Governance & Compliance

Beneficial Ownership Identification

Criminals hide behind complex company structures, so regulators require organisations to identify the real people who own or control customers and suppliers. This course explains beneficial ownership rules, ownership and control tests, analysing complex structures, verification sources, registers, red flags and record keeping.

5 days Classroom or live online English

Smart Horizon Certified - Global Leadership Consultants

Take the course details with you.

Download the full standard outline: why attend, methodology, objectives, audience, competencies, the daily outline and current plans.

Download course PDF

Why attend

From knowledge to real-world impact.

Failure to identify beneficial owners exposes organisations to money laundering and sanctions risks. You will learn practical identification techniques.

Workplace challenges

Professional Problems This Course Is Designed to Solve

The programme explores practical approaches to the following challenges. Results depend on how the learning is applied in your organisation.

Difficulty translating subject knowledge into practical workplace decisions.
Inconsistent approaches to the activities covered in the course outline.
Lack of a structured plan for applying and reviewing new skills.

Course methodology

How you will learn.

Structure analysis exercises, register searches, red flag scenarios and case studies.

Course objectives

What you'll take away.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Explain beneficial ownership requirements
Apply ownership and control thresholds
Analyse complex corporate structures
Verify ownership using reliable sources
Recognise concealment red flags
Document and update ownership records

Target audience

Who should attend.

This course is suitable for:

KYC and AML analysts
Compliance officers
Relationship managers in finance
Procurement due diligence staff
Legal professionals

Target competencies

Capabilities you will build.

Participants will develop competencies in:

Structure analysis
Verification
Red flag recognition
Documentation
Regulatory compliance

Course outline

Your learning journey.

A focused, practical outline with time to explore, apply and reflect.

Day 1Beneficial Ownership

09:00–10:08Why it matters
10:08–11:00Legal requirements
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Legal requirements (continued)
11:45–12:53Definitions
12:53–14:00Exercise

Day 2Ownership and Control

09:00–10:08Thresholds
10:08–11:00Control by other means
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Control by other means (continued)
11:45–12:53Trusts and foundations
12:53–14:00Workshop

Day 3Complex Structures

09:00–10:08Layered ownership
10:08–11:00Nominees
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Nominees (continued)
11:45–12:53Mapping structures
12:53–14:00Exercise

Day 4Verification

09:00–10:08Registers and sources
10:08–11:00Documentation
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Documentation (continued)
11:45–12:53Discrepancies
12:53–14:00Case study

Day 5Red Flags and Records

09:00–10:08Concealment indicators
10:08–11:00Escalation
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Escalation (continued)
11:45–12:53Ongoing updates
12:53–14:00Action plan

The timings provided are estimates and may vary depending on the number of participants and the discussions taking place during the sessions. They are indicative only and do not constitute a binding commitment.

Dates & venues

Find a session that works for you.

Confirmed dates accept registration requests. Tentative dates are enquiry only.

Good to know

A few things to know.

How is the course delivered?

Our classroom programmes combine facilitated discussion, case studies, exercises and reflection. The precise format will be confirmed before enrolment.

Can you deliver this programme for our team?

Yes, you can enquire about a tailored programme. Share your goals, group size and preferred dates with our learning team.

Will I receive a certificate?

Participants who complete the programme receive a Smart Horizon UK certificate of attendance. Smart Horizon UK programmes are not externally accredited and do not award a professional qualification, licence or designation. Where a course title or outline refers to a professional certification (for example, AACE International's Certified Cost Professional), the programme supports learning and preparation only; the credential itself is awarded solely by the relevant professional body under its own application and examination requirements.

What should I confirm before booking travel?

Please confirm the session, exact venue, accessibility arrangements, fees and any visa requirements with the team before arranging travel. Tentative dates are not confirmed sessions.

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