Skip to content
Get In Touch Support Hub Partners Investors
Book a demo Free trial

Ethical Standards in Finance and Investment

The FCA's ethical standards apply to individuals in finance and investment. These standards cover a professional's responsibilities to their firm and their clients.

In financial services, a firm's most valuable asset is its reputation. Compliance with standards concerning inside information, money laundering, conflicts of interest, fiduciary duties, etc., helps maintain this.

Our Ethical Standards in Finance and Investment Course explains the fundamental responsibilities of professionals working in financial services.
Get started Course details
  • 40 Minutes
  • All staff
  • Based on UK legislation, but suitable for global audiences upon the removal of UK-specific references and translation as necessary.

Learning objectives

  • Know your fundamental responsibilities: honesty and integrity, avoiding plagiarising, avoiding the use of inside information
  • Know your responsibilities to the Firm: disclosure of conflicts, responsibilities of supervisors, observing policies regarding personal account dealing, email and Internet access, not misrepresenting yourself or the Firm
  • Know your responsibilities to your clients: independence and objectivity, properly preparing research reports, fulfilling fiduciary duties, fair dealing and preserving confidentiality

    What can you expect your employees to learn?

Welcome

Statement of ethical conduct

  • Exercise: Statement of ethical conduct

Inside information

  • Exercise: Inside information
  • Sunita
  • Trading shares

Money laundering

  • Exercise: Money laundering

Plagiarism

  • Exercise: Plagiarism

Bribery & corruption

Registration

Conflicts of interest

  • Exercise: Outside employment
  • Exercise: Gifts & entertainment
  • Exercise: Disclosure of conflicts

Responsibilities of supervisors

  • Exercise: Responsibilities of supervisors

Email access

Internet access

Prohibition against misrepresentation

  • Exercise: Prohibition against misrepresentation

Independence & objectivity

  • Exercise: Independence & objectivity

Preparation of research reports

  • Exercise: Fiduciary duties

Fiduciary duties

Investment recommendations & actions

Priority of transactions

  • Exercise: Priority of transactions

Fair dealing

  • Exercise: Fair dealing

Confidentiality

  • Exercise: Confidentiality

Summary

Affirmation

Assessment

Does your company have…

Under 50 employees?

We recommend our CoreCompliance solution, perfect for smaller teams. Start your training immediately with pre-configured, ready-to-go courses.

Learn more

Over 50 employees?

Identify risks, avoid violations, and safeguard your business. Our bribery prevention training teaches you how to protect your organisation’s reputation and avoid costly errors.

Explore plans

Your questions, answered

Financial Crime

Common FAQs

How can I log and track incidents of financial crime in my organisation?

Our Compliance Breach Register allows you to securely log and monitor incidents of financial crime, such as bribery or money laundering. The tool enables you to track resolution progress and maintain a clear audit trail, ensuring accountability and compliance with regulatory requirements.

How can I ensure my employees understand and comply with our internal policies in relation to financial crime?

Our Policy Hub enables you to distribute policies such as your Anti-Money Laundering (AML) policy to employees, track acknowledgements, and send automated reminders. This ensures everyone understands their obligations and helps you maintain compliance with financial crime regulations.
.

Are the courses SCORM-compliant?

Yes. This means they can be delivered via the Skillcast Portal or any other SCORM-compliant Learning Management System.

What other tools are needed beyond training?

A comprehensive compliance solution often needs more than just training. Alongside e-learning, tools like declarations, surveys, and registers that track compliance tasks are usually essential. Skillcast provides full support to help you set up these additional tools.

Can users only view the courses assigned to them?

Yes. Users can view all the courses in the portal that have been assigned to them as either mandatory or optional. Courses that are mandatory will have a deadline shown.

Related courses

Boost your compliance efforts with our range of courses. Varying in length and topic, our courses equip you with the tools to create an ethical and resilient workplace.

Anti-Money Laundering & Counter-Terrorist Financing

To prevent criminal activity, nearly all countries in the world have committed themselves to extremely tough laws against money laundering and terrorist financing.

Read more

In-depth 30 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Anti-Money Laundering

To prevent the proceeds of crime from finding their way into the formal economy, most countries have extremely tough laws with severe penalties.

Refresher 15 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Financial Sanctions

Financial and economic sanctions are binding prohibitions applied by governments to prevent business transactions with certain designated persons.

Read more

In-depth 45 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Financial Crime Prevention

There are two kinds of financial crime.

Read more

In-depth 40 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Suspicious Activity Reporting

It is your employees' legal duty to report any knowledge or suspicion of financial crime.

Express 10 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Economic Sanctions

Violation of sanctions issued by the UN, the US and the EU which place restrictions on payments and other financial transactions can result in fines as well as criminal charges.

Refresher 15 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Embargoes and Sanctions

Embargoes and sanctions prohibit all transactions with an entity, trading of certain commodities, or supplying critical goods.

Read more

In-depth 45 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Customer Due Diligence

Express 10 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Tipping Off

Tipping off a person about a money laundering or terrorist financing investigation is a criminal offence.

Express 10 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Financial Crime Prevention

There are two kinds of financial crime.

Read more

In-depth 25 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Understanding Sanctions

Bring "Understanding Sanctions" e-learning to life using animation characters and storylines.

Microlearning 5 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Money Laundering Red Flags

Bring "Money Laundering Red Flags" training to life using animation characters and storylines.

Microlearning 5 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Counter Terrorist Financing

Express 15 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Counter-Proliferation Financing

Express 10 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Third-Party Due Diligence

Express 10 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

MCOB - General Standards

The Mortgage Conduct of Business (MCOB) for General Standards applies to all firms that deal with home finance.

Read more

In-depth 40 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

BCOBS - General Standards

The FCA Banking Conduct of Business Sourcebook (BCOBS) applies to all firms that accept deposits from banking customers in the UK.

Read more

In-depth 25 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Training and Competence

Training and Competence (T&C) forms an important part of UK regulations under the FCA.

Read more

In-depth 30 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

The Three Stages of Money Laundering

Bring "The Three Stages of Money Laundering" e-learning to life using animation characters and storylines.

Microlearning 5 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Preventing Tipping Off

Bring "Preventing Tipping Off" e-learning to life using animation characters and storylines.

Microlearning 5 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

COBS - Client Categorisation

The Conduct of Business Sourcebook (COBS) applies to financial firms in the UK that deal with client investments.

Read more

In-depth 20 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Payment Services Regulations

The Payment Services Regulations (PSRs) 2017 was introduced in 2018 and set the Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2) in motion.

Read more

In-depth 25 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Whistleblowing for Managers

Whistleblowing refers to disclosing corrupt, illegal or fraudulent activities committed by organisations.

Read more

In-depth 35 Minutes Financial Crime Managers

Appropriate Use of Communication Channels

Not all communication channels are appropriate for business purposes.

Read more

In-depth 10 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Markets in Financial Instruments Directive II (MiFID II)

The Markets in Financial Instruments Directive (MiFID) originally aimed to increase competition and integration in markets for financial instruments.

Read more

In-depth 45 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

COBS - Dealing and Managing

The FCA Conduct of Business Sourcebook (COBS) applies to financial firms in the UK.

Read more

In-depth 20 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Information Barriers

The flow of information in financial firms needs monitoring between businesses involved with private and public side activities.

Read more

In-depth 45 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Senior Management Arrangements Systems and Controls

The Senior Management Arrangements Systems and Controls (SYSC) Sourcebook apply to authorised financial services firms.

Read more

In-depth 25 Minutes Financial Crime Managers

Conduct Rules for Senior Managers at Dual Regulated Firms

Under the Senior Managers Regime, all senior managers must comply with the FCA's six Individual Conduct Rules (ICRs) and four Senior Managers Rules (SMRs).

Read more

In-depth 60 Minutes Financial Crime Managers

MCOB - APRC, Shortfalls and Charges

The Mortgage Conduct of Business (MCOB) for the Annual Percentage Rate of Charge (APRC), shortfalls, and charges apply to home finance businesses.

Read more

In-depth 30 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

FSCS Deposit Protection

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) safeguards customers' finances.

Read more

In-depth 20 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Complaints Handling for Managers

One of the three operational objections of the FCA is to protect consumers.

Read more

In-depth 35 Minutes Financial Crime Managers

Financial Crime Prevention (Commercial Insurance)

There are two kinds of financial crime.

Read more

In-depth 35 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Terrorist Financing Red Flags

Bring "Terrorist Financing Red Flags" training to life using animation characters and storylines.

Microlearning 5 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Understanding Terrorist Financing

Bring "Understanding Terrorist Financing" training to life using animation characters and storylines.

Microlearning 5 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Customer Due Diligence

Bring "Customer Due Diligence" training to life using animation characters and storylines.

Microlearning 5 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Enhanced Customer Due Diligence

Bring "Enhanced Customer Due Diligence" training to life using animation characters and storylines.

Microlearning 5 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Politically Exposed Persons

Bring "Politically Exposed Persons" training to life using animation characters and storylines.

Microlearning 5 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Suspicious Activity Reporting

Bring "Suspicious Activity Reporting" training to life using animation characters and storylines.

Microlearning 5 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Unexplained Wealth Orders

Bring "Unexplained Wealth Orders" training to life using animation characters and storylines.

Microlearning 5 Minutes Financial Crime All staff

Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risks of Virtual Assets

Express 20 Minutes Financial Crime All staff
Browse the complete Financial Crime training package