Dalhousie University Microcredential in Financial Crime Investigation

Financial crime continues to evolve in complexity, scale, and technological sophistication, posing significant challenges to the global economy. This comprehensive course explores the financial crime ecosystem and provides learners with a strong understanding of key offence types. Learners will examine how these crimes intersect and how illicit funds move through financial systems.

The course emphasizes practical investigative methodologies, equipping learners with the skills to plan and structure financial crime investigations; gather and analyze evidence; and apply interview and human intelligence techniques. Learners will also explore the use of digital and open-source intelligence (OSINT), forensic technology, data analytics, and financial tracing techniques to support the effective identification and disruption of criminal activity.

A sector-specific approach ensures learners understand how financial crime risks manifest across financial institutions, public sector procurement, real estate and luxury goods, casino and gaming environments, cryptocurrency and digital assets, DNFBPs, and charities and non-profits.

This fully online course is offered jointly by Dalhousie University and the Canadian Financial Crime Academy. Upon completion, learners will be awarded the Financial Crime Investigation Specialist (FCIS) certification from the CFCA.

Course Outline

• Introduction to Financial Crime and the Financial Crime Ecosystem

• Core Financial Crime types

  • Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing

    • Fraud

  • Bribery and Corruption

    • Sanctions Evasion and Trade-Based Crime

  • Cyber-Enabled Financial Crime

• Investigation Methodologies

  • Planning a Financial Crime Investigation

    • Gathering and Analyzing Evidence

  • Interviewing and Human Intelligence

    • Digital and Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT)

  • Forensic Technology and Data Analytics 

    • “Following the Money”

• Sector-Specific Financial Crime Risks

  • Financial Institutions 

  • Public Sector and Procurement

  • Real Estate and Luxury Goods

  • Casino and Gaming Environments

  • Cryptocurrency and Digital Assets

  • Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs)

  • Charities and Non-Profits

What You Will Learn

Learners who complete this course will:

• Analyze the financial crime ecosystem and key offence types to identify how illicit activity is structured and concealed across sectors.

• Evaluate financial crime risks and typologies within different industries to determine investigative priorities and lines of inquiry.

• Apply structured investigative methodologies to plan, scope, and execute financial crime investigations.

• Differentiate and analyze major financial crime types - including money laundering, fraud, corruption, sanctions evasion, and cyber-enabled crime - to determine appropriate investigative approaches.

• Develop and justify investigative findings and recommendations through clear, professional reporting and analytical reasoning.