals, flexibility to account for increased short-term workloads - or changing budgets.
A quick search on LinkedIn and other job sites show a high number of contract AML / Financial Crime roles for contracts of 6-12 months. Many of these recruitment campaigns are for MULTIPLE positions - compared with just 1 position in many permanent offerings - this presents a greater chance for the right candidate to get the interview and thus showcase their skills to the hiring manager.
Aside from the greater possibility of getting an interview as part of a mass-hiring campaign - hiring managers often have a greater flexibility when it comes to lack of “Canadian Experience”. When hiring for multiple positions, lack of“Canadian Experience” may be overlooked. Therefore a contract role can be the perfect opportunity to get such Canadian Experience! Thus setting you up for success when applying for that next - permanent - role.
Read MoreWhen I first arrived in Canada in 2016 from the UK I must admit I was a bit naive when it came to the concept of “Canadian Experience” in the job market. I had read about it on online forums and websites as I prepared for my move but thought, like many, that I wouldn’t be as bad as everyone said…at least for me!
My rationale? I was coming from an established career in law enforcement with a strong (and related) academic background. Surely I would be snapped up by Canadian private sector employers… or at least get an interview.
No.
Read MoreOver the course of 2019 as I designed the Financial Crimes Prevention and Mitigation program for Seneca College, I read a lot of financial crime related books in order to ensure the program was full of “real world” examples and case studies. Building on the academic framework, the use of case studies throughout the course aims to provide students with both a theoretical and practical knowledge of financial crime.
Such duality is also seen in the programs’ close alignment with the CFCS certification - offering students a Seneca College certificate and preparation for a leading industry certification.
Read MoreAs I have mentioned in previous posts, the Financial Crimes Prevention and Mitigation program at Seneca College is a 16 week hybrid in-class and online course. However it is possible to take the entire course online from anywhere you have an internet connection!
Of the 16 scheduled sessions, 12 are exclusively held by video conference through the Blackboard learning platform.
4 sessions are held at Seneca Colleges’ downtown campus in the Toronto Financial District.
The in-class sessions are also available via video conference - this means that you don’t have to be a compliance professional physically located in Toronto to take the program!
All 16 sessions - and any guest speaker sessions - will be available to access and participate online through the Blackboard learning platform.
Since my previous posts on Seneca Colleges’ Financial Crimes Prevention and Mitigation program, I have received many questions on “who” is studying the course and “who” the course is aimed at.
Who
The Financial Crimes Prevention and Mitigation program is aimed at, and is suitable for, a wide range of students:
- those currently working in AML / Financial Crime who want to gain a deeper understanding of the underlying criminality and predicate offences taking place,
- those working in the Financial sector more generally looking to either make a transition to AML / Financial Crime roles, or to gain a greater understanding of the threat of Financial Crime,
- those in related sectors looking to transition to AML / Financial Crime roles.
Read MoreThe program is delivered over 16 weeks in a hybrid online and in-class format. All 16 weeks are livestreamed via the interactive Blackboard learning platform where students can ask live-time questions, participate in polls and knowledge checks, and share their own insights and experiences with the case. Recordings will be made available after class in case you are unable to attend a session.
Of the 16 weeks, 4 sessions will be held at Seneca College’s Downtown Campus at 30 Wellington St. West, in the heart of Toronto’s Financial district. Spaced throughout the program, the in-class sessions will provide an opportunity for the class to take advantage of face-to-face networking with their colleagues and peers, as well as invited industry-leading guest speakers.
Read MoreThe motivation behind developing the Financial Crimes Prevention & Mitigation Program originated from my own personal experiences and understanding of the Compliance profession in Canada, specifically Toronto.
Read MoreThe Financial Crimes Prevention & Mitigation Program – FNC100 which is offered through the Canadian Institute for Financial Crime Analysis (CIFCA). The FNC100 is a unique, online (hybrid), 16-week professional development program that provides you with specialized training needed for the rapidly growing compliance and financial crimes prevention profession.
Read More