Firm AML education

‍Why AML training can fall short

AML training is a regulatory requirement, but firms often struggle to make it effective. Common challenges include:

• Competing priorities — Fee-earning work takes precedence and training gets deprioritised
  
• Repetitive sessions — Annual training feels like a tick-box exercise, leading to disengagement
  
• Overwhelm — Complex regulations are often delivered in long, dense sessions
  
• Fear of mistakes — Staff worry about getting things wrong, which can lead to surface-level compliance
  
• Poor retention — Without real-world context or interactivity, most of the content is quickly forgotten
  

If training doesn’t connect with people’s actual day-to-day roles, it won’t stick — and it won’t change behaviour.

How to make AML training effective

Good AML training should do more than convey rules — it should build understanding, confidence, and buy-in from your team. It should also be backed by leadership and integrated into your firm’s wider operations.

1. Design better training

• Break content into short, digestible segments
  
• Offer guidance that is clear, practical and easy to follow
  
• Make training materials accessible for on-demand use
  

2. Create a culture of compliance

Training alone isn’t enough. Staff need to see that compliance is a shared, firm-wide priority.

Leadership matters

• Senior leaders should attend training and speak openly about its importance
  
• Allocate resources to compliance systems and staff education
  
• Lead by example — managers must follow the same rules as everyone else
  

Clear communication

• Keep compliance top-of-mind with regular updates and reminders
  
• Create safe, open channels for staff to ask questions or raise concerns
  
• Celebrate good compliance practices and provide regular feedback
  

Integrate it into daily work

• Embed AML checks into onboarding, payments, and client reviews
  
• Use walkthroughs and real-life examples to explain key processes
  
• Encourage team discussions on how AML applies in their roles
  

3. Measure and improve

Tracking and reviewing your training and culture helps you understand what’s working and what needs to evolve.

• Monitor training completion, participation, and knowledge gaps
  
• Gather staff feedback to improve future training
  
• Review adherence to policies and procedures regularly
  

4. Keep it current

• Update training to reflect new risks, laws, or regulatory guidance
  
• Review procedures to ensure they match how work is actually done
  
• Recognise and reward good compliance behaviour
  

AML isn’t a one-off topic — it’s an ongoing responsibility. Firms need to keep training relevant, accessible, and reflective of how work is delivered in practice.

Summary

AML training is a legal obligation — but it’s also your proactive first line of defence. When your team understands what’s expected, why it matters, and how to act, compliance becomes part of the culture, not just a checklist.

To get it right:

• Make training practical, engaging and easy to access
  
• Involve leaders and build shared responsibility
  
• Measure outcomes and gather feedback
  
• Keep content fresh and tailored to your firm
  
• Reinforce expectations through daily operations and clear communication
  

By investing in training and building a culture of accountability, your firm is better equipped to manage risk — and demonstrate compliance in a way that regulators (and clients) can trust.
If you're short on time or need support, structured external training programmes like Firmcheck’s can help your team stay informed and compliant with ease.

This article was summarised by the Firmcheck content team. The original content was written by an independent AML expert and is available on our blog.

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