Learning Pathway: AML Officer

You’re the organisation’s financial-crime early-warning system. You make risk visible, keep controls practical, and ensure every decision is evidence-ready—so leaders move fast and regulators stay confident.

Licensing note: Depending on your jurisdiction and role (e.g., MLRO/MLCO), you may be required to be licensed or formally approved by the regulator.

Core Accountabilities

RMCP in action:

Embed and maintain the Risk Management & Compliance Programme across onboarding, monitoring, investigations, and reporting.

CDD/EDD excellence:

Risk-rate customers, map UBO, verify source of funds/wealth, and manage PEP/PIP and sanctions screening.

Liaise with regulators:

Coordinate supervisory queries, examinations, remediation updates, and (where required) approvals/notifications.

Oversight of compliance & risk posture:

Maintain a clear view of AML control effectiveness, gaps, and remediation progress across the business.

KRI discipline:

Set, track, and escalate AML KRIs (e.g., CDD completeness, alert ageing, false-positive rates, STR/SAR timeliness).

Investigations & reporting:

Triage alerts, build cases, file STRs/SARs and sanctions reports—complete, timely, defensible.

Reporting cadence:

Deliver crisp MI and assurance packs to Risk/Compliance Committees, Exco/Board, and external regulators as required.

Model & scenario tuning:

Document thresholds/rules, review performance, and reduce noise while protecting true positives.

Training & culture:

Equip frontline teams with practical guidance and reinforce a strong speak-up culture.

Career Pathway & Learning Map

Junior → Mid-Level → Senior → Executive

AML Analyst

Junior

AML Analyst (Junior)

Outcomes: Solid CDD/EDD execution, quality investigations, accurate filings.
Recommended learning:
- CDP: AML (hands-on practical course covering KYC, screening and risk rating)
- ICA Certificate in AML
- ICA Certificate in Practical Client Due Diligence
- Occupational Certificate: AML Analyst
- ICA Certificate in Financial Crime Prevention (broadens beyond AML)

AML Officer

Mid-Level

AML Officer (Mid-Level)

Outcomes: Oversee AML Compliance for your business unit. Guide and advice stakeholders. Be introduced to compliance monitoring and reporting.
Recommended learning:
- ICA Advanced Certificate in AML
- IT Practitioner: Compliance particularly if your role evolves into RegTech

AML Manager

Senior

AML Manager (Senior)

Outcomes: Manage and oversee the AML Program, regulator engagements, compliance reporting to senior and executive management. Oversee key risk indicators and remediation of compliance breaches.
Recommended learning:
- ICA Diploma in AML

Money Laundering Control Officer

Management / sometimes Executive

Money Laundering Control Officer

Outcomes: Accountable officer equivalent; firm-wide AML strategy, regulatory relation-management, Board reporting.
Recommended learning:
- Post Graduate in Financial Crime Prevention
Expectation at this level: Fluent in local and global frameworks (e.g., FATF standards, UN/EU/OFAC sanctions, regional laws, and sectoral guidance) and able to harmonise them across multi-jurisdiction operations.