From 3 days to 10 minutes: how Clarke Accountancy simplified AML compliance
"As a sole practitioner, I can't afford to spend days on AML. Certivus lets me verify clients in minutes, and the audit reports saved me during my last HMRC inspection."
3 days → 10 minutes
Per client verification
120 clients
Successfully verified
Passed
HMRC AML inspection
Clarke Accountancy
Firm details
- Founded
- 2019
- Location
- Leicester, UK
- Team size
- 1 person (Emma Clarke)
- Clients
- 120
- Specialisms
- Contractors, landlords, owner-managed businesses
- AML supervision
- HMRC-supervised
As a sole practitioner, Emma is the accountant, the MLRO, and the compliance officer — all at once. Before Certivus, AML verification meant emailing clients for documents, chasing responses over days, manually checking a PEP and sanctions list, updating a spreadsheet, and filing paper copies.
Each client took 2–3 days from first contact to completed file. With 120 clients needing annual re-verification, she was spending around 3 days every month just on AML admin — time she could not afford.
"I knew I had to get compliance right. But I couldn't justify spending that much time on it every month when it wasn't generating revenue and wasn't serving clients."
The AML admin problem
- 1
Clients taking 2–3 days to respond to email document requests — and often sending the wrong documents entirely
- 2
Manual PEP and sanctions checks on free websites — time-consuming, inconsistent, and difficult to evidence for HMRC
- 3
Spreadsheet records that were hard to export when HMRC visited — no timestamps, no version history, no audit trail
Structured workflows replaced ad-hoc admin
Emma adopted Certivus in 2024. Within the first month, AML admin was no longer the time drain it had been.
Client portal
Clients receive a secure link and complete ID verification on their phone. Emma no longer chases documents by email. 80% of clients complete within 24 hours.
Automatic screening
PEP and sanctions screening runs automatically. No more manual website checks. Results are stored against the client record with a timestamp.
One-click export
When HMRC visited, Emma exported audit-ready PDFs for each client in under a minute. The inspector commented on how well-organised her records were.
The outcomes
Under 10 minutes
Per client verification (was 2–3 days)
80%
Client completion rate within 24 hours
Passed
HMRC AML supervision visit
"I know what it's like to spend hours on AML admin. Certivus didn't just save me time — it gave me confidence. When HMRC turned up, I wasn't scrambling. I had everything in one place, properly organised, with timestamps. That's the difference."
About Clarke Accountancy
Clarke Accountancy is an independent accountancy practice in Leicester, founded in 2019 by Emma Clarke. Emma specialises in owner-managed businesses, contractors, and landlords — providing bookkeeping, accounts preparation, self-assessment, and tax advisory services. The practice is HMRC-supervised for Anti-Money Laundering purposes.
Note: This case study describes one customer's experience with Certivus. Individual results vary. Certivus supports AML workflows — final compliance decisions remain with the authorised person or firm.
Related reading
AML software for sole practitioners
How Certivus is designed for accountants working alone — without enterprise pricing.
HMRC audit checklist
Step-by-step preparation for an HMRC AML supervision visit.
Pricing from £0/month
Transparent monthly pricing. Starter plan at £49/month covers 50 verifications.
More customer stories
Read how other UK accountancy practices use Certivus.