AML/CTF Notice

Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Changes: What This Means for Securinvest Clients

From 1 July 2026, Australia’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF) laws expanded to cover a broader range of professional services, including certain services provided by accountants and other professional advisers. 

These changes are part of an Australia-wide regulatory framework designed to strengthen protections against money laundering, terrorism financing and other forms of financial crime.

For Securinvest clients, this may mean that we need to ask for additional information or undertake further verification when providing particular services.

Importantly, these requirements do not mean that we have concerns about you or your financial affairs. They are regulatory obligations that apply when certain services are provided.

What are the AML/CTF changes?

AML/CTF laws are designed to help prevent legitimate businesses and Australia's financial system from being used to facilitate financial crime.

From 1 July 2026, the regime was expanded to certain professional services that were not previously subject to these requirements. The obligations apply based on the type of service being provided, rather than simply because a business is an accounting or professional services firm.

These regulated activities are referred to as "Designated Services".

Examples relevant to professional service firms can include certain services associated with:

• establishing or restructuring companies, trusts and other legal arrangements;
• assisting with the purchase, sale or transfer of businesses, companies or other legal arrangements;
• certain real estate transactions;
• certain financing arrangements;
• acting, or arranging for another person to act, in particular roles within a company or legal arrangement; and
• providing certain registered office or business address services. 

Not every service Securinvest provides will necessarily be subject to these requirements. Whether AML/CTF requirements apply will depend on the service being provided and the circumstances of the engagement. 

What does this mean for you?

Where Securinvest provides a service that is subject to AML/CTF requirements, we may need to undertake Customer Due Diligence (CDD).

Depending on your circumstances, this may involve asking you to:

• provide information and documents so we can verify your identity;
• provide information about a company, trust, partnership or other entity;
• identify directors, shareholders, beneficial owners or persons who ultimately own or control an entity;
• confirm who is authorised to act on behalf of an individual or entity;
• provide information about the purpose or nature of a transaction or arrangement; or
• provide information regarding the source of funds or source of wealth, where required. 

In some circumstances, we may also need to request further information as our relationship with you continues in order to meet ongoing due diligence requirements. AUSTRAC identifies both initial and ongoing customer due diligence as obligations applying under the expanded regime. 

I'm already a Securinvest client. Why are you asking me for information?

We understand that it may feel unusual to be asked for identification or additional information, particularly if you have been a Securinvest client for many years.

These requests are not about questioning the trust we have established with you.

AML/CTF obligations may arise when a designated service is being provided, including in circumstances involving an existing client. Changes in ownership structures, the commencement of a new designated service or the need to update existing information can result in additional information being required. 

We will endeavour to explain what information we require and why it is required.

Why does Securinvest need this information?

Where the AML/CTF legislation applies, undertaking appropriate customer due diligence is part of Securinvest's regulatory obligations.

These processes help professional service providers better understand:

• who their clients are;
• who ultimately owns or controls relevant entities;
• the nature and purpose of relevant transactions or arrangements; and
• where required, the source of funds or wealth involved.

The purpose is to reduce the risk that legitimate professional services are misused to facilitate money laundering, terrorism financing or other financial crime. 

What if I can't provide the requested information?

There may be circumstances where Securinvest is required to obtain and verify particular information before we can provide a designated service.

As a result, we may not be able to commence or continue providing a particular service until the required AML/CTF checks have been completed.

If you are unsure about a request you receive from us, please contact your Securinvest adviser or our office. We will be happy to explain why the information is being requested.

Protecting your personal information

We recognise that AML/CTF checks may require you to provide personal and sometimes sensitive financial information.

Protecting client information remains extremely important to Securinvest.

Information collected for AML/CTF purposes will be handled in accordance with our applicable privacy, confidentiality, record-keeping and regulatory obligations.

We also encourage clients to follow any secure method of providing information specified by Securinvest rather than sending sensitive documents through unsecured channels.

Our commitment to our clients

While these additional requirements may make some interactions with us more formal than they have been previously, our goal is to make the process as straightforward as possible.

Securinvest remains committed to:

• protecting the confidentiality and security of client information;
• clearly explaining why information is being requested;
• minimising unnecessary disruption to the services we provide; and
• meeting our obligations under Australia's AML/CTF framework.

The additional checks are part of broader regulatory changes across Australian professional services and should increasingly become a normal part of engaging an accountant or professional adviser.

More information

For further information about Australia’s Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing reforms, including information about the new requirements and how they may affect you, please visit the AUSTRAC AML/CTF reforms website. 

Visit AUSTRAC for more information about the AML/CTF reforms

This information is general in nature and is intended to explain Securinvest’s AML/CTF obligations and processes. It does not constitute legal advice.