Enforcement is intensifying, the regulatory net is widening, and the consequences of non-compliance are becoming steeper. For financial professionals determined to stay ahead, Moonstone Business School of Excellence’s regulatory short courses in FICA, POPIA, and the NCA are reliable and practical pathways to ongoing compliance.
If recent enforcement actions by the Financial Sector Conduct Authority have taught the financial services industry anything, it is this: compliance is not optional. The wave of administrative penalties issued in the past year is a powerful message that firms who fall behind on regulatory obligations face real and costly consequences.
The Financial Intelligence Centre Act (FICA) has dominated headlines, with fines imposed on both small advisory firms and large fund managers. The FSCA’s actions against Ninety One Fund Managers, including an effective R2.5 million-penalty for serious customer due diligence failures, illustrate that no business is too big or too established to be held accountable.
Read: FSCA imposes R3m fine on Ninety One for FICA lapses
Add to this the recent tightening of consent requirements under the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and the ongoing obligations under the National Credit Act (NCA), and the picture becomes clear: staying up to date with regulatory requirements is an ongoing responsibility, not a once-off exercise.
Read: Amended POPIA Regulations tighten the screws on direct marketing
MBSE operations manager Monique Brummer says this context underscores why financial services providers must treat regulatory training as a cornerstone of professional practice.
“It is no longer sufficient to rely on ad hoc knowledge updates or assume that last year’s training remains adequate. The regulatory landscape shifts frequently, and ignorance is no defence.”
As Charl Geel, head of FICA supervision at the FSCA, has emphasised, strict enforcement is the new normal. Firms that fail to prioritise compliance risk not only financial penalties but reputational damage in a market where client trust is hard won and easily lost.
Read: AML/CFT | Strict enforcement will be the new normal
The role of MBSE in raising compliance standards
To bridge this gap, MBSE has positioned itself as a leading provider of regulatory short courses, specifically tailored to equip professionals with practical, up-to-date knowledge of FICA, POPIA, and the NCA.
These courses are designed with flexibility in mind, catering to different roles within the financial services ecosystem – from entry-level employees handling client data to executives overseeing compliance frameworks.
MBSE’s FICA and POPIA courses are CPD-accredited, allowing professionals to meet annual requirements while reinforcing the legal and ethical standards expected by regulators.
The NCA training, although not CPD-accredited, plays an equally vital role for financial and insurance managers, credit providers, and consultants operating in a highly scrutinised industry.
Importantly, MBSE updates its course material in line with the latest regulatory developments, ensuring learners are not simply revisiting theory but engaging with current practice.
Course options range from introductory modules such as Getting to Know FICA – ideal for all staff within accountable institutions – to advanced programmes such as Managing POPIA, aimed at executives responsible for appointing Information Officers. This tiered structure enables organisations to implement training across all levels, building a culture of compliance rather than treating it as a tick-box exercise.
By offering accessible, comprehensive, and accredited programmes, MBSE provides professionals with the tools to not only remain compliant but to strengthen the ethical foundations of the financial services industry.
“In this environment, committing to regular regulatory training is not simply about avoiding fines – it is about safeguarding the sustainability of businesses and the trust of the clients they serve,” says Brummer.
MBSE’s regulatory short courses
FICA courses
- Getting to Know FICA – Introductory module for all staff within accountable institutions. (R130, 2 hours)
- Understanding FICA – Intermediate course for employees directly handling financial transactions. (R595, 4.5 hours)
- Managing FICA – Advanced programme for Compliance Officers and MLROs. (R1200, 10 hours)
POPIA courses
- Getting to Know POPIA – Foundational course for any employee handling personal information. (R140, 1 hour)
- Understanding POPIA – Designed for employees managing or processing personal data. (R500, 3.5 hours)
- Managing POPIA – Advanced course for executives and appointed Information Officers. (R1300, 7 hours)
NCA courses
- Managing the NCA – Tailored for credit providers, executives, and financial managers. (R4760, 12 hours)
- Understanding the NCA – Designed for F&I managers and loan consultants in the motor and credit industries. (R3520, 8 hours)
- NCA Refresher – Annual update course for all professionals in the credit sector. (R3270, 8 hours)
CPD subscription packages
For those with more intensive CPD needs – particularly corporates or advisers with higher requirements – MBSE’s subscription packages offer excellent value. The Core Package (R1 750) grants access to the full CPD catalogue, while the Premium Package (R1 900) includes all CPD and Class of Business (CoB) courses. That means you can complete as many courses as you need without worrying about extra costs.
From an administrative point of view, MBSE offers the option of multiple bookings via a bulk registration process. This gives an FSP the freedom to register students monthly. (Terms and conditions, together with the signed service level agreement, apply.)
The manager’s dashboard allows the following:
- send coupons to candidates to activate their subscription;
- view candidates’ progress at any time;
- view and download reports;
- view and download candidates’ certificates; and
- create a corporate CPD/CoB planner.
Click here to choose a package that suits your needs.
Contact help@mbse.ac.za for support with Corporate packages.
