This course gives an in-depth overview of the two major documents that shape today’s international tax environment: the U.S. Foreign Account and Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) & OECD’s Common Reporting Standards (CRS).

This course offers a practical overview of Anti-Money Laundering. It begins with a recap on AML fundamentals. It addresses risk management techniques for AML. It provides a sound grounding to transaction monitoring and suspicious transactions reporting as well as it considers the industry specific vulnerabilities in financial services.

In an era of rapidly evolving financial crime tactics and tightening global regulations, staying ahead of Anti-Money Laundering (AML) requirements is not just a legal obligation—it is a cornerstone of safeguarding financial integrity. This course equips professionals, compliance officers, and institutions with the knowledge to navigate the latest AML regulatory updates, focusing on the European Union’s transformative reforms and their implications for Cyprus, a pivotal EU financial hub.

This course offers a comprehensive review to bribery and corruption, and the effects of both. It addresses the forms of bribery, provides statistics on bribery and examines the legal framework. It also covers the special provisions on how to report bribery. The course will provide a practical, risk-based analysis of the main obligations in relation to bribery and corruption as they relate to companies and individuals.

The concept/term Corporate Governance has featured regularly in discussions, both within the professional and academic community, since the 1990s and has become even more prominent following significant cases of corporate failure which had overarching adverse effects on the global interconnected economy. The link between poor corporate governance practices and excessive risk-taking that led to the downfall or bail-out of significant financial institutions, necessitated a discussion on how to strengthen corporate governance and protect against future similar cases. 

This course provides a comprehensive overview of European investment funds, focusing on their structure, regulation, and emerging trends. Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of UCITS and AIFs, exploring their operational frameworks and key regulatory directives such as AIFMD, SFDR, and MiFID II. The course also delves into the integration of ESG criteria and sustainable finance, equipping learners with the tools to navigate the evolving landscape of responsible investing. Designed for fund managers, compliance professionals, financial advisors, investors, and students, it combines theoretical knowledge with practical case studies to ensure real-world applicability. By the end, participants will be able to analyze regulatory frameworks, evaluate investment strategies, and apply insights to tackle industry challenges effectively.

ESG covers the many actions, processes, and projects that a firm may undertake to perform their duty as good citizens. This may include issues like diverse and inclusive workplaces, sustainable development, the efficient use of energy, recycling and following high ethical standards.

This course examines the role of the regulatory framework and competent authorities in Europe and the USA for the protection of consumers and investors. It provides a sound grounding in the guidelines for financial promotions and advertising principles. It covers the special provisions which result in unfair business-to-consumer commercial practices that go against professional diligence requirements.

This course provides an in-depth understanding of the legal and regulatory framework surrounding the resolution and recovery of investment firms and other financial institutions. It focuses on the Cypriot context, particularly the provisions of Law 20(I) of 2016 and Law 22(I) of 2016, as amended, governed by the CySEC and the Central Bank of Cyprus (CBC) correspondingly. By the end of this course, participants will be equipped with the knowledge to assess recovery planning, intra-group financial support, early intervention measures, resolution tools, procedural obligations, and cross-border group resolution mechanisms.  

This course outlines the relevant firm’s responsibility to perform an internal capital adequacy assessment. It examines the process and methodology that will need to be performed while investigating the risk management framework which needs to be established according to Basel guidelines. It also looks the responsibilities of the different functions as regards the risk assessment and sets out the contents of the report that must be produced so as to satisfy this regulatory requirement. Finally, it describes the process which the regulator undertakes to perform the SREP.

This seminar will present an analysis of the recent legal developments at EU and international levels in countering criminal offences in capital markets. It will also discuss the enforcement of criminal market abuse legislation through insights into recent cases from the perspective of practitioners.

This course provides a thorough understanding of sanctions and an opportunity to explore the recent global trends in economic sanctioning while tracing the role of the relevant actors within this complex framework. You will examine the motives and rationale behind such decisions, the resulting effects and the consequences experienced not only by the targeted parties but also those doing business with them, either directly or indirectly. The course is structured to offer the relevant knowledge with reference to practical examples that will enable for a sanctions compliance strategy to be conducted in an effective manner, essential mitigating the sanctions risk.

This course provides essential knowledge for KYC and CDD procedures which are key tools in assessing customer risk and a legal requirement to comply with Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorist Financing (CFT) laws. Effective KYC/CDD involves knowing a customer’s identity and their financial activities, ongoing monitoring of business activities, and identifying and mitigating the AML/CFT risk a business relationship may pose on the regulated entity.

MiFID II/MiFIR which came into effect on 3 January 2018, is a new legislative framework which aims to strengthen investor protection and improve the functioning of financial markets making them more efficient, resilient and transparent. MiFID II and MiFIR introduced new provisions to enhance controls around the prevention of market abuse and to increase transparency in markets.

This course offers a practical review of the compliance function. It addresses the roles, responsibilities and mission of the compliance officer, the areas covered by the compliance unit and the tools and methodologies that facilitate the compliance officer’s daily work. It provides a sound grounding in the principles of compliance for investment firms and banking institutions. It extensively covers the regulatory provisions for operating a legally compliant firm.

The product governance regime aims to ensure that firm’s act in a client’s best interests, including funds and related management services, to end clients. It ensures that when a firm manufactures or distributes regulated financial services and products, it has arrangements in place to understand the products and only sold to investors and clients for which they are likely to be deemed suitable. The requirements apply to “services” as well as “products”, for all client types and to all distributors in the sales chain.

This course on the Prospectus Regulation is designed to provide learners with a comprehensive understanding of the regulatory framework governing the preparation, approval, and publication of a prospectus for public offers and the admission of securities to regulated markets. This Regulation plays a crucial role in ensuring transparency and investor protection across the European Union. Through this course, learners will gain insight into the key components of a prospectus, including essential sections such as the summary, risk factors, issuer information, financial details, and terms of the offer. You will also explore the various approval processes that issuers must navigate, including the roles of competent authorities such as CySEC, the ESMA, and the legal requirements for publication and dissemination of the prospectus.

The financial services sector in Cyprus operates under an evolving regulatory framework, making it essential for professionals to stay updated on the latest developments. Investment firms, banks, and payment institutions must navigate increasing compliance complexities driven by EU directives and local regulations.   Regulatory bodies such as the CySEC and the Central Bank of Cyprus continuously refine their oversight mechanisms to enhance transparency, market integrity, and investor protection. Recent regulatory changes include stricter AML provisions, updated prudential requirements, and the implementation of new EU-wide directives such as MiCAR  and DORA.

This course aims to describe and explain the Risk-Based Approach (RBA) procedures so that the firms focus their efforts on those areas where the risk of ML and TF appears to be higher. Resources should be efficiently invested and applied where they are most required.

This course aims, is to assist professionals in investment firms, in particularly those whose primary function is within the Sales, customer retention and marketing environment, in understanding the regulatory framework they must operate in, and develop a self-understanding as to the allowed sales techniques.

The EU has recently adopted a series of regulations relating to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) requirements.  Sustainable Finance is among the core objectives of this initiative.  This programme will provide an overview of the various ESG initiatives and focus on the Sustainability Related Disclosures for the Financial Services Sector (SFRD).

This course will help you to increase your knowledge in theory and practice about how to treat your customers fairly and in a compliant manner. It will also provide a sound grounding in the complaints handling procedure based on the financial regulations. It also addresses specific information and guides to management information and the Ombudsman.

This course offers a comprehensive introduction to the Undertakings for Collective Investments in Transferable Securities (UCITS). It addresses the national and EU environment, reflecting to the historical background of UCITS and their current stats in numbers. It provides a solid grounding in the general environment and industry players of funds in Cyprus. It covers the special regulatory provisions of UCITS and specific information for their characteristics.

The ICARA Process requirement is deriving from the provisions of the new prudential package (Investment Firms Regulation and Directive) introduced by the European Commission. The aim of this course is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the ICARA process methodologies and requirements, as well as its implications for Investment Firms operating within the European Union.