SAR & TFR Reporting: Internal Reporting & Escalation

Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) and Terrorist Financing Reports (TFRs) are essential to any AML/CFT framework but many professionals are unsure when to escalate, what to document, and how to write strong internal reports without making assumptions or risking tipping-off.

This course provides a practical, real-world introduction to internal SAR & TFR reporting. You will learn what these reports are, why they exist, and how to handle suspicious activity inside an organisation from the moment suspicion is identified through to escalation to the MLRO.

You’ll also learn how to recognise red flags, structure a clear narrative, build an evidence pack, and manage common mistakes including real-life grey-area scenarios and role plays.

In addition, the course explains how AML teams should store reports and supporting documentation securely, how to maintain internal SAR/TFR logs, and how proper record keeping supports audits, inspections, and regulatory expectations. The content is aligned with regulatory expectations and reflects practical AML processes used across regulated institutions.

This course focuses on internal reporting and escalation (not system entry).

Stay tuned for my second course on suspicious transaction reporting (STR) where you will learn the basics, step-by-step instructions on how to create internal STRs and how to submit these to your financial intelligence unit.