AML Training for Accountants and Bookkeepers: UK Requirements in 2026

12 Oct AML Training for Accountants and Bookkeepers: UK Requirements in 2026

Last updated: 12^TH October, 2026. Written by the KYC Lookup Team.

Quick answer: UK accountancy firms and bookkeepers must train relevant staff in anti-money laundering (AML) law and in how to spot and report suspicious activity, under regulation 24 of the Money Laundering Regulations 2017. Training must be regular and recorded, and your AML supervisor, whether a professional body such as ICAEW, ACCA or AAT, or HMRC, can ask to see the evidence. Most practices train all relevant staff when they join and then at least once a year.

Why accountants are covered by AML rules

Accountants, bookkeepers, tax advisers and insolvency practitioners are “relevant persons” under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017. That’s because criminals use accountancy services to make illicit funds look legitimate, for example by setting up companies, preparing accounts that disguise the source of money, or handling client funds.

Every accountancy practice must be supervised for AML. Most are supervised by their professional body, such as ICAEW, ACCA, AAT, ICAS, CIMA or ATT. Practices without a professional body are supervised by HMRC.

What the regulations require

Under regulation 24, firms must:

1. Train relevant employees in the law on money laundering and terrorist financing, and in data protection as it applies to AML.
2. Teach staff how to recognise and deal with transactions and activities that may be linked to money laundering or terrorist financing.
3. Keep a written record of the training given.
4. Make staff aware of the firm’s own AML policies, controls and procedures.

“Relevant employees” means anyone whose work is relevant to AML compliance, or who could help identify or prevent money laundering. In practice, that usually means partners, client-facing staff, bookkeepers, payroll and tax staff, and anyone involved in onboarding clients.

What your supervisor will look for

AML supervisors review training as part of monitoring visits and desk-based reviews. They typically check:

• Coverage: have all relevant staff, including partners and new joiners, been trained?
• Frequency: is training repeated regularly, usually every year?
• Relevance: does the content reflect accountancy risks, not just generic AML?
• Records: can you show who completed what, and when?
• Understanding: do staff know how to make an internal suspicious activity report to the MLRO?

Weak or undocumented training is a common finding, and can lead to action from your supervisor.

Money laundering red flags for accountants

Good training teaches staff to spot warning signs such as:

• Clients reluctant to provide ID or explain the source of funds.
• Complex company or trust structures with no clear business reason.
• Transactions that don’t match the client’s business or income.
• Requests to pass client money through the firm’s account with no underlying service.
• Frequent changes of accountant, or unexplained urgency.
• Large cash income in businesses where that isn’t expected.

What good AML training for accountants includes

• The legal framework: the Money Laundering Regulations 2017, the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and the Terrorism Act 2000.
• Client due diligence: identifying clients and beneficial owners, and when to apply enhanced due diligence.
• Risk assessment: how the firm’s risk assessment shapes day-to-day decisions.
• Reporting: internal reports to the MLRO, and the offences of failing to report and tipping off.
• Record keeping: what must be kept and for how long.

How KYC Lookup helps accountancy practices

KYC Lookup provides CPD-accredited online AML training that suits busy practices:

• Online and self-paced: staff can complete training around client deadlines, on any device.
• Evidence built in: a learning management system records completions, so you can show your supervisor who was trained and when.
• Every level covered: foundation courses for staff, an annual AML refresher, and training for senior management.
• CPD-accredited: courses are accredited by The CPD Register, so staff can log the hours towards their professional CPD.

See our Corporate AML Training page, or call +44 (0) 1992 314114 for a quote for your practice.

FAQs

Is AML training mandatory for accountants in the UK? Yes. Regulation 24 of the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 requires firms to train relevant employees and keep a written record of that training.

How often should accountancy staff do AML training? The regulations require training to be regular. Most practices train staff when they join and then at least once a year, with extra training when rules or risks change.

Who supervises accountants for AML? Most firms are supervised by their professional body, such as ICAEW, ACCA, AAT, ICAS, CIMA or ATT. Firms without a professional body are supervised by HMRC.

Do sole practitioners need AML training? Yes. Sole practitioners are still covered by the regulations and must understand their AML obligations. Online, self-paced training is a practical way to keep up to date.

Can AML training count towards CPD? Yes. KYC Lookup’s courses are accredited by The CPD Register, so the hours can be logged towards most professional bodies’ CPD requirements.