Accreditation and MQF level

The accreditation status of this programme is a Higher Education Programme. The programme is accredited with 5 ECTS credits at MQF/EQF Level 6 by the Malta Further & Higher Education Authority (MFHEA). The CPD Award Certificate will be presented to delegates who obtain a minimum pass in the relative assignment.

The award is a professional development programme, which does not, in itself, confer a warrant, licence or statutory authorisation to practise in a regulated profession.

Target Audience

This course is ideal for professionals who want to understand the current regulations and compliance responsibilities of subject persons with respect to anti-money laundering and funding of terrorism.

Entry requirements

The entry requirements for this programme are:

• MQF Level 5 Qualification in Commerce or Law related subjects

OR

• Minimum of 3 years working experience within a business administration function.

Applicants must also demonstrate proficiency in the English language. A minimum O-Level English or equivalent qualification.

As this is an online programme, applicants are also expected to demonstrate basic digital literacy.

Duration & Mode of Attendance

This part-time course is made up of 10 LIVE online evening webinar session which are spread over a period of 10 weeks.

Course Delivery Mode

This course will be delivered via live online webinars.  The course trainers will be visible on screen via a professional webinar platform, through which students can follow the trainer presenting live, whilst also using a PowerPoint presentation and sharing other resources as necessary.

Students will be able to interact with the trainer by sending questions or comments through the same webinar platform.

Our student support team will assist all students with simple instructions on how to access the webinar online.  A support line will also be made available to communicate with a student support officer in case of technical difficulties encountered during the live webinar.

Online recordings or videos of the webinars are not available for this course.

Short 10 minute breaks will be given during the webinar.

Method of Assessment

At the end of the course, students will be presented with a home assignment, with theoretical and practical case study questions covering all modules.

The word count for the assignment will be 3,000 words and the pass mark is set at 50%.

Language of Course Instruction & Course Materials

The course will be delivered in the English language.  All course materials provided will also be in English.

Course Dates

Please note that as per terms and conditions, LEAD Training Services reserves the right to alter course dates and times in exceptional circumstances beyond its control.

Total Hours of Learning

This is an accredited course, which requires students to commit themselves and to be responsible for their own studies.  Below is a suggested guideline of the number of hours each student should dedicate to self-study and to the preparation of the final written assignment.

Course Outline

Trainers

Dr Manfred Galdes

Manfred is a subject-matter expert in compliance, having over two decades of private and public sector experience. A lawyer by profession, former AML regulator and Head of FIU, Manfred today advises banks, financial institutions, investment firms and top-tier gaming companies on compliance, AML, governance and risk-related issues. In his role as Managing Partner of the ARQ Group, he spends most of his time leading diverse compliance and governance engagements

He is also Partner in the law firm FFF Legal, non-executive chairman of the board of directors of HSBC Malta plc, Council Member of the IFSP Directors Chapter, Strategy Director of the ACAMS Malta Chapter and a member of the AML/CFT Committee of the Chamber of Advocates.

After graduating Doctor of Laws from the University of Malta in 2001, Dr Galdes was then conferred the LL.M. degree in EU Commercial Law by the University of Leicester in 2006.

Ms. Martina Mifsud

Martina Mifsud is the Head of the AML/CFT Advisory Unit at ARQ Group, where she is responsible for leading the firm’s AML/CFT advisory services and supporting clients in meeting their regulatory obligations.

Prior to joining ARQ, Martina worked with the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU), where her main role was to carry out both on-site and off-site AML/CFT reviews and inspections of financial services entities and Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs). During this period, she was also involved in a number of AML-related projects, including the implementation of the risk-based approach to supervision. She previously worked as a Compliance Officer within the fund administration and investment services sectors.

Martina has extensive experience in AML/CFT audits, gap analyses and enterprise risk assessments for financial institutions and gaming operators. She also carries out reviews of AML/CFT policies and procedures for a range of industry players and regularly delivers training to officers and staff of various institutions, including financial institutions, casinos and banks .

Martina is also a member of the AML Committee of the Malta Institute of Accountants, where she contributes to the profession’s ongoing work and discussions relating to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing matters.

Dr. Rakele Cini

Dr Rakele Cini is an independent legal advisor with many years of experience in regulatory and compliance advisory. She set up rklAdvisory which primarily supports local & international firms / practitioners operating within the regulated industries on matters relating to the prevention of money laundering & funding of terrorism, due diligence, risk management, good governance, and other compliance areas. She is invited to lecture regularly by private institutions and regulatory bodies on these topics. She was previously head of Risk & Compliance at BDO Malta and, prior to that, formed part of the practice protection group at Deloitte Malta for numerous years. Rakele is an active member within the AML Committees of the Institute of Financial Services Practitioners and the Malta Institute of Accountants.

Mr. Silvio Chetcuti

Silvio Chetcuti is a seasoned senior banker with over 37  years of experience in the financial services field. During his career, he has cultivated significant knowledge in banking strategy, risk management, corporate governance, regulatory compliance, and digital transformation.

Known for his industry knowledge and experience, Silvio frequently speaks and moderates at international banking and financial services conferences. He engages in discussions on various important topics, such as banking transformation, governance, ethics, customer-centric banking, digital innovation, and risk management, sharing his practical insights with senior banking executives and leaders throughout.

Silvio is also recognized as writing articles on current issues impacting the banking industry. His writings concentrate on governance, data accountability, operational resilience, risk management, and the strategic challenges that financial institutions face in the digital age. His publications underscore a commitment to promoting effective governance, responsible innovation, and sustainable banking practices.

Beyond his banking career, Silvio participates in executive education and professional development by providing training programs and mentoring individuals across the financial services sector. He is dedicated to promoting ethical leadership, lifelong learning, and the development of the next generation of banking professionals.

Sharon Cilia Tortell

Sharon M. Cilia Tortell is a Certified Public Accountant and Auditor, a FERMA RIMAP Certified Risk Professional, and a Senior Visiting Lecturer at the University of Malta with extensive experience across the financial services sector. Her career has included senior leadership, regulatory function-holder, advisory, assurance, and supervisory roles spanning insurance, banking, payments, investment services, and related financial services activities.

Her professional expertise covers enterprise risk management, governance, regulatory compliance, internal audit, AML/CFT, accounting, auditing, sustainability and ESG, operational resilience, and financial services regulation. She has held high-level responsibilities for risk and compliance frameworks, board and committee reporting, regulatory engagement, internal control systems, audit planning, governance processes, and the oversight of key regulatory obligations. Her work has also included Solvency II, ORSA, risk appetite, stress testing, scenario analysis, business continuity, conduct risk, GDPR, outsourcing, and emerging technology risks.

As a lecturer and professional trainer, Sharon combines academic knowledge with practical industry insight. She delivers teaching and training to students, professionals, senior management, and boards, using case studies, regulatory examples, and applied exercises to make complex technical subjects accessible and relevant. Her teaching areas include risk management, governance, compliance, accounting, auditing, financial services, sustainability, ESG, business ethics, and digital transformation.

Sharon holds an Executive MBA with Distinction and degrees in Accountancy and Commerce, alongside specialist qualifications in ESG, sustainability, compliance, and risk management. Her current academic research explores artificial intelligence, risk management, and ESG-oriented digital transformation within the EU financial services sector. She also contributes to professional bodies and industry working groups focused on risk, accountancy, insurance, and digitalisation.

Testimonials for Anti-Money Laundering courses delivered by Lead Training Services.

• I recently completed the AML/CFT course with Lead Training Services and I found it to be extremely valuable and well-structured. The lecturers were highly knowledgeable and delivered the material in a clear, engaging, and practical manner, making complex regulatory concepts easy to understand and apply in real-world scenarios.
  Isabelle Fenech, August 2026
• It has been a great learning experience, providing valuable insights into the AML ecosystem. I have nothing but the highest regard for LEAD and am truly grateful for the opportunity. I look forward to many more enriching experiences in the months ahead.
  Dino Bonnici, August 2026
• I recently completed the Award in Anti-Money Laundering and Funding of Terrorism course and found it to be a very good and informative experience. The course was well organized, easy to follow, and highly relevant to practical work situations. The three lecturers were professional, knowledgeable, and engaging, making the learning process enjoyable and clear. I would highly recommend this course to anyone wishing to improve their understanding of anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing.
  Ramona Cini, March 2026
• I found the course extremely thorough and professional. The quality of the lecturers and materials is extremely high and the support from the Lead team second to none. I’m pleasantly surprised I got so much out of this course after almost 25 years practicing law. Thank you team Lead well done!
  Gayle Kimberley, February 2026
• Professional and knowledgeable lecturers. Case studies were focused and allowed for discussion. I would suggest a shorter lecture delivery and more case studies to be introduced to better understand AML/CFT concepts that are applied in the real world. Overall a very positive experience. Highly recommended.
  Rebecca Vella, February 2026
• This course has significantly broadened my understanding of the principles of money laundering and funding of terrorism, providing me with valuable insights into these critical areas. It provided valuable insights into the responsibilities of senior management and the role of the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO). I particularly benefited from the practical guidance on customer due diligence procedures and the development of effective systems and controls to prevent and detect money laundering activities. This course has not only deepened my knowledge but also equipped me with the confidence to apply these principles in a professional setting. I am especially grateful for the clarity it brought to the role of the Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) and how it supports the overall fight against financial crime. I found this course to be extremely beneficial and would strongly encourage anyone interested in compliance, risk management, or financial regulation to take it.
  Kateryna Kozak, September 2025
• Lead Training Services have recently organised, to our utmost satisfaction an accredited course leading to the Certification in Anti-Money Laundering and Funding of Terrorism.
  Both the training delivery and learning content have served us very well in this critical, compliance training requirement within the financial services industry.
  Paul Gauci,
  Executive Head, Training Centre, Bank of Valletta
• I attended an Anti-Money Laundering and Funding of Terrorism compliance course and found the content and structure of the course most useful. The course was tested with an exam at the end and a certificate was issued; the course content was excellent and both presenters over the 6 weeks of the course provided a high quality of training. The fact that the course was tested at the end was most useful as it confirmed the value we received from attending.
  Philip Eatonrichards,
  Managing Partners Group
• I have attended the course ‘Certificate in Anti-Money Laundering and Funding of Terrorism’ and I must say it was very interesting and very relevant to the practical side of today’s real case situations. The tutors were very understanding and focussed and LEAD’s admin was pretty much up to scratch to ensure we were being provided a good service. I shall definitely be using LEAD training services again and would definitely recommend to others.
  Marc Vella Bonanno,
  MVB Financial Consultancy
• It was a really interesting course with extremely broad assignment questions which cover the whole curriculum.
  Christian Baldacchino,
  APS Bank
• Thank you for the amount of resourceful teaching. Highly reccommended.
  Chanelle Gafa’,
  Notary Sharon Faith Farrugia and Associates
• I would like to thank all the lecturers who provided their expertise to deliver a comprehensive overview of anti-money laundering and funding of terrorism. All lectures were conducted online with the flexibility to interact with the lecturer(s) and fellow students.
  A. Wight,
  NSERVE Limited
• Very well high detailed explained course highly recommend all of the tutors who made it fun and last but not least Nevise the administration executive who was of much great assistance to me with huge patience throughout this journey.
  N. Bosco, October 2023
• The course was well structured. The tutors are very knowledgeable and know the subject very well.
  S. Vassallo, August 2022
• I received my certificate and I would like to thank you for your support. I enjoyed the course and classes and look forward to taking other courses with you in the near future.
  M. A. Bonnici, June 2022
• The course was well structured and the open architecture of the webinars always allowed for the participants to ask more detailed questions regarding particular topics. Each webinar was followed by upload of very useful resources by the lecturer dedicated to a specific subject matter. A good insight into Maltese AML/CFT law. Also the assignment was of a very practical nature and the situations described could be faced in real life by MLROs.
  P. Lisak, June 2022
• I received my certificate, and I would like to thank you for your support. Your course was always interesting and challenging. I enjoyed your the sessions tremendously.
  S. Deguara, October 2021
• Lead staff members were very helpful, lecturers were concise and clear and knowledgeable, which made the course interesting and instructive.
  M. Vella,  October 2021
• Having successfully attended an AMLFT course with LEAD and they have provided us with good straight forward self- explanatory notes, prompt support throughout and their excellent tutors made sure that they make learning – fun. Thanks to all the admin and teaching team!
  N. Pace, June 2021
• The course was extremely well scheduled and informative. Additionally, the lecturers were extremely knowledgeable, professional and well prepared. Looking forward to attend more courses.
  A. Cachia, February 2021
• Very interesting and well structured course which touches base with all aspects of AML/FT compliance. Lecturers are experts in their own field and know how to present the material, making it very interactive with room for debate. Admin staff very helpful, ready to go out of their way to assist you!
  M. Muscat, August 2020
• I would like to thank LEAD for their expertise in delivery of courses. I highly recommend you!
  J.B Pace, August 2020
• During this course I had the opportunity to gain more knowledge about the policies and procedures of money laundering. Also, I found this certificate useful because it was related to my job as well. Prior to this course there were some areas that I did not know much about and due to this course I was able to to enhance my knowledge on these particular areas especially when it comes to the different directives, penalties, and much more.
  C. Farrugia, February 2020
• The course I attended was extremely informative. Lecturers gave clear and detailed sessions, Which led to the final Q&A session and assessment. Every session was accompanied by slides and examples of real-life situations were given to explain the subject person’s obligations and responsibilities. Overall, sessions were interesting, enjoyable and open for discussion. I highly recommend these courses and training sessions.
  A. Fenech, February 2020
• The course combines the general approach towards the concept and the characteristics of the money laundering with a thorough and encompassing analysis of the Maltese and international regulations. The lecturers are very professional and efficient in providing the information and, most importantly, in facilitating the student to think independently and to build a critical thinking. Apart from the theory, the course abounds in case studies and concrete examples, which help the student comprehend the applicability of the AML rules in real-life situations.
  I strongly recommend this course and consider it a good opportunity to learn about the AML legal rules and obligations, as well as to understand the role and importance of the public authorities, company’s management and the MLRO in preventing and fighting money laundering.
  D. Botnari, July 2019
• It was a very interesting course with great and very helpful lecturers. Will definitely recommend this course or any other courses as even the service offered by LEAD staff was great. Thank you for having this course and giving me the opportunity to learn more on the subject.
  M. Camilleri, April 2019
• The lecturers were great, so knowledgeable in the subject and with the right expertise how to pass the information on to the students. It was a pleasure to undertake this course, which i fully recommend!
  R. Calleja, October 2018
• Very interesting course. Lectures have a good experience in the subject and we could learn a lot from them. Lead Training Services staff are also very helpful and organised. Will definitely attend other courses at Lead Training Services.
  A. Massa, October 2018
• A well organised course with professional tutors in their field, held in a pleasant and central location with ample parking. Looking forward to the next.
  P. Xuereb, October 2017

LEAD Training Services is a Higher Education Institute, licenced by the Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA), having licence number 2013-FHI-021.