Certificate Programme Compliance Officer

Module 1 – Corporate Compliance I

In the first module of the programme, participants are introduced to the fundamentals of compliance. Key concepts, legal foundations and the historical background are presented. This is followed by a discussion of fundamental compliance issues in the context of corporate culture, ethics and values. Special attention is given to the internal compliance organization, workflows, processes and the interaction with other corporate functions. The module also examines compliance risk assessment and reporting, as well as the strategic role of compliance within an organization.

After a general overview of how to build a compliance organization (requirements for management, organizational setup across compliance areas, etc.), the focus shifts to the practical implementation of directives, including the development of a Code of Conduct based on legal principles. A key aspect here is the distinction between compliance and corporate governance. Building on these topics, the link to internal auditing is established.

The module concludes with an in-depth look at fraud prevention as a core responsibility of the compliance officer, as well as the conduct of internal and external investigations.

Module 2 – Corporate Compliance II

In the second module, the topics covered in Module 1 are further deepened and expanded. Two aspects of compliance whose immense importance is increasingly recognized (crisis management and psychology) receive special attention. Participants also gain a brief overview of key compliance standards.

The module introduces various tools designed to support compliance officers in carrying out their responsibilities effectively. Building on this, the requirements of compliance with regard to Suitability (MiFID II) and cross-border compliance are examined in greater detail, providing participants with the practical knowledge needed to address these complex regulatory areas.

Module 3 – Supervision and Regulation

In the third module, participants are introduced to international, European and national regulatory developments in the field of compliance. The content highlights the interconnection between these regulations, international politics and standard-setting bodies.

Particular emphasis is placed on developments in combating money laundering and terrorist financing. Special attention is also given to the relationship between risk management and compliance, as well as the area of due diligence law.

Following an introduction to the fundamentals of the Due Diligence Act (SPG), participants learn in detail about reporting obligations to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) and gain practical analysis know-how to effectively meet these regulatory requirements.

Module 4 – Compliance and Law

In the fourth module, participants address various areas of law that play an important role in practical compliance work. The course begins with in-depth knowledge in the fields of data protection, data security and IT.

Participants then learn about the significance of compliance in the fields of fintech and cryptocurrencies, as well as the necessary precautions to be taken in these sectors.

Another key focus is compliance in criminal law, particularly the topic of white-collar crime as it relates to compliance responsibilities. Special attention is also given to tax compliance, including the associated automatic exchange of information and relevant double taxation agreements.

Module 5 – Industry-Specific Compliance

The fifth module provides an insight into the application of compliance in various sectors of Liechtenstein’s financial centre and industry, and is designed as a compulsory elective module. Participants can choose from the following five submodules, of which at least three must be completed: compliance in banking, compliance in insurance, compliance in the fund business and asset management, compliance in industry and compliance in the fiduciary sector.

In the industry-specific submodules, the relevant legal compliance regulations at national, European and international levels are presented and analysed in a comparative law context. Furthermore, participants are introduced to the tasks, requirements and liability risks that a compliance officer faces in the sectors covered. This module also addresses the various aspects of establishing and maintaining an efficient compliance organisation.

Module 6 – Case Studies

In the sixth module, the skills and knowledge acquired in Modules 1 to 5 are applied in a practice-oriented case study. The module consists of real-life case studies, which must be worked on independently by students in small groups. Unlike the previous modules, Module 6 concludes with a presentation of the case studies, including a discussion.

For the best group performance in Module 6, the VP Bank AG awards the VP Bank Award, which is endowed with a prize of CHF 5,000.