Industry analysis
AML compliance for new accountancy practices: a complete guide
Mehmood Rajoka10 min readMay 2026
In brief: A new UK accountancy practice must register with HMRC for AML supervision before providing regulated services, appoint an MLRO, complete a firm-wide risk assessment, write an AML policy, and apply CDD to every new client.
Key points
- Register with HMRC before providing regulated services — within 30 days
- Appoint an MLRO and document their responsibilities
- Complete a firm-wide risk assessment and write a practice-specific AML policy
- Apply CDD to every new client before starting work
- Starting with structured systems is far easier than retrofitting them at 50+ clients
Everything you need to do for AML compliance when starting a UK accountancy practice — from HMRC registration to first-client CDD.