CISI Global Financial Compliance — Information & Free Practice

About CISI Global Financial Compliance

CISI Global Financial Compliance · GB

Key exam facts

Provider

Chartered Institute for Securities & Investment (CISI), the examining and publishing body.

Format

Multiple-choice computer-based examination at test centres; remote invigilation is also available.

Exam questions

Total questions: 100–110; Scored questions: 100; Unscored questions: 0–10; The total includes the scored and unscored questions.

Time limit

2 hours for the 100-question examination; proportionately more time is allowed if additional trial questions are included.

Passing score

70%: Pass 70–100 marks; Fail 0–69 marks. The current pass rate is a separate statistic.

Exam fee

UK exam fee GBP £283 for 1 April 2026–31 March 2027; mandatory workbook £105 separately. A one-off £68 qualification registration fee applies when registering the first qualification. Optional packages and concessions have separate conditions.

Topics covered

• The International Regulatory Environment (20%)

  • Models of regulation
  • understand the objectives and benefits of regulation
  • know the interaction between law and regulation
  • understand the main differences between rule-based and principles-based approaches to financial regulation
  • understand models of self-regulation
  • understand the regulation of faith and ethical-based finance and the attendant regulatory implications
  • understand the purpose of the following:
  • understand how regulation operates in an exchange traded environment
  • understand the key benefits of regulated market structures
  • understand how regulation applies to OTC derivative transactions
  • understand how regulators approach Fintech products
  • The international approach to regulation
  • know the jurisdiction of different types of regulator
  • understand the role of international regulatory organisations
  • know the role that professional bodies play in relation to regulatory requirements
  • understand how international regulatory organisations aid the implementation of regulation in developing countries
  • know the three objectives of securities regulation as defined by IOSCO
  • understand how regulators implement their regulatory objectives
  • understand the different regulatory approaches
  • know IOSCO's principles 1 to 8 relating to the Regulator
  • know regulators’ enforcement powers
  • understand what types of activities and investment products are generally required to be regulated
  • understand the requirements regulation places on firms
  • understand how regulators facilitate and regulate cross border business
  • understand what regulations apply to a firm with international branches and subsidiaries
  • understand the challenge of conducting business whilst meeting the regulatory expectations and approach of multiple regulatory bodies

• The Compliance Function (24%)

  • International best practice
  • understand the fundamental systems and controls a firm should implement in order to conduct its business in line with international regulatory standards
  • understand BIS principle 6 and the requirement for adequate resources
  • understand the practical applications of a formalised document of compliance policies and procedures
  • understand how an effective compliance function can add value to a business
  • know how to produce and implement an effective compliance programme
  • understand how regulatory requirements should be integrated into operating systems, policies and procedures
  • know the difference between regulations and internal policies and procedures
  • understand the potential regulatory implications of business strategies
  • know how to prepare an effective compliance report for management
  • know what basic information compliance officers should have access to
  • The role of the compliance function within a firm
  • understand the responsibilities and accountabilities of management and staff for compliance with regulations
  • understand how to monitor whether a business is in compliance with regulations and internal policies and procedures
  • understand the risks associated with non-compliance for firms and the financial services industry
  • understand BIS principle 5 relating to the independence of the compliance function and senior management accountability
  • understand the relationship between compliance and other departments including ‘three lines of defence’
  • understand the role compliance has in training and maintaining competence and awareness
  • understand how to monitor an individual's compliance with regulations and internal policies and procedures
  • understand the range of potential outcomes to remedy non- compliance by an individual within a firm
  • understand the role compliance plays in new business development
  • understand the purpose of a compliance monitoring programme
  • understand the key considerations in developing a compliance monitoring programme
  • understand how to conduct an effective compliance monitoring programme
  • Managing regulatory relationships
  • Understand the relationship between the firm and regulator
  • understand how an effective regulatory relationship can be of strategic importance to a firm
  • understand what to do if your firm is the subject of a regulatory or law enforcement visit
  • understand what to do if a regulatory breach occurs
  • know what types of information must be disseminated to whom in the event of a regulatory breach
  • know what information may be disseminated and what should remain confidential if financial crime is suspected or detected
  • know what types of information should remain confidential in the normal course of business

• Managing the Risk of Financial Crime (20%)

  • Money laundering, terrorist financing and the standards required of firms
  • understand the concepts of money laundering and terrorist financing
  • know the stages of the money laundering process
  • know the role of international agencies in combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism
  • know the role of the Financial Actions Task Force (FATF) in combating money laundering and terrorist financing
  • understand the role of predicate offences in financial crime
  • understand how financial services firms may be utilised for financial crime
  • understand how a firm or its representatives may collude in the propagation of financial crime
  • know the concepts of facilitation of tax evasion and tax avoidance
  • know the concepts of dual criminality, extradition and mutual legal assistance
  • Practical implications
  • understand how external financial crime issues may impact on a firm
  • understand how financial crime may directly impact a firm
  • understand the responsibilities of directors and senior management in relation to anti-money laundering (AML), combating financial crime (CFC) and anti-corruption (AC) initiatives
  • understand the role of the Money Laundering Reporting Officer (or equivalent) in relation to financial crime
  • understand the implications of using a risk-based approach identifying money laundering
  • know the measures firms can adopt to inhibit the likelihood of financial crime
  • know the measures individuals can adopt to inhibit the likelihood of financial crime
  • understand the rationale behind sanctions screening
  • understand the purpose behind screening individuals
  • Policies, procedures and controls required of firms
  • understand the risks to a firm posed by its clients, products and delivery systems
  • understand the controls a firm should have in place to minimise its risk to fraud, money laundering and terrorist financing including a training programme
  • know the criteria for an effective suspicious transaction reporting system

• Ethics, Integrity and Fairness (19%)

  • Ethics
  • understand how ethical principles relate to the financial services industry
  • understand the impact of the following when applying an ethical approach within an organisational or team environment
  • understand the advantage of ethical behaviours and decision- making over rule-based compliance
  • understand the importance of senior management leadership in developing and maintaining ethical standards
  • know how training programmes can be used to promote ethical decision making
  • Market Integrity
  • understand the benefits of a fair and orderly market
  • understand the implications of false and misleading statements, behaviours and practices
  • understand what type of information may be deemed to be price sensitive non-public information
  • understand how individuals may legally possess price-sensitive non-public information
  • know what activities can constitute "insider dealing"
  • understand how systems and controls can minimise exposure to strategies and behaviours that might impair market integrity
  • Understand the importance of whistleblowing for market integrity.
  • Fair Conduct
  • understand expected compliant standards of behaviour for firms and individuals
  • understand how the concept of fairness impacts on financial services firms
  • understand legal concepts and considerations relevant to financial advice
  • understand the role senior management play in maintaining fair conduct
  • Client Outcomes
  • understand how associated but non-transactional activities impact on the firm
  • understand the factors to consider prior to entering into a transaction
  • understand factors that should be considered at the point of sale
  • understand post-sale factors that may impact on the firm
  • Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
  • know what is meant by Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG)
  • know the main international ESG initiatives
  • understand the importance of initiatives on

• Governance, Risk Management and Compliance (17%)

  • Corporate governance
  • understand the objectives of corporate governance
  • understand the importance of senior management leadership, accountability and personal responsibility
  • understand the role of the compliance function in implementing and monitoring corporate governance standards
  • know the main corporate governance structures
  • understand the impact of business and or management structures on the effective management of the compliance function
  • understand how auditing contributes to prudential corporate governance, accounting and reporting requirements
  • know the purpose and key elements of due diligence
  • understand how an effective training programme can contribute to good corporate governance
  • understand the factors behind the formulation of the BIS Principles for enhancing corporate governance
  • know the BIS Principles for enhancing corporate governance
  • Key risk types, their application and impact on the compliance function
  • understand the difference between risk and uncertainty
  • know the key external sources of business risk and their potential impact
  • know the key internal sources of business risk and their potential impact
  • know the components and practical application of an effective risk management process
  • understand how the impact of risks on a firm’s business activities are assessed and managed including operational resilience
  • understand the key aims of the risk management function, the risk committee and their relationship with the Compliance department
  • know the BIS definition of "compliance risk"
  • know who BIS deem responsible for the management of compliance risk
  • know what measures BIS state should be undertaken to manage compliance risk
  • understand how technology can be utilised to enhance compliance risk assessment
  • understand how technological changes impact regulatory risk

How to prepare

Work through the topics, read the explanation after each answer, and revisit the areas where you miss questions. Use the official outline and reference materials below to guide your study.

These independent practice questions are not actual exam items and do not guarantee a passing result.

Frequently asked questions

Official sources and references

• Global Financial Compliance — current syllabus

  pp. 1, 3–22

• Global Financial Compliance — examination specification

  p. 4

• CISI Workbook Editions Chart — October 2026

  p. 1, Global Financial Compliance current edition row

• Global Financial Compliance — assessment structure

  p. 5

• CISI Global Financial Compliance examination information

  Pass Mark / Pass Rate

• CISI price list 2026–2027

  UK exam prices, Qualifying Level 3 units, Global Financial Compliance row

• CISI Global Financial Compliance examination information

  Qualification Structure

Confirm current exam arrangements with the exam provider.