Sanctions Risk Training Hub (EU + US Focus)

Who this training is for

Audience: Sales, Procurement, Finance, Operations, Logistics, Product, Support, Partnerships — especially in:

• PSPs, acquirers, processors
• Neo banks and fintechs
• Marketplaces and platforms
• Freight forwarders and cross-border logistics

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How to use this hub

• Read modules in order (each builds on the previous one).
• Use the Stop → Escalate → Document rule as your default response when unsure.
• Keep the Module 6 checklists open during onboarding, payments, shipments, and escalations.
• If you want a practical feel quickly, run a free screening and review what an audit-ready output looks like.

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The core rule (memorize this)

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Training modules (complete path)

Follow these modules in order:

1. Module 1: Sanctions and their purpose
2. Module 2: Types of sanctions (EU + US)
3. Module 3: How to protect your company from sanctions risk (controls and process)
4. Module 4: Your role in mitigating sanctions risk (Stop, Escalate, Document)
5. Module 5: Industry scenarios (PSP, marketplace, fintech/crypto, freight forwarder)
6. Module 6: Checklists and templates (audit-ready)

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Learning outcomes (what you will be able to do)

After completing this training, you should be able to:

• Explain what sanctions are and why they exist (EU + US focus).
• Recognize the four main sanctions patterns: list-based, country/region, sectoral, and secondary sanctions risk.
• Identify how sanctions risk appears in real workflows (onboarding, payments, payouts, refunds, shipments, digital delivery).
• Apply the company’s controls: screening, geo restrictions, ownership checks, transaction controls, and rescreening.
• Know when to pause activity and escalate to Compliance/Legal, with a complete evidence pack.
• Document actions and decisions in an audit-ready way that supports defensible outcomes.

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Quick definitions (simple English)

• Counterparty: The person or company you do business with (customer, supplier, partner, seller, merchant).
• Screening: Checking names (and sometimes related data) against sanctions lists and risk sources.
• Match / hit: The screened name looks like a listed name (requires review; not automatically a breach).
• False positive: A match that is not the same person/entity.
• False negative: A real risk that was missed (highest risk outcome).
• End-user: Who finally receives the goods/services (can be different from the buyer).
• End-use: What the goods/services will be used for (can change risk).
• Payer: Who sends the money (can be different from the customer or account holder).
• Beneficiary: Who receives the money (can be different from the merchant/seller account owner).
• Ownership/control: Who ultimately owns or controls an entity (UBOs, directors, controllers).

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Recommended training formats

Choose the format that matches your role and time.

Option A — Core path (45–60 minutes)

• Read Modules 1–4 (30 minutes)
• Review Module 5 scenarios relevant to your role (10–20 minutes)
• Save/print Module 6 checklists and templates (5 minutes)

Option B — Fast practical start (20–30 minutes)

• Run a free screening (5 minutes)
• Read Module 4 (Stop–Escalate–Document) (10 minutes)
• Use Module 6 escalation + evidence pack templates immediately (5–15 minutes)

Option C — Role-based refresher (10–15 minutes)

• Read Module 5 scenarios for your industry
• Keep Module 6 checklists open while you work

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When to escalate (simple triggers)

Escalate whenever you see:

• a match or close match on a sanctions list,
• a restricted destination/region or suspicious routing/transshipment,
• a mismatch between who pays / who benefits / who receives goods,
• unusual beneficiary changes, repeated retries, or workaround requests,
• missing or inconsistent identifiers (DOB, address, nationality, ownership).

If uncertain: escalate. Do not self-clear.

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Who to contact internally

If you see any uncertainty or potential sanctions issue, stop and escalate to:

• Compliance / Legal / Financial Crime team (use your internal escalation channel and case tool)

If your company has an on-call process or SLAs, follow them.

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Appendix: Suggested internal policy alignment (optional)

This training works best when your company has:

• Clear rules on when screening is required (onboarding + transactions + rescreening)
• A defined escalation channel and response SLAs (including after-hours escalation where relevant)
• A standard evidence pack template (audit trail structure)
• Rules for re-screening on changes (ownership, geography, product scope, high-value deals)
• A clear approach to geo controls (restricted destinations, shipping blocks, digital delivery controls)
• A documented policy on customer communications during compliance review

If your company does not have these, you can still use this training. However, you should ask Compliance/Legal to confirm:

• what to stop,
• where to escalate,
• what to document,
• and what you are allowed to tell customers.