The Compliance Officer is the regulator’s invisible arm in that it ensures that the institution’s business is being conducted in line with regulations, internal policies and procedures. Checks are carried out primarily through compliance monitoring programmes; be they on-site or desk based reviews. The fulcrum of the findings prompted by the reviews is to bring these to the attention of senior management. Senior management is ultimately responsible for the establishment and maintenance of the compliance function and in ensuring that the business is carried out in line with regulatory requirements.

In the first hour, participants will receive an introduction to how blockchain technologies work. The different types of tokens will presented in detail, with particular on utility tokens. These are blockchain-based assets that offer added value and can also automate processes and secure data with the help of smart contracts. In the lecture, case studies will be presented showing the enormous potential of this technology. The course will also highlight the risks and how red flags can be recognized as well as the opportunities and risks in respect of data security.

Climate financial risks and disclosures are increasingly recognized as essential components of sustainable finance, with various regulatory frameworks emerging to enhance transparency and accountability in this area. This course will guide you through the key aspects of climate change risks and their corresponding disclosures, with a primary focus on those aligned with the European Sustainability Reporting Standards (ESRS).

This 2-hour course provides technical and non-technical teams with essential awareness of current cybersecurity threats and best practices for mitigating risks. Participants will learn about the evolving threat landscape, the role of senior management in cybersecurity risk management, and how to implement protective, detective, and reactive controls to enhance the organization's security posture. The course aims to equip all team members with the knowledge to contribute effectively to managing cybersecurity risks within their roles.

‘Beneficial owner’ means any natural person who ultimately owns or controls a legal entity or express trust or similar legal arrangement, as well as any natural person on whose behalf or for the benefit of whom a transaction or activity is being conducted. Beneficial ownership transparency is an item of high priority at a global, EU and local level. In view of Malta’s previous greylisting, beneficial ownership concealment has been a high-priority agenda item locally, with a number of thematic visits taking place by the regulator. This area is fundamental to AML and needs to be given due importance; this course will help compliance practitioners to carry out their role more effectively.

Cyber security is a key issue that affects everyone in the digital environment we live and work in. The aim of this course is to ensure that the end user has enough security awareness to turn them into a strong last line of defence in identifying cyber-attacks and protecting your organisation. This interesting and practical course will help you and your staff in an interactive course. The key benefits will be the change in users’ behaviour to reduce risk from phishing and other cyber attacks, prioritisation and improvement of incident response and reporting of incidents and ultimately the reduction of successful phishing attacks and malware infections.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of Qualified Intermediary (QI) and Non-Qualified Intermediary (NQI) concepts, focusing on the key differences, roles, and responsibilities of each designation. Participants will gain a thorough understanding of Chapter 3 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code, including its regulations on withholding and reporting for foreign persons. The course also explores the practical implications of these regulations on team workflows, emphasizing compliance and the risks of non-compliance. Through interactive case studies, attendees will develop strategies for managing compliance, mitigating risk, and effectively applying their knowledge of QI/NQI roles and Chapter 3 regulations in real-world scenarios.

This 3-hour interactive training is designed for executive leaders to enhance their understanding of neurodiversity and equip them with practical tools to foster inclusivity in the workplace. Through a blend of presentations, discussions, role-playing, and case studies, leaders will learn strategies for effectively managing and supporting neurodivergent employees while promoting equity and creating a thriving environment for all. 

This course is designed to help organizations prepare for compliance visits by the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU). It provides a thorough understanding of the FIAU’s role, the compliance visit process, and key obligations under anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CFT) regulations. Participants will learn how to ensure their policies, procedures, and records meet regulatory standards, address potential deficiencies, and handle onsite inspections effectively. Through case studies and expert insights, this course equips businesses with the tools to maintain compliance and demonstrate a proactive approach to regulatory requirements.  

This course will cover the integral role of internal audit in supporting and enhancing corporate governance practices within organisations. Participants will explore how internal audit serves as a key component of governance frameworks by providing independent assurance, evaluating risk management practices, and ensuring compliance with governance-related laws and standards.   The course will focus on how internal audit aligns its activities with governance objectives, reports effectively to boards and audit committees, and assesses the performance of governance structures and committees. Additionally, participants will gain insights into reviewing the organisation’s crisis readiness and ensuring alignment of risk management frameworks with governance goals.

The most important characteristic of a good line of credit afforded by a credit institution to an applicant is that is gets repaid. This requires a credit assessment process that could include profiling, economic stress testing, risk, financial and business analysis, and collateral availability. This course will address the credit proposal assessment process and give key practical insights to help attendees to carry out good quality assessments which will result in good mutually beneficial business.

This course will address the corporate risk management  process and will help participants to design, implement  and establish a proactive and dynamic risk management  model. This will place their organisation in a better  position to identify, avoid and mitigate potential risks that  exist in every organisation’s internal as well as external  environments. Discussions will also focus on how to  build a strong corporate risk management culture, and  help attendees to learn the basis on which they should  prioritise the various risks.    

This course aims to provide a high-level overview of Environmental (E), Social (S) and Governance (G) criteria (ESG), and will serve as a general introduction to this fast-growing and ever-changing sector. The course will be informally split into three distinct sections; the first of which will largely focus on the main tenets of ESG: what it means, what it seeks to achieve and its development through time. The second section of this course will focus on the pertinent regulatory developments in the ESG sector, including the Taxonomy Regulation, the Sustainable Finance Disclosures Regulation (SFDR) and the upcoming Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), and their implications on market players falling within their scope. The third and final section of this course will then seek to provide examples of the practical applicability of ESG both locally and internationally, and will further explore what the future holds for this expanding sector.

The aim of this course is to provide participants with an overview of the fundamental precepts of Maltese company law. Following an analysis of the distinction between the various types of corporate vehicles available in terms of Maltese law, the course will focus on private and public limited liability company, from creation to dissolution. Fundamental doctrines such as separate legal personality, limited liability, and the lifting or piercing of the corporate veil will be analysed. The various types of share capital, the increase, reduction and transfer of share capital, and the doctrine of capital maintenance will also be discussed. This is followed by an analysis of the regulatory and practical implications of the governance of companies, in the context of a global trend towards more regulation and the need of companies to adhere to strict ethical and legal business practices so as not to jeopardize their corporate brand and business in general. Particular focus will be laid on the duties and responsibilities of directors and, specifically in respect of listed companies, the need to instil a governance culture aligned with the Code of Principles of Good Corporate Governance set out in the Listing Rules. In the final part of the course the substantive and procedural aspects of dissolution, winding up and insolvency, as well as the procedures of company rescue and corporate recovery will be examined.

Bonds are one of the most popular assets classes  for many investors since they are generally seen as a reliable source of income with a defined investment term. This course will cover the basics of investing in bonds as well as the more complex features of this type of instrument. Participants will also learn about the key principles of bond pricing mechanisms, the structure of the fixed income markets, building a portfolio of bond instruments, and how to select bonds based on their characteristics such as yield and issuer credit analysis.  

This course is an introduction to understanding how to use financial information to value and analyse companies. The course focuses on the practical application of financial statements analysis. Students will learn how to create and analyse financial ratios such as debt to equity, profit margins and more. Participants will gain analytical skills involved in reading and interpreting the financial health and profitability of a company through quantitative and qualitative techniques. A number of case studies and financial statements of actual companies will be analysed.

This course will provide a high-level overview of the Market Abuse Regulation and will serve as an introduction for anyone unfamiliar with the Regulation. The course will include an overview of the three offences of insider dealing, unlawful disclosure of inside information, and market manipulation, the various obligations imposed on market participants by the Regulation, as well as central key themes such as inside information. Participants will also be given a general understanding of the MFSA’s oversight function in respect of market abuse and applicable sanctions. Practical examples will be provided throughout the course to better illustrate the issues being discussed.

The aim of this course is to give a brief overview of the different types of Collective Investment Schemes and to provide more information with regards to the tasks and responsibilities of the Fund Administrator. It will also give more insight on the different roles within the Fund Administration business. An explanation on how to calculate an NAV and on how to price different types of Instruments will be provided. After this course you will be able to understand the basic principles of Fund Accounting and Administration.    

This session will provide an in-depth look at the continuing disclosure obligations emanating from Chapter 5 of the Capital Markets Rules applicable to Issuers in terms of the said Rules. This session will cover both periodic financial reporting as well as ad hoc disclosure obligations, and should be particularly relevant to equity and debt issuers listed on the main market of the Malta Stock Exchange as well as entities contemplating listing.

This course examines the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and data protection with a focus on European frameworks, particularly the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Students will explore how AI systems interact with data privacy laws, addressing challenges such as algorithmic accountability, automated decision-making, and data minimization. Through case studies and practical insights, the course emphasizes designing AI solutions that align with EU data protection principles, ensuring ethical innovation while maintaining compliance with strict legal standards.