SAR/STR Masterclass — Write Compliant Reports for U.S. & EU FIUs

The workshop will be led by Erin O’Loughlin, a seasoned professional with over a decade of experience in the financial crime compliance industry. She has worked in anti-money laundering (AML) and fraud investigations for Bank of America, proactive risk investigations for Western Union, and as an Investigations Manager for Coinbase.

Ms. O'Loughlin, speaking about the upcoming workshop for the Digital Forensics Conference, set to take place on November 4 at the Sava Centar in Belgrade, said:

Erin O'Loughlin

Senior Director of Training at Association of Certified Financial Crime Specialists

Are your suspicious activity (SAR) and suspicious transaction (STR) reports powerful enough to survive scrutiny on both sides of the Atlantic? Mastering SAR/STR Writing – Best Practices for U.S. & European AML Professionals is a high-energy, 2–3-hour workshop that distills FinCEN’s famed narrative guidance and the EU’s brand-new Single Rulebook under Regulation (EU) 2024/1624 and the 6th AML Directive (EU) 2024/1640 into practical, field-tested techniques.

Through live case studies, rapid-fire writing labs and peer-review drills, you will learn to:

  • Apply the “5 W’s + H” storytelling model to both FinCEN SARs and go AML-format STRs
  • Convert raw transaction data into concise, law-enforcement-ready narratives
  • Avoid the most common deficiencies flagged by FinCEN and emerging EU minimum-content rules
  • Tackle cutting-edge typologies—from crypto-mixer laundering to Russia-related sanctions evasion—using key terms and codes regulators expect (including the 2024 Investment Adviser SAR rule set)

Who should attend? AML analysts, FIU investigators, compliance officers, and fintech risk teams at banks, investment firms, MSBs, DNFBPs and virtual-asset providers who file to FinCEN or any EU/Eastern-European FIU.

Take-aways: dual SAR/STR templates, a 10-point quality checklist, and the confidence to file smarter, faster, and fully compliant—wherever your transactions flow. Reserve your seat now and turn regulatory obligation into investigative impact.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Financial crime compliance professionals

Investigators

Law enforcement

Regulators

KEY TOPICS COVERED

Welcome & Objectives (10 min)

  • Introduce dual-jurisdiction scope (FinCEN + EU/CEE FIUs)
  • Why high-quality SAR/STR narratives matter
  • Participant expectations and materials

Regulatory Snapshot – “Same Mission, Different Rules” (20 min)

  • U.S.: BSA § 5318(g), SAR thresholds & timelines (30-day clock)
  • EU/CEE: 6AMLD, AML Regulation 2024/1624, local FIU portals (goAML)
  • Key differences in triggers, thresholds, and filing channels

Anatomy of a High-Quality Narrative (15 min)

  • “5 Ws + H” storytelling model
  • Chronology & money-flow clarity (Dollar-In / Euro-Out)
  • Using plain language; avoiding undefined acronyms

Mini-Case: Spot the Red Flags (15 min)

  • Small-group exercise: cross-border payment scenario
  • Identify SAR/STR triggers (structuring, VAT carousel, sanctions evasion)

Hands-On Writing Lab (30 min)

  • Draft a concise narrative from provided data & interview notes
  • Choose template: FinCEN SAR or goAML STR
  • Facilitator roams for coaching

Peer Review & Dual QA Checklist (15 min)

  • Swap drafts; apply 10-point FinCEN checklist and EU minimum-content list
  • Capture common gaps for debrief

Emerging Typologies Flash Round (15 min)

  • Crypto mixers, AI-generated IDs, Russia-related sanctions evasion
  • Contrast FinCEN advisories with EBA risk-factor guidance

Wrap-Up, Q&A, Resources (10 min)

  • Key takeaways and next-step commitments
  • Provide download links: dual templates, checklists, guidance docs

WORKSHOP OBJECTIVES

Teach participants to apply FinCEN’s narrative guidance and EU’s 6AMLD/Regulation 2024/1624 rules when drafting suspicious activity and transaction reports.

1

Provide hands-on experience in identifying red flags, typologies, and transforming raw data into law-enforcement-ready reports.

2

Enhance understanding of dual-jurisdiction compliance, including key differences in thresholds, timelines, and filing formats (e.g., FinCEN SAR vs. goAML STR).

3

Strengthen collaboration and communication between AML professionals, compliance teams, and financial intelligence units (FIUs) across jurisdictions.

4

HURRY UP! BOOK YOUR SEAT

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