Topics

Bill Bewes, IFABill Bewes _sq (2)

TOPIC: Risk in the Accountancy Sector

The Money Laundering Regulations require firms to take a risk-based approach to AML compliance. Essentially this involves identifying the risks in the sector, determining which of these the firm is exposed to, and drafting appropriate policies, procedures and controls to manage these risks.

A common failing with the risk-based approach is where firms don’t incorporate the findings of the National Risk Assessment and the guidance issued by the Accountancy AML supervisors Group into their understanding of the risks in the sector.

Bill will take you through these key documents and show how they can be used to galvanise your firms risk understanding and improve the effectiveness of your firm-wide risk assessment and client risk assessments.

During this session we will look at:

  • The National Risk Assessment 2025
  • Accountancy AML Supervisors Group Risk Outlook
  • How these documents can inform your firm’s risk-based approach.
  • Using risk assessments to determine the level of CDD and ongoing monitoring necessary for each client.

Richard Simms, AMLCC Richard Simms

Topic: Effective AML PCPs - what you need and why 

Fully compliant policies, controls and procedures are a key part of your AML legal obligations; but much more importantly they are how you inform your staff and agents what policies the firm has adopted, the processes to follow and what is expected of all staff and agents from an AML perspective. Your PCPs will explain the steps your business is taking to protect you, your business and your employees from criminal activity.  

Richard will explain how to construct a workable and effective set of PCPs from the risk areas identified in your business-wide risk assessment. He will also explain the importance of fully utilising your completely customised PCPs as part of your AML regime.  

Richard looks forward to discussing specific queries or questions on the day.  

The session will cover: 

  • What is the purpose of the PCPs?​ 
  • How to correctly use the information from your business-wide risk assessment in your PCPs 
  • How to add relevant and focused content to your PCPs 
  • Important points to bear in mind​ 
  • Highlights from the latest IFA AML annual report 
  • AML updates 

Conor Renshaw, Senior Financial Crime consultant Conor Renshaw (1)

Topic: Operationalising AML

As anti-money laundering requirements continue to expand, many smaller firms struggle to translate regulatory expectations into practical, day-to-day processes. This session provides practical guidance to operationalise AML effectively, balancing compliance, efficiency, and risk.

Key takeaways include:

  • Designing proportionate AML frameworks for firms and growing practices
  • Practical client onboarding workflows: risk assessment, identity verification, and documentation standards
  • Managing legacy client files and remediation programmes in a controlled, scalable way
  • Building effective escalation pathways for higher-risk clients and complex ownership structures
  • Using management information and reporting to maintain oversight and regulatory defensibility
  • Balancing resourcing, efficiency, and compliance while avoiding common operational pitfalls
  • Strengthening governance through clear roles, responsibilities, and lines of defence

You will leave with actionable methods to implement scalable, risk-based controls, streamline day-to-day AML operations, and demonstrate regulator-defensible compliance without slowing down business activities.

Andrew Tennant, Gentium UK Ltd Andrew Tennant (3)

Topic: KYC / BOOMS – Do we really know our customer?

Too often within the accountancy sector, a thorough understanding of our clients and their wider structures is overlooked. With increasing regulatory scrutiny, it is more important than ever to ensure robust KYC processes and a clear understanding of Beneficial Owners, Officers and Managers.

This session will explore the importance of truly knowing your client and their business structures, and how the available reporting frameworks support effective compliance.

This session will cover:

  • The importance of understanding your client and their wider ownership and control structures
  • The rules and regulatory obligations surrounding BOOMs within the sector
  • Practical approaches to KYC compliance
  • The role and responsibilities of the MLRO
  • Recognising and managing suspicious activity and reporting obligations

Dr Jonathan Gilbert, University of West of England (UWE) and IN8 Consulting Jonathan Gilbert (1)

Topic: The solicitor’s facilitating role in financial crime 

This session will take a case study approach to learning. You will get insight into the lived experience of Jonathan, a former solicitor who was a professional enabler in a multi-million-pound mortgage and bank fraud.

Jonathan will discuss:

  • The role of professional enablers in financial crime
  • Ethical slippage
  • Contrived ignorance and wilful complicity in financial crime
  • Compliance, risk, organisational culture
  • How to identify rogue professionals

This talk is ideal for professional accountants and those in financial services, financial crime, compliance and private practice.