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Institute of Advanced Technological and Commercial Studies

Glossary

Anti-money laundering: knowing your client and tracing flows

Anti-money laundering requires financial institutions to identify their clients, understand the source of funds and report unusual transactions. It is a function in strong demand across the sub-region.

Three obligations, one purpose

The anti-money laundering framework rests on three obligations: identifying the client and the beneficial owner, understanding the source of funds and the consistency of the transaction, monitoring movements and reporting anything outside the expected profile. Every step leaves a retained trace. This function shapes banking compliance roles and sits at the heart of control positions.

  • Identify the client and the beneficial owner of the transaction
  • Understand the source of funds and the transaction's consistency
  • Monitor movements and report anything outside the expected profile

The vigilance chain

The Finance and OHADA Compliance certificate has candidates build a complete know-your-client file and a transaction monitoring grid. The Finance and Accounting programme covers the subject from the flows side: reconstructing a payment chain and spotting what calls for a further check.

  1. 01

    1 — Onboarding

    Identity verified, beneficial owner identified, activity and home country documented.

  2. 02

    2 — The expected profile

    Usual volumes, frequencies and counterparties are established when the account opens.

  3. 03

    3 — Monitoring

    Transactions are held against the profile: anything diverging triggers a documented review.

  4. 04

    4 — Reporting

    The review concludes, and the report goes to the competent authority in the prescribed form.

Programmes that prepare for it

2 catalogue programmes put “Anti-money laundering” to work: 138 credits and 1380 taught hours in total. The official rule holds throughout — one credit stands for 25 hours of work, 10 of them taught. Every line below is recomputed from the programme page: level, duration, credits, taught volume and fees in Guinean francs appear exactly as filed in the official catalogue.

ProgrammeLevelDurationVolumeFees
Certificate in OHADA Finance and ComplianceProfessional certification6 months18 credits · 180 taught hours4 200 000 GNF in total
Finance and Accounting programme — Bac+5 levelMaster's degree2 years120 credits · 1200 taught hours6 800 000 GNF per year

3 frequent questions

Does this skill concern banks only?

Financial institutions first, along with microfinance institutions, insurers and several regulated professions.

What level does this function target?

Control and expert positions, at the upper end of the 4 levels in the professional qualifications catalogue.

Is a legal background needed first?

The certificate installs the regulatory frame required. The exact prerequisite appears on the course page.

Anti-money laundering: knowing your client and tracing flows — Glossary | IHETC — IHETC