News 2023

The Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 created the Register of Overseas Entities (ROE). It requires overseas entities owning UK property to reveal their beneficial owners and to register their entities on a publicly available register.   Information must be verified before an overseas entity makes an application for registration, complies with the updating duty or makes an application for removal. The Register of Overseas Entities (Verification and Provision of Information ) Regulations 2022 (SI 2022/725) set out the details of the verification system. The drafting of the Verification Regulations means that there is a strict liability in place and the accountancy professional body supervisors are concerned that any firm acting as a verifier will face significant challenges and expose itself to significant risk, including possible criminal prosecution, regulatory sanction, and reputational damage. Firms should carefully consider whether they should provide this verification work. The work required for verification under the ROE is not the same as the risk-based approach to client due diligence under Money Laundering Regulations 2017 and firms should familiarise themselves with the differences. The Government has produced further Guidance to assist. The Accountancy AML Supervisors Group (AASG) published an AML Alert highlighting key risks associated with this work. The Institute has previously shared this AASG AML Alert on ROE-Verification work with the MLCPs and MLROs but would highlight again the risks associated with this verification work.

This Alert is produced by the UK National Economic Crime Centre (NECC) to highlight the high-risk behaviours and typologies associated with the Trust and Company Service Provider (TCSP) sector. Although this Alert is produced in conjunction with law enforcement and financial sector partners in the UK, many of the risk indicators will also be relevant in Ireland. We would encourage regulated businesses to read this Alert. Professional Standards also published its TCSP Thematic Review earlier in the year. This document summarised the responses to a detailed Questionnaire issued to a sample of firms based in Northern Ireland. The majority of firms only provide TCSP services such as company formation / registered office and only provide such services to existing clients alongside other ancillary accountancy services (e.g. statutory audit, tax and accounts preparation).

The Professional Standards 36th edition of the Regulatory Bulletin has now been published.  Please click on the link provided to access this publication.

This report provides information on how the various UK bodies have met their regulatory obligations, including those relating to education. Click here to read the report.

The Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 created the Register of Overseas Entities (ROE). It requires overseas entities owning UK property to reveal their beneficial owners and to register their entities on a publicly available register.  Information must be verified before an overseas entity makes an application for registration, complies with the updating duty or makes an application for removal. The Register of Overseas Entities (Verification and Provision of Information ) Regulations 2022 (SI 2022/725) set out the details of the verification system. The drafting of the Verification Regulations means that there is a strict liability in place and the accountancy professional body supervisors are concerned that any firm acting as a verifier will face significant challenges and expose itself to significant risk, including possible criminal prosecution, regulatory sanction, and reputational damage. Firms should carefully consider whether they should provide this verification work. The work required for verification under the ROE is not the same as the risk-based approach to client due diligence under Money Laundering Regulations 2017 and firms should familiarise themselves with the differences. The Government has produced further Guidance to assist. The Accountancy AML Supervisors Group (AASG) published an AML Alert highlighting key risks associated with this work. The Institute has previously shared this AASG AML Alert on ROE-Verification work with the MLCPs and MLROs but would highlight again the risks associated with this verification work.

Professional Standards Department is pleased to publish its AML Supervision Report 2022/2023. This is the first Report to cover our AML supervisory activities in both jurisdictions, ROI and UK.

A recent consultation launched by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) on proposed changes to their professional indemnity insurance (PII) arrangements will be of interest to Chartered Accountants Ireland members and firms. PII arrangements are developed jointly by the three bodies, Chartered Accountants Ireland (the Institute), ICAEW and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, and any resulting changes may impact Institute firms.  Although amendments have taken place periodically, a wide-ranging review of all the PII arrangements has not taken place for some time and the current limits of insurance have not changed since 2008. Several issues have necessitated the need for review of PII arrangements including: The changing nature of the structure of firms and their insurance arrangements; financial capacity of members and entities to retain (self-insure) risk; pressure to manage the cost of insurance; and an increase in firms unable to source qualifying insurance. ICAEW have conducted a review of the requirements with the aim of ensuring they remain fit for purpose and provide adequate protection to the public and to firms while being mindful of the cost and availability of insurance to the profession and are consulting on proposed changes to same. This consultation follows a call for evidence launched earlier in the year to gain a better understanding of issues faced in the insurance market. A summary of the proposed changes and the consultation document are available here. The principles have the support of the Institute’s Professional Standards Board. We encourage members to read the consultation document prepared by ICAEW in full. Institute firms can respond to the consultation as set out at the link above (and need not complete any questions which are specific to ICAEW members/firms only), or alternatively, can provide comments on any aspects of the consultation or on the Institute’s PII requirements generally, by email to Professionalstandards@charteredaccountants.ie.  The consultation period will run until 14 December 2023. The Institute’s PII requirements are set out in Chapter 7 of the Public Practice Regulations.

The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 (as amended) require firms to take the appropriate steps to identify and assess the risk that they could be used for money laundering, including terrorist financing. The Accountancy AML Supervisors Group (AASG) in the UK has identified those circumstances where there might be a high risk of money laundering or terrorist financing in the accountancy sector. This Guidance also reflects the key risks and threats highlighted within the UK’s National Risk Assessment 2020.

The Institute is currently considering amendments to the Audit Regulations UK.  The proposed amendments would align the Audit Regulations UK more closely with the Institute’s Audit Regulations, Ireland.    The key changes proposed can be summarised as follows: A new requirement for audit-registered sole practices (both individual sole practitioners and single-director corporate practices) to put in place alternate arrangements which would take effect in the event of the death or incapacity of the sole practitioner. Additional material to clarify the obligations of audit firms and responsible individuals (RIs) in relation to continuing professional development requirements (CPD). The ability for the Quality Assurance Committee to impose regulatory penalties on RIs. It is anticipated that the revised Audit Regulations UK would become effective from 1 January 2024 (pending necessary approvals) with a proposed transition period of six months thereafter for compliance with the requirement for audit-registered sole practices (to put in place alternate arrangements). The Audit Regulations UK set out the Institute’s rules for the authorisation and supervision of statutory audit firms and RIs in the UK.  The Audit Regulations UK are issued jointly by Chartered Accountants Ireland (the Institute), the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS).  A public consultation is ongoing in relation to the draft revised Audit Regulations UK.  The details of this consultation and the draft revised Audit Regulations UK are available to read here.   Audit firms and RIs registered for audit in the UK by Chartered Accountants Ireland and who wish to provide comments in relation to the draft revised Audit Regulations UK can email those comments to professionalstandards@charteredaccountants.ie

Your Individual Annual Return 2023 is now available for completion online.  Please ensure it is submitted by 31 October 2023. Click here for your Individual Annual Return. Please note, timely completion will ensure that all members in practice are invoiced correctly for 2024 Regulatory Fees.

The UK Government has announced its decision in relation to the reform of the regulation of insolvency practitioners. Originally the government had identified a single regulator as its preferred option but the latest announcement rejects this option and instead details plans to retain the existing four Recognised Professional Bodies and also introduce a package of additional measures. These additional measures include firm regulation, a public register of IPs, granting the Insolvency Service responsibility for standard setting and a compensation scheme. The detailed government response is available here, The future of insolvency regulation: Government Response.

This summary AML Alert Russia Sanctions – Trade Sanctions Circumvention has been produced by the Accountancy AML Supervisors’ Group (AASG) from an extract from the Department of Business and Trade Notice NTE 2023/08: Russian sanctions – Trade sanctions circumvention. The Department of Business and Trade issued notice NTE 2023/08 to prevent the undermining of trade sanctions, export controls, and other restrictive measures designed and implemented in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Awareness of the risk and obligations in relation to sanctioned goods is an important first step for those working in the accountancy profession so that they don’t become party to the trade sanctions circumvention. Direct trade between the UK to Russia has fallen significantly since sanctions were introduced. However, Russia will seek to procure restricted goods via other routes. As such, there are risks around displacement of trade and diversion of goods to Russia. Businesses, and their accountants, should ensure that they consider these risks as part of their due diligence. This summary AML Alert highlights the key risk indicators. For more information click here. 

HM Treasury (HMT) has issued a consultation on the Reform of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Supervisory Regime Consultation. This consultation offers stakeholders the opportunity to provide their views on the future of AML regulation and supervision, and, in particular, which of the four options proposed would most improve the regime. The consultation closes on 30 September 2023. Chartered Accountants Ireland will be submitting a response. Model 1: OPBAS+ The first potential model would involve no structural change to the regime. The Office for Professional Body AML Supervision (OPBAS), the oversight body, would be given enhanced powers to increase the effectiveness of the AML supervision undertaken by the Professional Body Supervisors (PBSs). Model 2: PBS Consolidation Model 2 would likely see either two or six PBSs retain responsibility for AML/CTF supervision. There could be either one accountancy sector supervisor and one legal sector supervisor, both with UK-wide remits, or one accountancy sector supervisor and one legal sector supervisor within each jurisdiction: England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. Model 3: Single Professional Services Supervisor (SPSS) The third model would see a single body supervise all legal and accountancy sector firms for AML/CTF. It may also supervise some or all of the wider sectors currently supervised by HMRC. This body would most likely be a public body, unlike the PBSs. Model 4: Single Anti-Money Laundering Supervisor (SAS) Under this model, all AML/CTF supervision in the UK would be undertaken by a single public body. The major difference between this and previous options is that the Financial Conduct Authority and Gambling Commission would also stop supervising firms for AML/CTF compliance. HMT has organised two roundtables for accountancy firms and practitioners regarding HMT’s consultation on the future of the supervisory system and are inviting as many firms as possible to attend the roundtables to discuss the supervision reform consultation. There will be roundtables on two dates. Firms who would like to attend should sign up for one of the two roundtables using the following links below: 31st August, 11 am - 12:30: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/700132925427?aff=oddtdtcreator. 6th September, 14:00 - 15:30: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/700229012827?aff=oddtdtcreator. If you have any questions about the roundtables, or problems signing up, please contact HMT directly at Anti-MoneyLaunderingBranch@hmtreasury.gov.uk.

ICAEW has shared a recording of a recent webinar titled ‘Bounce Back Loan SARs: what good looks like’ This is free of charge but requires registration via the link below. Bounce back loan SARs: what good looks like (icaew.com)

The Department for Business and Trade has launched a new digital service, the Regulated Professions Register (RPR). The RPR provides information about 200 regulated professions in the UK in one place on GOV.UK, and the service is particularly relevant to professionals from overseas seeking to access the UK labour market and also to UK businesses wishing to attract overseas professionals to the UK. The service signposts individuals to their chosen profession, offers them information about how the profession is regulated and by whom, and provides contact details for the relevant regulator. In launching the service, the Department notes that having this information in one, easily accessible place will make it easier for qualified professionals to navigate the UK labour market, and that it will also be a useful tool to understand more about the UK’s regulatory landscape and the various legislation governing regulated professions.

Regulatory Fee Invoices  The Regulatory fee invoices for 2023 are available online at the Myaccount portal of the website to view, print and pay.  Remittance should be made by 31 March 2023.  If you prefer a copy invoice to be emailed, please email Sandra.smiley@charteredaccountants.ie quoting your individual/firm ID.   Need assistance?   Please email Sandra.smiley@charteredaccountants.ie with your name and member/firm ID along with the query or changes required.   We will issue a revised invoice if this is appropriate. 

On 23 February 2023 the Council of the European adopted its tenth package of sanctions against Russia. You can read more details on the tenth package on the European Commission website here a press release on the tenth package here and  Questions and Answers: tenth package of restrictive measures against Russia here.