Page 101 - ACAMS-Today-V20N3

job, a traditional classroom program was not feasible. I needed the flexibility to listen to lectures and submit assignments on my schedule. The University of Illinois College of Education was experimenting with online learning and our group was the first cohort to participate. So, I guess I was an e-learning pioneer. I must admit there was a lot of “learning while doing” for the students and the professors. For example, there was no “high-speed” internet back then. I had a dial-up modem and often had to submit assignments by typing into a web form. If you lost your internet connection before you were finished, you’d lose your assignment! As a result, we learned to create Microsoft Word documents and upload them instead. Despite the occasional hiccups, I was able to discover my passion for continuing education.
My experience with online learning gave me new insights into the user experience, and the best practices for developing and deploying online learning to a widely dispersed audience. Now I get to apply my experience to help working professionals attain important industry certifications that will help them to be more successful in fighting financial crime.
AT: What are the most important components of a certificate and/or certification?
HC: Certificate courses are worth four credits and help our members establish foundational knowledge of a topic, such as know your customer. The courses cover skills that benefit new and experienced professionals. Members can take them to stay informed of regulatory requirements and to discover emerging risks. In addition, people who already have their Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) Certification can take certificate courses to recertify their CAMS designation.
Certification programs are broader, and help our members meet the core compe- tencies of the subject matter. We work with successful practitioners to determine the essential job tasks and the importance of those tasks. This process helps us to create relevant content and properly weighted exam questions. Candidates are required to pass an exam before attaining their certification. ACAMS provides certifications at the Associate, Specialist and Advanced levels.
I think the most important component of an ACAMS’ Certificate or Certification is the message that it sends to governments, regulators and the industry that you are, or your organization is, committed to fighting financial crime.
AT: Do you have a favorite certificate or certification?
HC: My favorite certificate course is the first course that I developed, “Transaction Monitoring.” I worked with two subject-matter experts: a former FBI special agent from the U.S. and the head of financial crime control operations for a large financial institution in the United Kingdom. To create the initial course outline, I interviewed a number of experts from law enforcement, financial services and regulatory bodies. This gave us a broad perspective that helped us meet the needs of our global audience. And we discovered that one of our subject-matter experts had a natural talent for voiceover!
AT: How has the product development team adapted to COVID-19 challenges?
HC: Our team was primarily remote, so we were well-positioned to adapt to COVID-19 challenges. We quickly understood that our members have been affected, and that compliance is still essential, even during a global pandemic. We revised our product development process, which has enabled us to release courses more quickly, and to offer our courses and support materials in multiple delivery formats and in multiple languages. In addition, we transitioned to online proctoring for our certifi- cation exams, so candidates can take exams without going to a test center. We knew the “bad actors” were not taking time off so we worked diligently to make sure our members could get the skills that they needed.
AT: Could you share any news on new certifi- cates or certifications on the horizon?
HC: I am pleased to announce that ACAMS just released our Certified AML FinTech Compliance Associate program, CAFCA. I helped develop this program, which is designed to meet the unique needs of the rapidly growing fintech sector. We partnered with FINTRAIL, a specialist fintech and regtech consultancy, to develop this exciting program. CAFCA is currently available in English, and additional languages will be available in the near future.
AT: What do you like to do when you are off the clock?
HC: I enjoy outdoor cycling, playing with our dog, Penny, attending live theater and visiting the many museums in and around Chicago. When the weather permits, my husband and
I spend a lot of time hiking and biking at the Morton Arboretum, a 1700-acre tree sanctuary. We are looking forward to the arrival of our fourth grandchild, a boy, this July.
Interviewed by: ACAMS editorial staff, FL, USA, editor@acams.org
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