Certified Anti-Bribery & Corruption Professional
A specialist qualification addressing bribery and corruption risks, third parties, conflicts of interest, gifts and hospitality, due diligence, investigations and preventive governance.
What This Certification Covers
The Certified Anti-Bribery & Corruption Professional certification equips professionals with the specialised knowledge and skills needed to identify, assess and mitigate bribery and corruption risks, and to design, implement and evaluate effective organisational anti-bribery and corruption programmes in line with national and international legislation within financial institutions, corporations, government bodies and non-profit organisations.
The certification develops participants' understanding of the forms of bribery and corruption and their risks in the public and private sectors, and their ability to conduct risk assessments and third-party due diligence, manage gifts, hospitality, donations and dealings with public officials, detect corruption indicators in financial records and procurement, and conduct internal investigations. It emphasises practical application and case studies, compliance with international standards such as the United Nations Convention against Corruption and ISO 37001, and lessons learned from international enforcement cases.
Like every ACS credential, the ABCP is awarded only after a formal assessment of defined qualification outcomes — evaluating understanding, application and professional judgement, not attendance alone.
What You Will Be Able to Do
- Understand the forms of bribery and corruption and the national and international legal frameworks for combating them
- Assess bribery and corruption risks at the organisational, process and third-party levels
- Design and implement an organisational anti-bribery and corruption programme in line with ISO 37001 and best practices
- Conduct due diligence on third parties, intermediaries and partners and manage their risks
- Detect and investigate indicators of bribery and corruption in financial records, procurement and contracts
- Monitor programme effectiveness and report to senior management, the board and competent authorities
The ABCP Programme in 8 Modules
01Bribery and Corruption Concepts and Impacts5 topics
- Defining bribery and corruption and their forms in the public and private sectors
- Direct and indirect bribery and bribery through intermediaries
- Facilitation payments and extortion
- Nepotism, trading in influence and illicit enrichment
- The economic and social impact of corruption and international measurement indices
02Legal Frameworks and International Standards6 topics
- The United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC)
- The OECD Anti-Bribery Convention on foreign public officials
- The US Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA)
- The UK Bribery Act and the offence of failure to prevent bribery
- National anti-corruption legislation and integrity bodies
- Corporate criminal liability and extraterritorial jurisdiction
03Bribery and Corruption Risk Assessment6 topics
- Methodology for organisational bribery and corruption risk assessment
- Country, sector, transaction and business opportunity risks
- Risks of dealing with public officials and government entities
- Procurement, tender and government contract risks
- Mergers, acquisitions and joint venture risks
- Updating the risk assessment and linking it to control design
04Designing the Anti-Bribery and Corruption Programme6 topics
- Elements of an effective programme and the anti-bribery management system (ISO 37001)
- Senior leadership commitment and tone from the top
- Drafting the anti-bribery and corruption policy and supporting procedures
- The anti-bribery compliance function, its independence and authority
- Role-based and risk-based training and awareness
- Incentives and disciplinary measures
05Operational and Financial Controls6 topics
- Gifts, hospitality, travel and entertainment policies
- Charitable donations, sponsorships and political contributions
- Managing and disclosing conflicts of interest
- Payment controls and accurate books and records
- Procurement oversight and supplier selection
- Hiring controls and risks of hiring persons connected to public officials
06Third-Party Due Diligence6 topics
- Risk-based classification of third parties
- Due diligence on agents, intermediaries, distributors and consultants
- Verifying beneficial ownership and connections to public officials
- Red flags in dealings with third parties
- Anti-bribery contractual clauses and audit rights
- Ongoing monitoring of third parties and terminating relationships
07Detection, Investigation and Reporting6 topics
- Corruption indicators in financial records, procurement and contracts
- Whistleblowing mechanisms and whistleblower protection
- Internal investigation methodologies and gathering and preserving evidence
- Self-disclosure and cooperation with law enforcement
- Deferred prosecution agreements (DPAs) and settlements
- Case studies of major international enforcement cases
08Monitoring, Evaluation and Modern Technologies6 topics
- Periodic monitoring and testing of programme effectiveness
- The role of internal audit in evaluating the anti-bribery programme
- Key performance and risk indicators (KPIs/KRIs) and board reporting
- Using data analytics to detect suspicious payments and transactions
- Artificial intelligence in due diligence and third-party screening
- Continuous improvement and future anti-corruption trends
Built for These Roles
- Anti-bribery and corruption (ABC) officers
- Compliance, ethics and integrity officers
- Internal auditors and financial investigators
- Procurement, contracts and supply chain managers
- Risk and internal control managers
- Legal and regulatory advisors
- Professionals in banks, corporations and organisations operating in international markets
- Staff of government bodies, integrity and anti-corruption commissions and law enforcement agencies
- Consultants and experts in compliance and governance
How the ABCP Is Assessed
- 01
The exam is administered through an accredited testing centre
- 02
The computer-based exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions
- 03
Passing score: 70%
- 04
Exam duration: 3 hours
Unless otherwise stated, candidates must achieve a minimum assessment score of 70%. Full entry requirements and the certification process are listed on the Certifications.
Start the ABCP Certification
Registration opens on a rolling basis through ACS or an authorised ACS centre. Reach out and our team will walk you through eligibility, registration and assessment windows.
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