From 12 hours to 2 hours: how Thompson & Co made AML compliance consistent across all three partners
"Certivus cut our AML admin from 12 hours a month to 2. The automation is a game-changer — no more double data entry. As a managing partner, I finally have visibility across every client's AML status without having to chase my partners for updates."
12 hours → 2 hours
Monthly AML admin
280 clients
All onboarded in month one
3 partners
All using the same workflow
No double data entry
Replaced two spreadsheets
Thompson & Co Accountants
Firm details
- Founded
- 2011
- Location
- Birmingham, UK
- Partners
- 3
- Clients
- 280
- Specialisms
- Owner-managed businesses, property investors, professional contractors
- AML supervision
- HMRC-supervised
Thompson & Co is a three-partner accountancy practice in Birmingham, established in 2011. With 280 clients spanning owner-managed businesses, property investors, and professional contractors, AML compliance is a significant ongoing obligation.
As managing partner, Sarah Thompson is responsible for AML oversight across the practice — but each partner manages their own client relationships independently. Before Certivus, that independence had created a compliance problem.
One partner maintained thorough paper files. The others relied on email threads, a shared spreadsheet, and memory. The result was a practice where AML compliance was inconsistent, difficult to audit, and — after a compliance review — demonstrably incomplete for a significant number of clients.
Inconsistency across three partners
- 1
Three partners, three different approaches to AML — one thorough, two informal. A compliance review revealed gaps across more than a third of the client base.
- 2
Double data entry: clients' identity information lived in two spreadsheets, an email folder, and a paper file cabinet. There was no single source of truth.
- 3
No visibility for the managing partner. Sarah had no way to see each partner's AML status across their clients without physically checking records or chasing for updates — which took the most time of all.
One system, three partners, consistent compliance
Thompson & Co adopted Certivus in early 2025. All 280 clients were onboarded within the first month. The change was immediate.
Shared practice dashboard
Sarah can now see the AML status of every client across all three partners in one place. Outstanding verifications, upcoming re-verifications, and any flagged clients are visible at a glance — no chasing required.
Consistent workflows for every partner
Each partner follows the same structured verification workflow in Certivus. PEP and sanctions screening runs automatically. Risk decisions are documented the same way, every time. The variation between partners is gone.
No more double data entry
Client information is entered once. Certivus replaces the two spreadsheets and the email folder. Every screen result, document, and risk decision is stored against the client record with a timestamp and is accessible to any partner.
The outcomes
12 hrs → 2 hrs
Monthly AML admin across the practice
280
Clients onboarded in month one
3 of 3
Partners using the same workflow consistently
Zero
Spreadsheets still in use for AML
"Certivus cut our AML admin from 12 hours a month to 2. The automation is a game-changer — no more double data entry. As a managing partner, I finally have visibility across every client's AML status without having to chase my partners for updates."
About Thompson & Co Accountants
Thompson & Co Accountants is a three-partner practice based in Birmingham, established in 2011. The practice serves owner-managed businesses, property investors, and professional contractors — providing accounts preparation, tax advisory, self-assessment, and VAT services. Thompson & Co 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.
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