Guides
AML and Compliance Guides for UK Accounting Firms
Every UK accountancy firm providing regulated services must follow the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 and the guidance of its AML supervisor. That means a firm-wide risk assessment, client due diligence, risk assessments for each client, ongoing monitoring and records kept for the required period. These guides turn those duties into practical, repeatable steps. They explain what to check, when to refresh it and how to keep evidence your supervisor can review. Remindoo includes built-in digital AML and identity checks alongside manual risk assessments, with the results kept on the client card and timeline.
What this topic covers
- Client due diligence
- Client risk assessments
- Digital ID and AML checks
- Ongoing monitoring
- Record keeping
AML and compliance: common questions
Do all accountants need AML supervision?
Firms and individuals providing accountancy services by way of business in the UK must be supervised for AML, usually by their professional body or by HMRC.
What is client due diligence?
Client due diligence means identifying and verifying the client and any beneficial owners, understanding the nature and purpose of the relationship, and assessing the risk it poses.
How long must AML records be kept?
Under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017, customer due diligence records are generally kept for five years after the business relationship ends.
How often should AML checks be refreshed?
Checks should be reviewed as part of ongoing monitoring, more often for higher-risk clients and whenever something significant changes, such as new owners or unusual transactions.
Does Remindoo run digital AML checks?
Yes. Digital ID and AML checks are built into Remindoo, alongside manual risk assessments recorded on the client.
Every deadline. Every client. One system.
Start with the workflows that cause the most chasing, then bring leads, AML, proposals and clients into the same calm operating system.
Why recording AML checks properly matters
UK accountants must follow the Money Laundering Regulations and their supervisor's guidance. If a check is not recorded, supervisors will generally treat it as not done.
Evidence for your supervisor
Dated ID checks and risk assessments on each client file are what a supervisor asks to see during a review.
Consistent risk scoring
A standard risk assessment means every client is judged the same way, whoever onboarded them.
Ongoing monitoring
Reminders for periodic reviews help keep checks current rather than done once and forgotten.
Faster onboarding
Built-in digital ID and AML checks in Remindoo reduce back-and-forth with new clients.
Practical tips from UK practice
- Complete identity checks and a risk assessment before starting chargeable work.
- Set review dates by risk level, with higher-risk clients reviewed more often.
- Record the reason for each risk rating, not just the rating.
- Check your supervisor's current guidance, as requirements can change.
Related Remindoo features
Written and reviewed by Waqas Sagar ACA FCCA FMAAT, Chartered Accountant with 18+ years in practice. Founder and MD of Accotax, an ICAEW, ACCA and AAT regulated London practice that has served over 5,000 clients, and founder of Remindoo. Guidance is general; check current GOV.UK and professional body guidance for your firm.
What UK practices say about Remindoo
Read all reviews on Trustpilot“With Remindoo, everything from the first enquiry to onboarding and ongoing client management is tracked in one place… It saves us hours and gives me, as a practice owner, complete visibility of where the firm stands.”
“The biggest benefit is having clients, tasks, deadlines, workflows, proposals and communication all organised in one place.”
“During my trial, the team were absolutely amazing. They helped onboard my clients, set up my settings and made sure everything was ready for me to use… they made the whole process completely stress-free.”
“It brings client information, tasks, recurring deadlines, workflows and reminders together in one place, giving us much better visibility across the team.”
