ACAMS Updated CAMS Exam Questions and Answers by maysa

The Egmont Group is a united body of 174 Financial Intelligence Units (FIUs) that uniquely support national and international efforts to counter terrorist financing and share financial information per global anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) standards. Its primary objective is to enhance international cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of money laundering and financing of terrorism. The Egmont Group facilitates the exchange of expertise and financial intelligence among FIUs to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and associated predicate offenses. While it does not conduct financial investigations itself, it plays a crucial role in improving stakeholders’ understanding of ML/TF risks and informing policy considerations related to AML/CFT implementation and reforms12.

References: 1: About - Egmont Group 2: Decoding Global AML: The Role Of The Egmont Group - Financial Crime Academy

According to the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision guidelines, the internal audit function should evaluate the adequacy and effectiveness of the bank’s compliance function and its compliance risk management framework1. This includes assessing the compliance risk inherent in the bank’s activities, products, services, and systems, as well as the compliance policies, procedures, controls, and reporting mechanisms2. The internal audit function should also review the transactions and records of the bank to ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and internal standards3.

The other statements are incorrect because:

B. An internal audit program of adequacy of the bank’s compliance function should be established, but should not include review of transactions. This statement is false because the internal audit function should review the transactions and records of the bank to ensure compliance, as mentioned above3.

C. The compliance function and internal audit function should be combined. This statement is false because the compliance function and the internal audit function should be separate and independent from each other, to avoid conflicts of interest and ensure objectivity and credibility.

D. The auditors should not discuss internal audit findings with compliance management to maintain independence. This statement is false because the internal audit function should communicate and coordinate with the compliance function on a regular basis, to share information, insights, and recommendations, and to avoid duplication of work. However, the internal audit function should maintain its independence and report directly to the board of directors or the audit committee.

References:

1: The internal audit function in banks, Principle 10, p. 9

2: The internal audit function in banks, Principle 10, p. 10

3: The internal audit function in banks, Principle 10, p. 11

: The internal audit function in banks, Principle 2, p. 4

: The internal audit function in banks, Principle 10, p. 11

Financial institutions closely monitor customer accounts for suspicious activity related to money laundering, terrorist financing, or other illicit activities. If an account consistently triggers multiple suspicious activity reports (SARs), it raises red flags. These reports indicate unusual or potentially illegal transactions, such as large cash deposits, frequent transfers to high-risk jurisdictions, or patterns inconsistent with the customer’s profile. To mitigate risk and comply with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations, the financial institution may decide to close the account. Regular SAR filings are essential for maintaining the integrity of the financial system and preventing illicit financial flows12.

References:

1. ACAMS: Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs)

2. MoneyLaundering.com: Suspicious Activity Reports

 The internal review would most likely recommend that the institution provide product-specific anti-money laundering training to all relevant employees, not just actuaries. This is because life insurance products can be used for money laundering purposes, such as purchasing policies with illicit funds, surrendering policies for cash value, or using policies as collateral for loans. Therefore, all employees who are involved in selling, servicing, or processing life insurance products should be aware of the money laundering risks and red flags associated with these products, and how to report any suspicious activity. The institution should also ensure that the training is timely, effective, and tailored to the specific roles and responsibilities of the employees.

The other options are not as relevant or appropriate as the correct answer. Option A is too broad, as not all staff need to be trained on anti-money laundering, only those who are relevant to the institution’s business activities and exposure to money laundering risks. Option C is too narrow, as it only focuses on actuaries and does not address the need for training other employees who may deal with life insurance products. Option D is not sufficient, as e-learning alone may not be effective in ensuring that employees understand and retain the anti-money laundering content, and the institution should also conduct follow-up assessments to measure the impact and outcomes of the training.

References:

ACAMS Study Guide for the CAMS Certification Examination - 6th Edition, Chapter 3: Compliance Standards for Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT), page 57.

ACAMS CAMS Certification Video Training Course, Module 3: Compliance Standards for Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT), Lesson 3.5: Training and Testing.

Best Practices for Anti-Money Laundering Compliance - DIRO Original, Section 3: Adequate Training.