by Paul Cooke | Oct 3, 2026 | AML Compliance
What if the ownership chart in a client file shows the structure, but not why your firm concluded that a particular person ultimately owns or controls the entity? Learning how to document beneficial ownership means linking each conclusion to the evidence behind it,...
by Paul Cooke | Oct 2, 2026 | AML Compliance
The lowest software price doesn’t necessarily mean the lowest AML implementation cost. For Australian accounting firms, the cost of implementing AML program requirements also includes staff time, processes and ongoing oversight. With Tranche 2 obligations in effect...
by Paul Cooke | Oct 1, 2026 | AML Compliance
A red flag is a prompt to look closer, not a verdict. Knowing how to identify a suspicious matter means assessing activity against the client, their stated purpose, known source of funds and the wider relationship. An unusual transaction may have a legitimate...
by Paul Cooke | Sep 30, 2026 | AML Compliance
An evaluator asks how a control works in practice, and your team has to piece together the answer from client files, spreadsheets and staff systems. The challenge isn’t simply finding a policy. It’s showing that the documented process is followed, evidenced and acted...
by Paul Cooke | Sep 29, 2026 | AML Compliance
A risk assessment is only useful if it changes what your firm does next. For Australian accounting firms, understanding how to conduct a money laundering risk assessment means looking beyond a generic score to the work, clients and processes that create exposure....
by Paul Cooke | Sep 28, 2026 | AML Compliance
AUSTRAC enrolment is a starting point, not the finish line. If you’re asking, “how do I enrol with AUSTRAC?”, first check whether your firm provides a designated service. AML/CTF obligations apply to specific activities, not automatically to every accounting practice...
