Association of International Accountants (AIA)

Planning your day at Accountex Summit Manchester? The seminar programme is now LIVE! 📅

With 95+ speakers, 5 theatres and up to 8 CPD hours, there’s plenty to add to your agenda.

🎤 Expect practical insights from leading organisations across the profession, including HMRC, Companies House and AIA’s very own David Potts.

And with 135+ exhibitors to explore, there’ll be plenty of opportunities to learn, connect and discover what’s next for the profession.

🎟️ Book your FREE ticket now: https://eventdata.uk/Forms/Form.aspx?FormRef=ASN96Visitor&PageNo=30&TrackingCode=ASM698

For accountants, traditional identity and compliance checks are facing a new challenge.

AI-generated identities, complex ownership structures, digital assets and evolving regulatory expectations are making it harder than ever to know who you’re really dealing with.

In this article, Phil Cotter of SmartSearch explores:

☑️ Why accountants are increasingly targeted by sophisticated financial criminals
☑️ How AI is changing identity fraud
☑️ The growing risks around beneficial ownership and digital identity
☑️ Why continuous KYC and monitoring are becoming increasingly important
☑️ How firms can turn compliance from a burden into a strategic advantage

The financial crime landscape is evolving. Are your checks evolving with it?

📖 Read the full article to explore the risks and what firms can do to stay ahead: https://www.aiaworldwide.com/news/news/fraud-has-learned-to-pass-the-test/

How prepared is your practice for a monitoring review? 🔍

A monitoring review doesn’t have to be something to worry about.

It’s an opportunity to demonstrate compliance, identify areas for improvement and receive independent, impartial advice to strengthen your practice. 💡

So, what should you have ready?

📋 Policies, procedures and risk assessments
📁 Client files and due diligence records
📚 CPD and training records
📝 Engagement letters and practice documentation
👥 Relevant staff and personnel information

Our comprehensive guidance takes you through how to prepare, what to expect during the process and what happens afterwards.

🤝 Get review-ready with full support via My AIA: https://www.aiaworldwide.com/my-aia/public-practice-resources/preparing-for-a-monitoring-review/

Don’t wait for HMRC to find your clients.

From September, HMRC will begin signing up taxpayers who should already be using Making Tax Digital for Income Tax but haven’t registered.

With 400,000+ taxpayers estimated to still be unregistered, now is the time for accountants to review their client lists and get ahead of HMRC.

🔍 Who should be registered?
📋 Whose circumstances have changed?
💻 Who still needs compatible software?
📅 Who needs to be ready for the next quarterly deadline on 7 November?

As AIA partner Coconut explains, registration isn’t the finish line. Now is the time to make sure clients are properly set up and ready to meet their ongoing MTD obligations.

👉 Read the full article to find out what accountants should do now: https://www.aiaworldwide.com/partner-pages/coconut/ -mtd-no-shows

Just as spreadsheets, the internet and cloud technology transformed the profession, AI is opening up a new chapter for accounting. 🤖

The opportunity is significant, but so are the responsibilities. Accountants need to understand how AI works, use it effectively, question its outputs and apply sound professional judgement.

In this article, Dr Tim V. Eaton and Addison Lemon (Miami University Farmer School of Business) look at how accountants can move from AI curiosity to confident, responsible use.

📌 Practical applications
🛡️ Risks and governance
🧠 Building AI literacy
🚀 A roadmap for getting started

👉 Explore the full article: https://www.aiaworldwide.com/news/news/ai-is-no-longer-optional/

Are your policies and procedures up to date? 🚨

The Anti-Money Laundering Guidance for the Accountancy Sector (AMLGAS) has been updated following recent amendments to the Money Laundering Regulations 2017.

It’s important to review the revised guidance and check that your AML policies, procedures and controls continue to meet the latest requirements:
https://www.aiaworldwide.com/media/2481/amlgas-uk.pdf

AIA members have access to a range of resources to help you stay compliant:

🔍 An easy-to-digest summary of the changes:
https://www.aiaworldwide.com/media/6096/amlgas-2026-description-of-key-changes.pdf

🛡️ Register for our upcoming CPD webinar exploring AML compliance:
https://www.aiaworldwide.com/cpd/events/aml-policies-procedures-what-compliant-looks-like/

📚 Log in to explore general AML guidance and resources:
https://www.aiaworldwide.com/my-aia/aml

Stay informed. Stay compliant. Stay ahead.

We are pleased to share that AIA Chief Executive Philip Turnbull will judge the Accounting Excellence Awards 2026 🏆

Philip will be helping to evaluate some of the most inspiring talent in accountancy, bringing his extensive experience and deep commitment to professional excellence to the judging panel.

💬 Philip commented:
"It is a privilege to recognise the incredible talent and innovation within our profession. The calibre of work across the industry continues to raise the bar, and it is inspiring to see the next generation of accountants driving positive change.”

✨ We strongly encourage AIA members to take this opportunity to showcase their achievements, innovation and impact by entering this year’s awards (Deadline: 20 May 2026): https://accountingexcellence.awardsplatform.com/?_gl=1*1fhge13*_gcl_au*NzA5NzAzMzExLjE3NzgxNjI2OTM.*_ga*ODM0MjcxMjgyLjE3NzgxNjI2OTc.*_ga_8Z13MV5PZX*czE3NzgxNjUzMjMkbzIkZzEkdDE3NzgxNjUzMjMkajYwJGwwJGgw

👉 Read the full story: https://www.aiaworldwide.com/news/news/aia-chief-executive-returns-to-accounting-excellence-awards-judging-panel/

From court ruling to tariff increase in under 48 hours.
This is now the pace of global trade policy. 🌎

In his latest article, Ed Boal (StructureFlow) explores how rapid tariff shifts are putting multinational structures under pressure and raising the bar for advisers.

When policy moves this fast, the real challenge is not technical knowledge, but understanding complex group structures quickly enough to give clear, confident advice. 🗣️

Static charts and outdated documentation struggle in this environment. What advisers increasingly need is live structural intelligence, a clear view of how entities and intercompany flows connect, and where exposure lies when change hits.

👉 Read the full article to see why tariff volatility is becoming a defining test for international accountants and advisers: https://www.aiaworldwide.com/news/news/international-tax-the-15-tariff-whiplash/

What if the future of accountancy is profit improvement? 💰

AI is already automating compliance work, margins are tightening, and firms are being pushed to “do advisory”. Yet 93% of accountants feel unprepared.

In his latest article, Shane Lukas (Managing Director, AVN The Accountants' Network) outlines three paths:
1️⃣ Ignore the change and risk falling behind
2️⃣ Compete on volume and price
3️⃣ Or evolve into a Profit Improvement Accountant

This third path is not about becoming a generic business advisor. It is about using financial insight to help clients improve profits, cash flow and long term resilience.

The future of accountancy is not less human. It is more valuable.

📖 Read the full article to explore Accountancy v2.0 and the Profit Improvement Accountant Movement: https://www.aiaworldwide.com/news/news/the-future-of-accountancy-from-compliance-to-profit-improvement/