STEP Advanced Certificate in the Principles of International Taxation, AML and Compliance

This course is designed to enable students and practitioners in the industry to develop a deep and critical understanding of the global regulatory framework in which the private wealth industry operates. Fundamental global standards in taxation, disclosure, transparency, AML, CTF and the regulation of the financial services industry have been introduced over the last 10 years. The course covers the highly topical areas of sanctions, UWOs, and the international standards of transparency. The costs of non-compliance to professionals, clients and employers can be enormous. Additionally, this course will introduce students to the principles of risk identification and management, in order to ensure practitioners understand how to manage and comply with these regulatory and professional standards.

This course is awarded in association with Alliance Manchester Business School, the University of Manchester.

• You will be able to: 

  • Understand and apply the principles of international tax law 
  • Understand and apply the principles of taxation of trusts.  
  • Understand the regulation of professional service providers and financial services (example regulatory models, the role of international compliance bodies, emerging regulatory standards and requirements assessing and mitigating compliance risk) and critically apply those to practical situations 
  • Understand compliance for company management businesses (transparency and information sharing) and apply the principles to practical situations 
  • Understand and critically apply the principles of fair taxation and other transparency initiatives such as Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS); Economic Substance, Disclosure of Tax Avoidance Schemes (DOTAS), Beneficial Ownership Registers (BOR), Trust Registers, Legal Entity Identifiers (LEI)).  
  • Critically understand and apply the principles of risk and risk management: What is risk, analysing potential risks, types of risk, risks specific to the financial services industry, strategies for managing risks (frameworks, policies, procedures and practices), risk management plans, monitoring risk management activities, reporting risks and risk review.  

The course is designed for practitioners involved in the international trust industry who wish to develop their knowledge and understanding of the principles of risk management, international taxation, AML and compliance.

Students of this course typically include:

• Trust Assistants/Officers/Administrators
• Trust Managers (Senior)
• Trustees/Fiduciaries
• Corporate Administrators
• Lawyers/Solicitors/Attorneys
• Wealth Managers
• Accountants
• Tax AdvisorsCompliance Officers/Managers
• Private Bankers
• Secretarial/Administration
• Client Relations/Marketing/Sales
• Financial/Estate Planners

• Successful completion of the course will award students with 30 Diploma-Level credits towards STEP membership. 
• Ideal for practitioners looking for professional accreditation.
• A recognised ‘gold-standard’ professional qualification for those working in the industry, globally recognised by employers, regulators, clients and professionals.
• This course is also subject to the rigorous quality assurance procedures of Alliance Manchester Business School (Alliance MBS), a school of the University of Manchester.
• Can be taken as a standalone qualification or as part of the STEP Diploma in International Trust Management.
• Blended delivery, written and taught by practitioners, focusing on everyday matters encountered and issues to be aware of in relation to risk, international taxation, AML and compliance.
• Provides students with the ability to grow their own professional network, interact with students online from a range of professions, build relationships and share study tips/support as a cohort.
• The course is subject to the rigorous quality assurance procedures of Manchester Business School, a Faculty of the University of Manchester

60 Entry-Level Credits 

Note: Applicants must have obtained 60 STEP Entry-Level credits to enrol onto this course or be a member of STEP. Visit STEP's Qualifications and Membership to understand how to apply. 

Places are filling up fast, so be sure to book now to avoid disappointment and to take advantage of the current price before it increases on 1 December 2023. 

This course is available for study all year round, with intakes at different points throughout the year. The core programme is delivered through a blend of distance-learning and four virtual workshops as part of a revision-week series delivered by experts in the field who possess vast amounts of professional experience and practical knowledge. 
We recommend that you spend four to six hours per week on private study for a minimum of four months prior to the examination. 

Enrolment onto this course will provide access to an online learning platform that contains: 

• bespoke soft copy course manual 
• supplementary resources 
• self-assessment material 
• distance learning support 
• four days of online tuition 
• examination fees 

 
The course is assessed by way of a five-hour open-book written examination. The questions will be drawn from across the syllabus and candidates must achieve 50% to pass the Advanced Certificate. 

Additional charges will apply for re-sit attempts and deferrals. 

Once you have successfully completed this course, you will gain 30 Diploma-Level credits towards STEP membership and be awarded the STEP Advanced Certificate in Principles of International Taxation, AML and Compliance. 

Thanks to our online classroom, students can take this course from anywhere. 
The regions listed are indicative of the locally focused content of the workshops. Where possible, we encourage students to pick the region nearest to where they are studying from, as they reflect the time zones of the teaching.

• UK & Crown Dependencies
• Europe
• Asia
• Caribbean & The Americas

The course is assessed by way of a five-hour open-book written examination. The questions will be drawn from across the syllabus and candidates must achieve 50% to pass the Advanced Certificate.

Additional charges will apply for re-sit attempts and deferrals.

Once you have successfully completed this course, you will gain 30 Diploma-Level credits towards STEP membership and be awarded the STEP Advanced Certificate in Principles of International Taxation, AML and Compliance.

Thanks to our online classroom, students can take this course from anywhere. You can select any of the dates indicated in the 'Booking and Fees' section below. 

The regions listed are indicative of the locally focused content of the workshops. Where possible, we encourage students to pick the region nearest to where they are studying from, as they reflect the time zones of the teaching. 

• UK & Crown Dependencies 
• Europe 
• Asia 
• Caribbean & The Americas 

Course Timetable 2024-2025

Resit Timetable 2024

The regions listed are indicative of the locally focused content of the workshops. Where possible, we encourage students to pick the region nearest to where they are studying from, as they reflect the time zones of the teaching and the examination. Examinations cannot be rearranged to an alternative time zone once you have attended the tuition. All students applying for a resit assessment must apply for the date applicable to their local centre.

Please note all courses are delivered fully online. 

Thank you for your interest in CLTI or STEP products. Due to government regulations, we are unable to accept online payments from, or, on behalf of students from certain countries and territories without prior agreement. Please contact us for further details on cltinternational@centlaw.com, +44 (0) 121 362 7733.