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ACi Launches Industry-First Certified Corporate Investigator (CCi) Course

Association of Corporate Investigators Launches Industry-First Certified Corporate Investigator (CCi) Course

Comprehensive 19-Module Certification Addresses Critical Gap in Professional Standards for Global Investigations Community

London, UK – 1 December 2025 – The Association of Corporate Investigators (ACi) today announced the launch of the Certified Corporate Investigator (CCi) course, the first comprehensive professional certification designed specifically for corporate investigators worldwide. The CCi was officially unveiled at the ACi Symposium held at White & Case LLP’s London offices, with the announcement made by Simon Scales and members of the ACi Executive Committee.

The launch marks a significant milestone for the corporate investigations profession, which until now has lacked a unified, globally recognised standard for training and certification. As organisations face increasingly complex investigations spanning multiple jurisdictions, involving sophisticated digital evidence, and subject to heightened regulatory scrutiny, the need for standardised investigative practices has never been more critical.

“For too long, corporate investigators have operated without the professional framework that other disciplines take for granted,” said Simon Scales at the launch event. “The CCi changes that. This certification demonstrates that we, as a profession, are committed to the highest standards of competency, ethics, and rigour in how investigations are conducted.”

Comprehensive Training for Modern Investigators

The CCi course comprises 19 modules covering the complete investigation lifecycle, from initial triage and assessment through to evidence presentation and stakeholder management. Developed by experienced in-house investigators with decades of collective expertise across all sectors, the curriculum addresses real-world challenges faced by practitioners daily.

Key modules include:

  • Investigation Principles, Governance & International Guidance
  • Investigation Policy & Procedures Development
  • Cross-Border Investigations & Multi-Jurisdictional Challenges
  • Digital Forensics, Data Privacy & OSINT
  • Investigative Interviewing Techniques
  • Investigation Reporting & Giving Evidence
  • Whistleblowing Investigations
  • Stakeholder Management & Forensic Accounting Integration

The course is delivered through a flexible, self-paced online platform. Each module combines theoretical learning with practical application through real-world case studies, interactive exercises, multimedia content, and knowledge assessments.

Addressing Industry-Wide Challenges

The ACi identified several critical gaps in the current landscape that the CCi directly addresses:

  • Lack of Standardisation: Inconsistent investigation methodologies across organisations lead to varying quality and defensibility of outcomes
  • Fragmented Training: No comprehensive educational pathway covering all aspects of corporate investigations
  • Professional Recognition: Limited formal credentials for investigators to demonstrate competency
  • Global Complexity: Cross-border investigations require understanding of multiple legal frameworks, data protection regimes, and cultural considerations

“We’ve seen too many investigations falter not because of bad intentions, but because of inadequate training and preparation,” noted Steve Young, CEO, ACi. “The CCi provides the framework, methodology, and practical skills that investigators need to conduct thorough, ethical, and defensible investigations.”

Built by Practitioners, For Practitioners

What distinguishes the CCi from general compliance or legal training is its focus on the practical realities of conducting investigations. The course draws on the Corporate Investigators’ Handbook and has been enhanced by insights from skilled in-house investigators working across all sectors, from financial services to technology, healthcare to manufacturing.

The curriculum includes:

  • Real-world case studies demonstrating complex scenarios
  • Interactive learning tools and exercises
  • Bite-sized learning segments with audio/video content for learning “on the move”
  • Regular knowledge checks and assessments
  • A comprehensive 100-question final examination

Upon successful completion, candidates receive professional certification recognised by leading organisations globally as the standard for investigative competency.

Who Should Enrol

The CCi is designed for a broad spectrum of professionals involved in corporate investigations:

  • Corporate investigators (misconduct, fraud, financial crime, regulatory, health & safety)
  • Ethics, compliance, business integrity, and risk professionals
  • HR, legal, and internal audit specialists conducting or supporting investigations
  • Consultants engaged in investigative work
  • Organisations seeking to build or strengthen internal investigation capability

No prior qualifications are required, making the CCi accessible to those starting their investigations career while providing a consistent competency framework for experienced practitioners.

Team Training and Professional Development

Recognising that investigation quality depends on team capability, the ACi offers group enrolment options with discounted rates for organisations training multiple investigators. This makes the CCi an ideal solution for businesses establishing or enhancing their investigation functions.

“The CCi certification is the ideal starting point for in-house investigations teams who want to upskill their workforce,” Scales explained. “It ensures everyone has access to the same foundational learning and can operate to consistent standards aligned with the ACi’s investigation principles.”

About the Association of Corporate Investigators

Established in 2018, the Association of Corporate Investigators is the leading independent professional body and industry voice for the global corporate investigations community. The ACi serves as a comprehensive platform for all investigative roles and activities – irrespective of sector – fostering a global community of more than 500,000 professionals.

The ACi was created to address the growing need for enhanced governance and best practices within corporate investigations at every level. At its core, the ACi is committed to ensuring that all investigations are conducted with rigour, following key principles and adhering to the highest professional standards.

ACi members include Heads of Investigations, Chief Risk Officers, Heads of Global Security, Chief Compliance Officers, HR professionals, legal counsel, forensic accountants, investigation consultants, technology providers, and those starting their investigations careers.

Enrolment and Availability

The CCi course is available to ACi members through the ACi Academy, a dedicated online learning platform. Individual enrolment is priced at £999, with group discounts available for organisations enrolling multiple participants.

For more information about the Certified Corporate Investigator course, including detailed curriculum information and enrolment procedures, visit: https://my-aci.com/aci-academy/cci/

To become an ACi member and access the CCi certification, visit: https://my-aci.com/membership/apply/

Contact Information:

EDITOR’S NOTES

About the ACi Symposium

The CCi launch took place at the ACi Symposium, an annual gathering of investigations professionals, hosted at the prestigious offices of White & Case LLP in London. White & Case, a global law firm with more than 2,500 lawyers worldwide and a leading practice in investigations and compliance, provided the venue for this landmark announcement. The Symposium brought together senior investigations professionals, compliance leaders, and industry experts to discuss emerging trends and challenges in corporate investigations.

About Simon Scales

Simon Scales serves as a key figure in the ACi leadership and has been instrumental in developing the CCi course.

Key Statistics

  • 19 Modules: Comprehensive coverage of investigation lifecycle
  • 30-40 Hours: Self-paced learning duration
  • 500,000+ Professionals: Global ACi community
  • £999: Individual enrolment fee
  • Since 2018: ACi established to raise standards in corporate investigations

CCi Course Highlights

“Superb – a fabulously high-quality course that hits all the marks. We have been waiting for this!” – Early Course Reviewer

“Extremely well-constructed and educational” – Course Participant

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News Research

ACCA exposes new findings on an escalating, systemic fraud landscape and calls for a collective reset

Global report reveals how cybercrime, governance gaps and AI-turbocharged deception are converging to create an industrialised fraud environment that demands coordinated action.

According to Combatting fraud in a perfect storm, cyberfraud now dominates both prevalence and materiality globally, amplifying all other risks. Procurement, abuse of authority, and third-party frauds follow close behind as the most prevalent types worldwide.  Yet they remain chronically underreported, particularly in SMEs and the public sector.

Drawing on responses from over 2,000 professionals and 31 roundtable discussions around the world, the study – launched during International Fraud Awareness Week – shows how fraud has become industrialised, converging across value and supply chains and outpacing conventional controls.

In collaboration with ACFE, IIA, CISI, ISC2, Airmic and ACi, the report introduces a new Prevalence vs Materiality matrix lens to help organisations make better decisions about allocating resources before fraud diminishes them. Through its companion Calls to Action and Thematic Typology, the report also provides new guidance on assessing what works and doesn’t – and crucially how to incorporate behavioural insights into risk governance, moving fraud prevention from compliance theatre to operational reality.

Key findings:

  • Cyberfraud ranks highest for both prevalence and materiality, 39% and 38% respectively, overall, acting as an amplifier for every other form of fraud and interconnecting with harder-to-stop frauds like crypto-linked crimes.
  • The survey showed that despite rising prevalence, only 10% of crypto fraud cases are referred to law enforcement – the lowest referral rate of any fraud type.
  • Organised crime networks professionalising “fraud-as-a-service”: fast-moving, AI-powered and cross-border operations outpacing traditional defences.
  • Procurement, abuse of authority and third-party frauds are silent drains on value, often under-reported like many internal frauds, and misclassified as “operational leakage”.
  • Cultural weakness and siloed accountability allow fraud to persist:  while 62% of respondents agree that fraud awareness training is important, only 57% believe their organisation proactively looks for fraud and that drops to 51% for accountancy professionals, who emphasised fraud is silently eroding trust and organisational value.
  • The survey found that the ease of reporting averaged 70% across fraud types even though fraud risk management maturity and trust in anti-fraud measures varied significantly by region, sector, teams and seniority.

‘Fraud is no longer isolated or opportunistic,’ said Rachael Johnson, head of risk management and corporate governance in ACCA’s policy and insights team.

‘AI has accelerated its scale and speed while lagging governance and siloed accountability still allow it to thrive in organisation’s processes and architecture. We need to start asking harder questions: Where are the blind spots? Who owns prevention? And how do we make integrity measurable?’

Dr Roger Miles, behavioural scientist and member of ACCA’s special interest group on fraud, added that ACCA’s report is a “wake-up call” no organisations can ignore. ‘The Fear of Finding Out (FOFO) is a major barrier to fraud awareness. We’ve reached a watershed moment where we’ve got to deeply question the truth of the bookkeeping in front of us.’ 

The report calls for a collective reset, one that embeds proactive detection, strengthens accountability, and builds cultures where raising concerns is safe and expected. It emphasises that combating modern fraud requires uniting disciplines, modernising oversight and making integrity measurable. Download the full report here: https://www.accaglobal.com/gb/en/professional-insights/risk/combatting-fraud.html

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News Research

Challenges to Corporate Investigations Survey

🌐 Challenges to Corporate Investigations – Survey Launch

Corporate investigations across all sectors face increasingly complex challenges that can significantly impact outcomes. To better understand these critical pain points, we are conducting a comprehensive benchmarking study, supported by Forensic Risk Alliance, to identify the most prevalent internal and external factors that can compromise investigation effectiveness.

This industry-wide initiative will establish baseline insights across sectors and geographies, enabling the development of evidence-based best practices that strengthen investigation outcomes. We hope the resulting report will serve as a vital resource for the corporate investigations community.

We welcome participation from professionals who conduct internal investigations in organizations of any industry, size, or location:

👉🏻 Investigators
👉🏻 Compliance managers
👉🏻 Internal auditors
👉🏻 HR managers
👉🏻 Other risk professionals and specialists

Your confidential input will contribute to the first comprehensive study of its kind, helping to elevate standards across the profession. The Association of Corporate Investigators, with research support from FRA, is committed to delivering actionable insights that benefit the entire community.

Take part here.
Survey closes: 21 September.

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ACi wins Multi Stakeholder Collaboration Award

We are delighted to announce that we have won the International Compliance Association’s 2025 Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration Award. The presentation took place at the ICA Awards Dinner in London on 27th June. We would like to acknowledge our fellow shortlist finalists, Calathea Solutions, Clue software and the NHS Counter Fraud Authority, ECPA and Tenet.

Our CEO, Steve Young, said ‘This award is recognition of a multi-stakeholder collaboration with over 50 corporate investigations practitioners to author and produce the ACi Corporate Investigators Handbook (1st Edition) in association with our publisher, Global Investigations Review. I would like to acknowledge our editor, Barry Ellis, and Ashu Sharma our global head of projects and advisory for putting forward the ACi  submission against such prestigious competition. I add my congratulations to the shortlisted finalists. The ACi continues to serve the global corporate investigations community, and this award is further recognition of that mission. My final word goes to the amazing ACi Executive Committee and staff whose passion for the association knows no bounds’.

The ACi Corporate Investigators Handbook (1st Edition) is free to download at https://globalinvestigationsreview.com/guide/the-aci-corporate-investigators-handbook-in-association-gir/first-edition or to buy the hardback edition visit the ACi website https://my-aci.com/.

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News

Empowering Women in Corporate Leadership: A Catalyst for Sustainable Change on International Women’s Day

At the ACi we are proud our membership of women in higher decision-making roles in corporate investigations and litigation has increased by 9% in the last 4 years, making up nearly 20% of our membership overall. Nevertheless, there are still strides to be made in advancing women’s’ positionality in the workplace. In the spirit of International Women’s Day, policies fostering corporate gender diversity, including targets and quotas for women on boards, senior management and executive positions are recognized as crucial initiatives. The recent decision by S&P Global investors to consider gender diversity in evaluating ESG opportunities and risks reflects a positive shift, indicating external pressures for increased female representation in senior roles.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, it is essential to reflect on the strides made in empowering women in corporate decision-making roles. Despite progress, the journey toward gender equality is ongoing. This article explores the significance of women’s representation in these positions and its profound impact on Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) performance.

A recent article from The Guardian reported a 6% increase in female CEOs in FTSE 350 companies from 2011 to 2024. While this reflects some progress, only 10 out of FTSE 100 CEOs are women. A 2023 report by firm, McKinsey on women in the workplace revealed women in senior management positions are leaving the workforce at a higher rate than men. This illustrates the challenges to sustaining women in high level decision-making roles in the corporate workplace reflected in the roughly 60-40% gender disparity in typical company managerial positions. While roles such as finance directors and chief information officers are emerging as pathways to CEO positions, with a notable increase in women serving on executive committees, there still remains the challenge to maintaining the positive structural organisational changes that will foster an increasing presence of women in high decision-making roles in the corporate world.

In April 2022 the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) set positive diversity targets for listed companies, were women should comprise 40% of company boards and companies should have at least one women in a senior board position. Business Secretary, Kemi Badenoch applauds FTSE 350 companies for surpassing this target, emphasizing the organic nature of this change. The focus now is on sustaining this momentum to achieve equitable leadership which will be reviewed by the FCA in 2025.

Numerous studies, including the 2021 IFC Corporate Governance Report, emphasize the positive correlation between women in leadership roles and enhanced ESG performance. Celebrating the critical mass of around 30% women on company boards, key findings include improved environmental practices, enhanced social performance, and a commitment to ethical conduct.

Studies, such as “Women leaders and Corporate Social Performance,” underscore the importance of achieving a critical mass of women in leadership positions to drive positive ESG change. The theme of 2024’s International Women’s Day #Inspiringinclusion emphasizes the role of women in shaping sustainable corporate practices.

On International Women’s Day, as we celebrate the increasing representation of women in corporate decision-making roles, we recognize not only the strides toward gender equality but also the profound impact on ESG and CSR performance. Companies are encouraged to adopt and implement policies that champion gender diversity, acknowledging the invaluable perspectives and experiences that women bring to board decision-making processes. Empowering women in leadership positions is not just a symbol of equality but a catalyst for sustainable and positive change. This International Women’s Day, let us commit to fostering a corporate landscape where women thrive, contributing to a more inclusive and sustainable future.

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News

Confide Forges Strategic Alliance with ACi to Elevate Industry Standards

Partnership with ACi’s Extensive Network to Enhance Confide’s Market Position and Product Offerings

London, United Kingdom

5 February 2024

Confide, the revolutionary governance, risk, and integrity platform founded by Wirecard whistleblower, Pav Gill, announces a strategic collaboration with the Association of Corporate Investigators (ACi). This alliance positions Confide at the forefront of industry innovation, harnessing ACi’s vast member expertise to significantly enhance its product offerings.

The collaboration with ACi, with its network of seasoned corporate investigators, opens new avenues for Confide to refine and tailor its solutions. By tapping into the deep well of ACi’s practical knowledge and experience, Confide will dramatically improve the functionality and relevance of its products, addressing the current market’s unmet needs.

Pav Gill, CEO & Founder of Confide, states, “Partnering with ACi is a game-changer for us. Besides being an industry-first, it provides an unparalleled opportunity to leverage their extensive network and insights, enabling Confide to revolutionise our offerings and better serve the investigative community and beyond.”

Ashu Sharma, Head of the Advisory Panel at ACi, adds, “Our members’ expertise combined with Confide’s innovative approach will undoubtedly lead to superior products that redefine industry benchmarks. Our joint efforts will drive unprecedented innovation and excellence in the services we provide to our members and the industry at large.”

Through this partnership, Confide aims to not only enhance its existing solutions but also to ideate new, cutting-edge tools that align with the real-world challenges and complexities faced by corporate investigators.

This strategic collaboration with ACi signifies a major leap for Confide in its mission to lead and transform the corporate investigation landscape through collaborative innovation and expertise-driven product development.

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Banking Investigators Forum

Ashurst was delighted to host the ACi Banking Investigators Forum on 5th October 2023. We enjoyed insightful discussions between banking investigators and key industry figures to analyse the evolving regulatory challenges and economic pressures experienced by banks. A short summary of key takeaways from these sessions is available here for download, which features a number of the thematic issues identified. 

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Members News Research

Member survey 2023

This June we are reaching out to members to see if they’d like to get more involved with building the ACi. As you’re aware, the Executive Committee at ACi are all volunteers, who have full-time in-house investigations roles. The popularity of the Association means we are always on the lookout for subject matter experts who are willing to share knowledge and experience, and for investigations professionals who want to give back to the profession by reaching out to their networks to expand ACi’s mission.


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ACi at Relativity Fest London 2023

The Association of Corporate Investigators was out in force yesterday at Relativity Fest London 2023 as we spoke to a lively audience about our work on the development of the new ISO standard for Internal Investigations. Our panel featured Steve Young, Ashu Sharma (CFE, CFCS), Hannah Clare (She/Her), William Kelly (CISM, CIPP/US) and the moderator was Simon Scales.
 
The panel explained how the new standard – ISO 37008 – will give organisations a guide as to how to do investigations properly. It will give investigators and their teams a source of best practice that is accepted globally, enabling them to have the knowledge and certainty that they are performing investigations to internationally accepted standards.
 
The panel said they have been working with a cohort of 37 countries to develop the standard, which is expected to be published later in 2023. The panel said that working collaboratively with investigators from around the world has been both interesting and rewarding. There was a standing ovation at the end of the session.

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ACi Symposium Round Up

On Thursday, 10th November, ACi held its Symposium event in London, after having missed two years due to Covid19. It was great to bring our investigations community back together for a day of learning, networking and sharing experiences. This year, we were kindly hosted by Allen & Overy at its London offices offering fantastic views of the city.

Our expert speakers included:

(Event moderator) Simon Scales, ACi ExCo
(Co-Host) Eve Giles, Allen & Overy
(Co-Host) Steve Young, ACi
Stephen M. Kohn, Kohn, Kohn & Colapinto LLP
Howard Wilkinson, Whistleblower
Mary Eastwood Jones, World Trade Organisation
Tim Roberts, The Risk Advisory Group
Christoph Haid, Schoenherr
Jeffrey Giddings, ACi ExCo
Kieran McPate, Relativity
Benjamin Borsodi, Schellenberg Wittmer
Michael Zimmern, Control Risks
Basha Galvin, ACi
Stephen S., Compass Group
Sarah Henchoz, Allen & Overy
Joanne Taylor, K2 Integrity
Patrick Wellens, ACi ExCo
David Wolfe CPA/CFF, The Global Fund
Sam Tate, RPC
Ray Massie, Epiq
Ashu Sharma (CFE, CFCS), ACi ExCo
Manu Hanspal, Compass Group
Trevor D., Haleon
Amanda Raad, Ropes & Gray LLP
Jonathan Brown, Ankura
Bryn Parry-Jones MBE, Lloyds Bank
Alexander Moss, ACi ExCo
Jules Colborne-Baber, Deloitte
Deirdre Carwood, Deloitte
Polly Sprenger, Addleshaw Goddard
Rebecca Chalkley, Red Lion Chambers

Delegates discussed a range of topical investigations subjects – from the rise in prevalence of ESG investigations to questioning whether the human element of investigations will have disappeared completely in ten years’ time. Delegates also reflected on the challenges posed by C-Suite investigations and shared best practices for conducting interviews.

Once again, our MC Simon Scales had the delegates chuckling away with his engaging and witty moderating style.

Feedback from attendees has been fantastic. Here are just a few comments we received:

“Excellent sessions, great panels, really good quality discussions and well held together by a brilliant Chairman.”

“The most tailored and relevant event for corporate investigators I have been to.”

“…it was warm and authentic. People on panels were not overly corporate and despite the large audience seemed comfortable to discuss ‘warts and all’. Also, no question was deemed off limits.”

You can read our full event programme here. Thank you to everyone involved especially our hosts, Eve Giles and Sarah Henchoz, and the rest of the Allen & Overy team. Thanks also to our sponsors Deloitte, Schoenherr, Addleshaw Goddard, Relativity, Ankura, Control Risks, Epiq, K2Integrity and Risk Advisory.

Finally, a special thanks to our MC Simon Scales, to our panellists, and – not least of all – to the delegates who made it such a worthwhile event.

We look forward to seeing everyone next year.