Course Overview
In the world of payments, acquiring is the commercial engine; yet its inner workings are often misunderstood. The Understanding Acquiring programme is designed to change that, offering a practitioner-led exploration of authorisation, settlement, and scheme compliance.
We go beneath the surface of daily operations to show you how technical decisions impact financial performance and risk posture. If you’ve ever wanted to stop just 'processing' and start truly navigating the relationship between merchants, card schemes, and acquirers, this is the structured blueprint you’ve been looking for.
Who is this course for
The Understanding Acquiring programme is specifically designed for professionals who need to move beyond a generalist view of payments, including:
Acquiring & Merchant Services Teams – Professionals managing merchant onboarding, transaction processing, and settlement.
Operations & Processing Staff – Individuals responsible for reconciliation, billing, and dispute handling.
Risk & Compliance Professionals – Those overseeing fraud monitoring, regulatory adherence, and scheme compliance.
Business & Functional Analysts – Professionals supporting payments strategy, reporting, and performance analysis.
Banking and fintech professionals seeking a structured understanding of the acquiring model.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, you will be able to:
Master the Transaction Lifecycle: Explain the full journey of a card payment, from merchant acceptance through clearing and settlement.
Navigate Scheme Roles: Articulate the roles and operating frameworks of Mastercard and Visa within the acquiring ecosystem.
Interpret Payment Economics: Understand interchange mechanics, scheme fees, and their impact on merchant pricing structures.
Manage Disputes with Confidence: Describe the chargeback lifecycle and apply best practices in dispute management.
Strengthen Risk & Compliance Oversight: Apply scheme-mandated security protocols and fraud management principles within acquiring operations.
About this Course
Take your acquiring expertise to the next level with this practical, insight-driven training experience:
8 expert-led modules spread over 5 immersive days
20+ hours of hands-on technical training
Scheme compliance insights aligned to Visa &
Mastercard frameworks
Flexible formats: Virtual, physical, or hybrid
Interactive sessions with direct access to seasoned
payments practitioners
Practical case studies, transaction simulations,
and group-based risk analysis
...and much more!
Skills you’ll gain
Acquiring Business Model Expertise
Transaction & Settlement Analysis
Revenue & Fee Structure Insight
Chargeback & Risk Management
Scheme Compliance Interpretation
Merchant Portfolio Optimisation
Frequently Asked Questions