*Career breaks must be continuous and may encompass a range of circumstances, including family responsibilities, childcare, health-related issues, volunteer work, education, or professional development. The break should either be ongoing or have concluded no earlier than 1 October 2024.
Thank you to everyone who applied for the CAFS Scholarship
The application period is now closed.
We are now in the final stages of the selection process. The results will be shared in April and recipients will be notified prior to our public announcement.
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Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Director of Compliance Risk
Beneficial State Bank
Richard H. Harvey, Jr., is an experienced Executive level Compliance leader and a noted expert in developing and implementing risk-based Compliance and Anti-Money Laundering programs. Richard currently serves as Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Director of Compliance Risk for Beneficial State Bank. He also serves as Principal of R Harvey Associates, LLC.
Richard is a graduate of the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law. He served as an Enforcement and Litigation attorney with the Office of Thrift Supervision from 1986 to 1993. During his career, Richard has held key roles in legal and bank compliance.
In 2017, he served on the Consumer Financial Protection Board Community Bank Advisory Council. In 2019, Richard was recognized for his service to the financial services industry with the ABA’s Distinguished Service Award. In 2024, Richard was recognized by Savoy Magazine as one of the most Influential Lawyers in the country. And, In 2001, Richard testified on behalf of the ABA before the House of Representatives Banking Committee concerning financial institution’s efforts to combat identity theft.
Director, FCSO Surveillance Academy Lead
Standard Chartered Global Business Services
Certified Financial Crime Compliance (FCC) specialist with 28 + years of banking experience, across FCC Training Academy, Anti-Money Laundering Investigation and Reporting, Regulatory Compliance Controls, Operations, Mortgage Sales, and Retail Banking, in leadership roles.
Successfully managed critical Training operations, AML processing/reporting, Retail Banking, Wealth Management Regulatory Compliance Audits/Controls, Sales and Operational roles, with distinction.
Director
Cifas Learning & Public Sector
Rachael was Head of Audit and Counter Fraud in 3 London Boroughs. At the National Fraud Authority, Home Office in 2010 as Head of UK Public Sector Fraud she researched and drafted the first local government counter fraud strategy Fighting Fraud Locally (FFL) and created pilot data hubs using partnerships. In 2013 she joined the MoD as manager of the Fraud Defence Unit.
In 2014 she created the CIPFA Counter Fraud Centre - creating qualifications and services, drafting the second FFCL Strategy for HMG, she then researched and drafted FFCL2020s whilst at Cifas . Whilst here she created a consortium of data partners leading the team to win the contract for the London Counter Fraud Hub.
Rachael is a well-known speaker and author on counter fraud and corruption, sitting on a number of industry boards. She is the Independent Person for Standards and Ethics at the LB Tower Hamlets and sits on the Audit Committee for the Police Commissioner for Devon, Dorset and Cornwall. Rachael won Stella Walsh Award “Lifetime Achievement in Countering Fraud”, the TECA ‘Lifetime Achievement’ 2023 award, The 2023 FFCL Outstanding Contribution Award and the ‘Outstanding Contribution’ award at the Public Sector Award 2024 . Rachael is Director of Public Sector and Learning at Cifas – the UK’s Fraud Prevention Service.
Vice President, International Oversight - APAC
American Express
Wendy has 27 years of financial crime (FC) experience & is currently Vice President, International FC Compliance - APAC, Latin America/Canada at American Express. In this role she monitors & provides oversight of each FC program, provides advisory in order to establish safety and soundness for compliant and forward-thinking programs.
Wendy was also previously the AML/CTF Compliance Officer for American Express in Australia and New Zealand.
Prior to her current role, Wendy worked at AUSTRAC for 15 years, working across multiple areas including in the Intelligence branch where she worked onsite with law enforcement agencies (LEAs); managed the FIU’s relationship with LEAs and national security partners; led AUSTRAC’s international technical assistance and training program, managing 8 programs that assisted counterpart agencies in 37 countries in the APAC region and Africa; & led the Compliance team responsible for front-line supervision. Wendy was also a member of senior executive and governance committees.
Wendy has represented the Australian Government at various inter-government forums resulting in a greater understanding of Australia’s approach by stakeholders, and closer ties with overseas partners; & she has fostered key relationships with domestic & international FC partners, resulting in closer collaboration & a greater understanding of common goals.
Founder
Operation Shamrock
Erin West is a globally recognized speaker and educator specializing in transnational organized crime, with a focus on the criminal investigation and prosecution of cryptocurrency-related cases. Recently retired after 26 years as a Deputy District Attorney in Santa Clara County, California, Erin spent the last eight years of her career assigned to the REACT High-Tech Task Force, renowned for its arrests and prosecutions of SIM-swappers and successful cryptocurrency recoveries.
As the founder and leader of the Crypto Coalition, an international network of nearly 2,000 law enforcement agents focused on cryptocurrency investigations, Erin has played a pivotal role in advancing global collaboration in combating digital crimes. Following her retirement, she launched Operation Shamrock, a groundbreaking non-profit organization dedicated to uniting law enforcement, private industry, and cross-border stakeholders in the fight against transnational organized crime originating in Southeast Asia.
Erin’s leadership, innovation, and passion for justice continue to make her a driving force in the global effort to dismantle criminal enterprises and protect communities worldwide.
Product Delivery Manager
ACAMS
Sarah Gillis is a Product Delivery Manager at ACAMS. In this role, she oversees the timely execution and launch of ACAMS learning courses. Sarah improves the processes used by training product development and delivery staff. She works to streamline, standardize, and maximize return on investment for customers. Since joining ACAMS in 2018, Sarah's responsibilities have also included hosting virtual classrooms alongside the AFC industry's top experts.
Sarah took her own career break to focus on raising her family and is especially grateful for the opportunities and support she received when re-entering the workforce. She is excited to be part of the ACAMS scholarship program that supports others in the same effort.
Sarah holds a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University and has her CAMS certification. She is based in the US.
The CAFS Certification
ACAMS’ latest certification, Certified Anti-Fraud Specialist (CAFS), is dedicated to providing fraud professionals with a comprehensive and balanced learning framework.
CAFS uniquely addresses the specific challenges faced by banks and
non-bank financial institutions today. From authorized push payments to account takeovers, our program reviews both well-known and emerging fraud typologies, equipping professionals with the specialized knowledge and skills required to effectively combat emerging fraud schemes.
The CAFS program covers key topics across the spectrum of prevention, detection, and response, including fraud analytics, using technology to combat fraud, and completing successful fraud investigations.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What happens to the complimentary one-year membership if I already have an active ACAMS membership?
Who do I contact if I experience technical difficulties when submitting my cover letter and CV?
What is the duration of the CAFS Scholarship?
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Disclosure for ACAMS Scholarship
By applying for the CAFS Scholarship, the applicant:
1) Agrees to provide ACAMS a testimonial and grants to ACAMS the irrevocable right and permission to use any testimonial (written or oral), photographs, video recordings or images, sound recordings, or other data of the applicant either submitted with the application or taken by ACAMS;
Agrees to allow ACAMS to use, re‐use, publish, republish, copy, modify, display, and create derivative works in whole or in section, individually or in conjunction with other photographs, film, video, or other images, sound recordings, or testimonials in any medium or format whatsoever (including without limitation, in and on print publications, the internet, and other digital transmission or delivery methods) and for any purpose whatsoever, including, without limitation in advertising, marketing, publications, electronic distribution, and the internet, and for any other commercial purpose without further consent; and
a) To use the applicant’s name, image, likeness, voice, other personal characteristics, and professional and personal biographical information in connection therewith; and
b) To copyright the same in the name of ACAMS, or any other name that ACAMS may choose; and
2) Waives any and all rights to such photographs, film, video or other images, sound recordings, or testimonials (written or oral), and assigns all such rights in perpetuity to ACAMS and its affiliates and successors.
The applicant acknowledges and agrees that ACAMS has the right to use any materials, including images, the applicant submits for marketing purposes as determined by ACAMS. ACAMS will not be liable to the applicant for its use of such materials or images.
The applicant understands that there will be no payment or other compensation for the permitted use of any testimonials (written or oral), photographs, film, video, other images, or sound recordings received or taken by ACAMS or of the applicant’s name, likeness, or personal characteristics.
ACAMS shall be the exclusive owner of all rights, including copyright, to the materials. The applicant forever releases and discharges ACAMS from any and all claims and demands arising out of or in connection with the use of such photographs, film, video or other images, sound recordings, or testimonials (written or oral), including but not limited to any claims for defamation, invasion of privacy, right of publicity, emotional distress, or any similar right.
The applicant undertakes and warrants that they do not have a relationship with ACAMS, or with anyone employed at ACAMS, and this includes:
a) Serving as a current employee in any capacity at ACAMS; and
b) Being related to anyone employed at ACAMS as either a spouse, domestic partner, parent, child or spouse of a child, brother, sister, or spouse of a brother or sister.
The applicant represents and warrants that any testimonial (written or oral) given is original and does not infringe upon the copyright or proprietary rights of another person or entity.
The applicant further warrants the information they submit will not contain any material which is defamatory, private, confidential, or which is unlawful in any way. Any application found to be in breach of the foregoing statement will be disqualified.