The AML / CFT specialist qualification for compliance officers, MLROs and financial-crime analysts. 224 calibrated MCQs, 7 walkthroughs, cram sheet, £49.
The Combating Financial Crime qualification is the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment's specialist AML/CFT exam. Where GFC covers the international compliance framework broadly, CFC goes deep on anti-money-laundering, counter-terrorist-financing, sanctions, bribery, fraud, market abuse and the operational compliance framework a regulated firm needs to prevent them.
It's the natural pick for anyone whose day-to-day involves:
50 multiple-choice questions, 60 minutes, 70% pass mark, computer-based delivery via Pearson VUE. CISI's syllabus is updated periodically to keep pace with regulatory change.
CFC is aimed at professionals whose role touches financial crime — whether in-house at a bank / asset manager / insurer, or in a supporting role at a professional-services firm.
| Role | Why CFC helps |
|---|---|
| Compliance officer | Baseline expected in most JDs; unlocks MLRO tracks |
| MLRO / Nominated officer | Directly relevant to statutory duties under POCA + MLR 2017 |
| Financial-crime analyst | Depth on FATF Recs, typologies, sanctions evasion, crypto |
| Sanctions specialist | Ch 6 covers OFAC / OFSI + evasion typologies in depth |
| Onboarding / KYC operations | Ch 4 is the CDD/EDD/SDD/PEP framework — 30% of the exam |
| Correspondent-banking risk | Ch 3 covers correspondent banking + shell-bank prohibition |
| Career-switcher into compliance | Portable credential recognised UK/EU/UAE/Singapore/HK |
| Ch | Topic | Exam weight |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to Financial Crime & International Response — FATF, UN conventions, EU MLDs 1-6, national frameworks | 5 / 50 (~10%) |
| 2 | Money Laundering — the Offences — POCA s.327-333, mens rea, defences, DAML | 8 / 50 (~16%) |
| 3 | ML: Sources & Methods — placement → layering → integration, TBML, shell companies, real estate | 6 / 50 (~12%) |
| 4 | Prevention Framework — the heaviest chapter — CDD/EDD/SDD, PEPs, BO, SARs, MLRO, monitoring | 15 / 50 (~30%) |
| 5 | Terrorist Financing — TA 2000, UN 1267, sources, typologies, cryptocurrency | 4 / 50 (~8%) |
| 6 | Other Financial Crimes — UKBA + FCPA, fraud, sanctions, tax evasion, market abuse, cybercrime | 8 / 50 (~16%) |
| 7 | Recent Developments — crypto/VASPs, EU AMLA, US CTA, UK ECCT, AI in FC detection | 4 / 50 (~8%) |
Ch 4 dominates the exam. Nearly a third of your marks live in the CDD/EDD/SDD/PEP/SAR/MLRO framework. Any candidate serious about passing should spend disproportionate time on Ch 4.
The full £49 CFC product covers:
Financial-crime regulation moves fast — faster than the CISI workbook can. Our bank has post-workbook developments flagged inline in explanations:
Full CFC bank — 224 Qs, walkthroughs, audio, cram sheet — £49 one-time. Or try 12 free questions per chapter first.
Assuming 8-10 hours a week alongside a full-time job, the natural CFC path:
Aim to average 80%+ across timed mocks before booking. If you can't hit that, you're not ready — better to delay a fortnight than fail and re-sit.
Most compliance careers need both the general compliance foundation (GFC) and the AML/CFT specialisation (CFC). Buying the pair separately is £98; the bundle is £79.
Global Financial Compliance — the international compliance-officer baseline. 200 MCQs, 5 chapters.
Both GFC + CFC bundled. One license unlocks both courses. Best value for compliance-track careers.
The entry-level CISI credential. Take this first if you're new to finance vocabulary.
4-6 weeks at 8-10 hours per week is typical for candidates with some compliance background. Longer (8-10 weeks) if you're new to AML/CFT. Ch 4 alone is worth ~30% of the exam and deserves ~40% of your revision time.
70% pass mark. 50 multiple-choice questions in 60 minutes. Delivered computer-based via Pearson VUE. Results usually available immediately after submission.
CFC is narrower but deeper. GFC has a broader scope (international regulation, venues, IOSCO Principles, corporate governance) but shallower per topic. CFC drills much harder on AML/CFT specifics — POCA sections, FATF Recs by number, PEP mechanics. Neither is easy; both benefit from disciplined chapter-by-chapter revision.
Yes — many candidates buy the walkthroughs specifically as an operational reference. Ch 4 (CDD/EDD/SDD/PEPs/SARs/MLRO) reads like a training manual for onboarding + monitoring teams.
Yes — CISI qualifications are internationally recognised. UAE SCA and Singapore MAS both accept CISI qualifications as CV credentials. For local licensed roles you may need additional jurisdiction-specific exams (SCA for UAE, CMFAS for Singapore, HKSI LE for Hong Kong).
Gumroad-backed 30-day refund. If you buy and decide it's not what you needed within 30 days, request a refund directly through Gumroad's receipt email.
No. One-time payment, permanent access. Useful if you're delaying the exam or want to keep the walkthroughs as a workplace reference.
CISI, CFC, ICWIM, IISI and GFC are trademarks of the Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment. FinStudyHub is not affiliated with CISI. Content is original preparatory material calibrated to the published CFC syllabus.