Certificate Course in Pension Trusteeship in Amsterdam

Programme Overview

From the collection of contributions to the investment of assets and payment of benefits, trustees play a crucial role in the pensions industry. They ensure the pension schemes are run properly and members’ benefits are secure. As pension schemes become more and more complex, it is absolutely vital for trustees to possess a comprehensive understanding of pensions environment, sector specifications, and their own responsibilities that are imposed both by legislation and social needs. Certificate Course in Pension Trusteeship in Amsterdam an all-inclusive programme that helps participants build blocks for implementing good scheme governance as well as employ appropriate risk management and control measures. As you progress through the course of the studies, you will acquire a quality understanding of core areas of trustees’ responsibilities, risk mitigation strategies, and techniques along with constructive ways for the deployment of good practices and procedures for running successful pension schemes.

Programme-Related Host Country Profile Amsterdam is one of the world’s leading hubs for pension governance and fiduciary oversight, making it an ideal location for the Certificate Course on Pension Trusteeship. The Netherlands consistently ranks among the strongest and most sustainable pension systems globally, supported by rigorous risk-based supervision led by DNB and AFM. Home to major funds like ABP and PFZW, Amsterdam offers participants real exposure to advanced governance frameworks, investment oversight practices, and robust regulatory standards. With its highly developed financial ecosystem, excellent connectivity, and reputation for transparency and institutional strength, Amsterdam provides a perfect environment for professionals seeking to deepen their expertise in trusteeship, compliance, and pension fund governance.

Delivered by Risalat Consultants International in Amsterdam, Netherlands, it combines expert-led sessions, real cases and group work, so that participants can apply what they learn in their own institution.

The Programme Strengthens Institutional Capability

• Pensions Industry Characteristics
• Role of Revenue
• Types of Pension Schemes: DB, DC, AVCs
• Need for a trust; Becoming a Trustee
• Legal Background to Trust
• Trust Deed, Rules, Duties, Powers, and Discretion
• Liabilities, Protection, and Delegation
• Trustee Decision-Making
• Fraud risk assessment and fraud risk registers
• Design and testing of internal controls
• The Three Lines model and the role of oversight
• Audit planning, evidence and documentation

It is designed for executive Members of Trustee Organizations, professional Trustees, pension Scheme Providers and others who want practical, current skills in fraud, audit and internal control.

The Growing Importance of Certificate

Public bodies and donor-financed projects are expected to show that funds are used for their intended purpose. Auditors, oversight bodies and financiers increasingly look beyond the financial statements to the controls, records and behaviours behind them.

Fraud and control weaknesses rarely come from one failure. They grow where roles are unclear, records are incomplete and warning signs are not followed up. Teams that understand how fraud happens, and how controls stop it, protect both their institution and the people it serves.

Organisations increasingly require professionals capable of:

• Identify and rate fraud and control risks in their own processes
• Design controls that are proportionate and testable
• Gather and document reliable audit evidence
• Recognise red flags early and escalate them correctly
• Turn findings into practical, agreed actions

Strong fraud, audit and internal control systems help organisations:

• Reduce losses and ineligible expenditure
• Pass external audits with fewer findings
• Strengthen trust with financiers and citizens
• Respond to allegations in a fair and documented way

This Certificate programme brings these elements together in a practical format, so that participants understand not only what good practice looks like but also how to introduce it in their own setting, with the people and resources they have.

Who Should Attend This Certificate Training?

This programme is designed for:

• Executive Members of Trustee Organizations
• Professional Trustees
• Pension Scheme Providers
• Pension Scheme Advisors and Consultants
• Legal and Financial Advisors
• Pension Fund Insurance Providers
• Any Other Professional looking after the retirement security
• Internal auditors and audit managers
• Finance managers and accountants
• Compliance and risk officers
• Procurement officers and managers
• Project and programme managers

The programme suits experienced professionals as well as those moving into new responsibilities. Groups that mix institutions and countries are encouraged, because participants learn a great deal from each other’s experience.

Certificate Training Objectives

Upon successful completion of this Certificate Training, participants will be able to:

• Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of Trustee Role in financing and administering pension schemes
• Comprehend the principles of trust law and the legal and regulatory obligations of the trustees
• Understand the structures and products available for accumulating retirement benefits, and appraise the roles of key parties involved in pension provision
• Gain detailed knowledge of DB and DC schemes and their investment strategies
• Assess the role of advisers in relation to appropriate investment strategies of DB and DC occupational pension schemes
• Explain how and why fraud happens, using recognised fraud risk models
• Carry out a fraud and control risk assessment for a real process
• Map controls to risks using the Three Lines model
• Plan an audit or review and choose suitable tests
• Recognise common red flags in procurement, payments and payroll

Each objective is practised during the programme through exercises, cases or group work, so that participants leave able to do it, not only to describe it.

Programme Contents and Structure

Certificate Training Methodology

The methodology used is designed to encourage maximum participation of all delegates. The consultant will lead sessions through open presentations and support them with interactive exercises, case studies, and group assignments. Panel Discussions and Scenario Analysis make up a fair share of the programme. In order to make discussions more vibrant and diversified, Risalat will involve several guest presenters that can speak from the experience of different countries’ pension systems. The speakers will be selected based on audience requirements, interests, and background.

The programme combines:

• Expert-led sessions on current practice
• Regional and international case studies
• Group work and practical exercises
• Simulations and role plays where relevant
• Discussion of participants' own challenges
• Peer learning across institutions and countries
• Practical tools and templates to take back to work
• Daily reflection and action planning

Before the programme, a short pre-assessment helps the facilitators understand each participant’s role and priorities, so that examples and exercises can be adjusted to the group. Each day ends with a short reflection in which participants note what they will apply at work.

Expected Outcomes

Upon completion of this Certificate Training, participants will be able to:

• Assess fraud and control risks in their own processes
• Design and test proportionate controls
• Recognise red flags and escalate them correctly
• Document reliable evidence
• Report findings that lead to agreed action
• Lead practical improvements in their institution

Participants leave with a personal action plan and practical tools they can use in their institution from the first week back. Institutions that send several participants can use the programme to agree shared methods and templates across teams, which makes improvements easier to sustain.

Institutional Application of Certificate Training

This programme supports organisations in strengthening:

• Fraud and corruption risk management
• Internal control frameworks
• Audit and oversight arrangements
• Follow-up of audit findings
• Integrity and reporting channels

Participants return with practical tools to improve:

• Risk registers and control maps
• Audit planning and testing
• Evidence and documentation
• Reporting to management and boards
• Prevention of ineligible expenditure

The programme is built so that learning moves from the classroom into the institution. Participants work on their own processes and documents where possible, and leave with an action plan that their managers can review and support.

Regional Relevance & Application

Europe

European institutions apply fraud, audit and internal control within detailed regulatory frameworks and reform agendas. Participants from Europe can compare their practice with colleagues from other regions and test how established methods work under different conditions.

Africa

Across Africa, ministries, agencies and project teams working in fraud, audit and internal control increasingly operate alongside donor-financed programmes that expect clear systems and evidence. The programme helps participants adapt good practice to the institutions and resources they work with.

Middle East

In the Middle East, national development strategies and diversification plans place growing demands on fraud, audit and internal control. Participants explore how to build the capability these plans need inside public bodies and companies.

Asia

Institutions across Asia combine rapid growth with ambitious modernisation programmes. Participants from Asia can share their experience of scaling systems quickly and learn from approaches used elsewhere.

Pacific

Small island and Pacific states face particular constraints of size, distance and capacity. The programme highlights practical, proportionate approaches to fraud, audit and internal control that suit smaller institutions.

Holding the programme in Amsterdam, Netherlands brings participants together away from their daily pressures, so they can compare how fraud, audit and internal control is handled in different settings. The same programme can also be delivered in-house for one institution, in its own country or online, with cases taken from its current work.

Host Country Profile – Netherlands

Programmes, Workshops, Exposures, Training Courses in Amsterdam, Netherlands by Risalat Consultants International

Studying away from their own country gives participants time to focus, a fresh view of their own institution and the chance to build a network with colleagues from other countries.

The programme takes place at Fletcher Hotel Amsterdam.

Certificate Training Deliverables

Participants receive support before, during and after the programme, so that preparation, learning and follow-up form one continuous experience.

Before the Programme

• Participant Pre-Assessment
• Certificate Readiness Assessment
• Certificate Resource Pack
• Preparatory Reading Materials
• Complimentary Visa Support & Advisory

During the Programme

• Airport Pickup & Welcome Assistance
• Accommodation with Breakfast
• Welcome Networking Dinner
• Risalat Training Kit (Bag, Bottle, Mug, T-Shirt, Cap, Passport Cover, Pens, Notebook, Magnet & Keychain)
• Comprehensive Certificate Training Manual
• Fraud Risk Register Template
• Control Mapping Matrix
• Audit Evidence Checklist
• Findings and Follow-up Tracker
• Practical Workshops & Simulations
• Group Discussions & Peer Learning
• Daily Lunch and Refreshments
• Full Access to Training Venue Facilities
• Mini Pad / Tablet with Digital Learning Materials
• Field Visit (where applicable)
• Entertaining City Tour

After the Programme

• Certificate of Completion
• Risalat Programme Participation Recognition Award
• Post-Training Reference Materials
• Fraud Risk Self-Assessment Guide
• Control Testing Checklist
• Post-Training Support & Follow-Up Guidance
• Programme Report

Institutions can also request a tailored in-house version of this programme, delivered at their premises or online. Request a proposal.

Common Challenges in Certificate, And How This Training Helps

How can institutions identify and rate fraud and control risks in their own processes?

The programme addresses this directly on the first day (How fraud happens and why it matters), where participants practise the methods involved and adapt them to their own institution, then build it into their action plan.

How can institutions design controls that are proportionate and testable?

The programme addresses this directly on the second day (Fraud risk assessment), where participants practise the methods involved and adapt them to their own institution, then build it into their action plan.

How can institutions gather and document reliable audit evidence?

The programme addresses this directly on the third day (Controls and the Three Lines model), where participants practise the methods involved and adapt them to their own institution, then build it into their action plan.

How can institutions recognise red flags early and escalate them correctly?

The programme addresses this directly on the fourth day (Detection, audit and investigation), where participants practise the methods involved and adapt them to their own institution, then build it into their action plan.

How can institutions turn findings into practical, agreed actions?

The programme addresses this directly on the fifth day (Reporting, follow-up and action planning), where participants practise the methods involved and adapt them to their own institution, then build it into their action plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

When and where does the Certificate programme take place?

It runs from 15 Feb 2027 to 20 Feb 2027, in Amsterdam, Netherlands (Fletcher Hotel Amsterdam). The registration deadline is shown at the top of this page.

Who should attend?

The programme is designed for executive Members of Trustee Organizations, professional Trustees, pension Scheme Providers, pension Scheme Advisors and Consultants, and others who want practical skills in fraud, audit and internal control.

Will I receive a certificate?

Yes. Participants who complete the programme receive a Certificate of Completion from Risalat Consultants International.

Can this programme be delivered for our institution only?

Yes. We can deliver a tailored in-house version at your premises, in another city or online, built around your own cases. Use the proposal request on this page.

Do I need prior experience in fraud, audit and internal control?

No specialist background is required beyond experience in a related role. A short pre-assessment helps the facilitators adapt the sessions to the group.

Training courses in AmsterdamGovernance, Risk & Compliance training courses

More training courses in Netherlands · All programmes in Europe · Full training calendar