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By Paul Byrne, of PropelFwd
IN today’s complex financial landscape, anti-money laundering, countering financing of terrorism, and counter-proliferation financing training are essential in combating illicit financial activities.
The Jersey Financial Service Commission highlights this with its recent tabletop audit of the estate agent sector’s training programmes, indicating that other Schedule II businesses such as private lenders and antique dealers might be next.
The JFSC’s tabletop audit and implications
The JFSC’s recent audit assesses the quality of AML/CFT/CPT training provided to estate agents. This proactive measure ensures employees not only receive training but also retain the necessary knowledge to combat money laundering effectively.
Why comprehensive training is essential
1. Regulatory compliance
Comprehensive AML/CFT/CPT training ensures that businesses comply with JFSC regulations, helping avoid severe penalties, reputational damage and legal consequences.
2. Retention and application
The JFSC focuses on how training is provided and retained. Regular knowledge checks, short exams and practical assessments confirm that employees can apply their training in real-world scenarios.
3. Evolving threats
Financial crime is constantly evolving. Updated training programmes keep staff aware of the latest threats and regulatory changes, maintaining an effective defence against sophisticated money-laundering techniques.
The role of Propelfwd in effective training
Face-to-face training
Many organisations offer free face-to-face training in response to JFSC audits. While beneficial for interactive learning, it often lacks follow-up mechanisms to ensure long-term retention.
Online courses for continuous professional development
Propelfwd advocates for a hybrid approach, combining face-to-face training with online courses. Online courses provide continuous learning opportunities with periodic assessments, quizzes and exams to reinforce learning and track knowledge retention.
Demonstrating knowledge retention
To meet JFSC requirements, it’s essential to show that employees retain and understand training material. Propelfwd’s approach includes:
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Regular assessments: Online courses with short exams and quizzes to evaluate understanding and reinforce learning.
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Knowledge checks: Interactive sessions and regular face-to-face sessions to reinforce key concepts.
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Compliance tracking: Documenting and reporting training activities and assessment results to provide a clear picture of training effectiveness to the JFSC.
Conclusion
As the JFSC increases its scrutiny of AML/CFT/CPT training programmes, businesses must ensure their training strategies are comprehensive and effective. This includes continuous learning and regular assessments to demonstrate knowledge retention. Propelfwd’s combination of face-to-face training and online courses offers a robust solution to meet these needs, ensuring compliance and equipping staff to combat financial crime.
For businesses across the financial services sector, investing in thorough and demonstrable training programmes is crucial not just for regulatory compliance but as part of a broader strategy to prevent money laundering and protect the financial integrity of the industry.
