ICA Advanced Certificate in Governance, Risk and Compliance

Overview

The ICA Advanced Certificate in Governance, Risk and Compliance (GRC) is designed for professionals seeking to develop a deeper and more integrated understanding of governance, risk management, and compliance within regulated organisations.

Governance, risk and compliance are three distinct but interdependent disciplines that together form the foundation of a successful, sustainable, and well-governed organisation. This qualification develops the knowledge and practical skills required to understand how these disciplines interact, how they support regulatory adherence, and how effective integration contributes to long-term organisational success.

Drawing upon practical examples and insights from industry practitioners across regulated sectors, the programme equips participants with the capability to navigate increasingly complex regulatory environments while supporting effective governance structures, risk management frameworks, and compliance programmes.

Why Take This Qualification?

This qualification will help you:

• Develop practical governance, risk and compliance capabilities applicable across regulated sectors.
• Understand how governance, risk management and compliance work together to support organisational performance and resilience.
• Strengthen your ability to manage regulatory, compliance and operational risks.
• Build competence in integrated GRC frameworks and best practices.
• Enhance your professional profile with an internationally recognised qualification awarded in association with Alliance Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester.
• Develop the knowledge required to engage effectively with regulators, boards, senior management, and other key stakeholders.

What You Will Learn

Through this qualification, you will develop knowledge and understanding of:

• Regulatory environments and the evolution of regulation.
• Regulatory authorities, supervisory approaches, and enforcement powers.
• Governance, risk and compliance as an integrated framework.
• The structure, responsibilities and competencies of effective compliance functions.
• Risk management principles and integrated GRC approaches.
• Core GRC disciplines including financial crime, conduct risk, ESG, and operational resilience.

Who Should Attend?

This qualification is suitable for professionals across regulated sectors who have responsibility for governance, risk management, compliance, regulatory affairs, or related functions.

It is particularly suited to:

• Governance Professionals
• Compliance Managers and Compliance Officers
• Risk Managers and Risk Analysts
• Financial Crime Professionals
• ESG and Sustainability Practitioners
• Regulatory Affairs Professionals
• Internal Auditors
• Conduct Risk Specialists
• Operational Risk Professionals
• Regulatory Supervisors and Examiners
• Professionals seeking to build integrated GRC expertise

The programme is ideally suited to practitioners with two to three years of relevant experience who are seeking to deepen their expertise and broaden their capability across the governance, risk and compliance landscape.

Study Format

• Flexible part-time study
• Approximately six months duration
• Guided online learning
• Live virtual classrooms led by subject matter experts
• Practical case studies and immersive learning scenarios
• Designed to accommodate busy working professionals

Assessment

Participants are assessed through:

• One timed online scenario-based assessment
• One research-based assignment

The assessment approach is designed to evaluate both practical application and analytical capability within governance, risk and compliance environments.

Qualification Award

ICA Advanced Certificate in Governance, Risk and Compliance

An internationally recognised qualification awarded by the International Compliance Association (ICA) in association with Alliance Manchester Business School, The University of Manchester.