11 August 2025 | AML/CRF Reforms in Australia | By Suelen McCallum and Angela Bensemann of DVT Mcleods
- Description
- Curriculum
- Notice
- Reviews
Online via Zoom
This meeting will be held as an online-only event at the CTDG’s Zoom Webinar platform. Members should not attend the office of CPA Australia for this event. Please note that the CPA office will undergo a renovation during the remainder of 2025.
TOPIC: AML/CRF Reforms in Australia
List of topics for the session:
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- Introduction to AML/CTF Reforms – Tranche 2 Inclusion
- Understanding the Landscape for Accountants
- Implications of AML/CTF Tranche 2 Inclusion
- Navigating Inclusion Under the AML/CTF Regime
- Key Changes in the AML/CTF Regime
- Structural and Operational Shifts for Professionals
- Designated Services Affecting Accountants
- Defining the scope
- Implications for Clients
- New Expectations and Procedures in Client Interactions
- What’s in an AML/CTF Program
- Essential Elements for Risk-Based Compliance
- Tipping-Off Reform & Aml Program Overhaul
- Digital Asset Compliance Expansion
- Governance and Compliance Culture
- Board-Level Responsibility
- Austrac Enforcement and Expanded Powers
- Challenges and Considerations
- Operational and Strategic Hurdles for Accountants
- Next Steps
SPEAKER: Suelen McCallum | Partner | DVT Mcleods
Suelen McCallum is a Partner at dVT Group, a specialist accounting and advisory firm focused on business growth and distress. She has extensive expertise in insolvency, turnaround management, business valuations, and expert witness engagements.
With over 40 years of experience, Suelen offers a pragmatic approach to client and referrer solutions, coupled with a keen eye for detail that ensures high-quality investigative accounting work when needed. Her confident and knowledgeable approach to expert reports is highly valued.
Suelen holds several qualifications, including being a Registered Liquidator and a Certified Business Valuer. She is also a Director and Member of the Association of Independent Insolvency Practitioners (AIIP).
SPEAKER: Angela Bensemann | Senior Manager | DVT Mcleods
Angela Bensemann is a Manager at dVT Group. She brings over 20 years of experience in accounting, including forensic accounting, expert witness reporting, and litigation support across public and private sector engagements.
Angela is known for managing complex, high-profile investigations with rigour and precision. She has also worked closely with NSW Organised Crime Detectives and government departments on forensic investigations and public examinations.
Angela holds a Graduate Diploma in Commerce from Deakin University and qualifications in insolvency practice from Bond University. She is a Member of the Institute of Public Accountants
Continuing Professional Development Point (CPD Point)
- This event will account for up to a maximum of 1.0Â CPDÂ Points per session.
- A completion certificate will be issued via LMS after the event for attendees who check in with our staff and who have attended the session for more than thirty-five (35) minutes. We are unable to issue a certificate unless we have a record of your attendance.
- Attendance records will be provided to CPA Australia, however, it is up to you to update your own CPD records/CPD Diary. We cannot update the same for you.
- You may wish to update your profile with us to include your CPA Membership number which we will report to CPA Australia accordingly.
- You should only claim for the attended hours only.
Attend via Zoom Webinar
- Our webinar will be provided via Zoom’s online Webinar platform in addition to the face-to-face meeting.
- You can listen to the webinar either via internet audio or phone dial-in. If you dial in via phone, please email us your details and phone number for attendance records.
- Zoom Webinars can be accessed on various platforms, including mobiles, tablets or laptops, etc. However, we will not be responsible for any costs incurred, such as internet charges in this regard.
- You can directly access the Zoom Webinar via our LMS, but we recommend the use of Zoom applications for a better user experience, please ensure that you only install/download the Zoom software from Zoom’s website/iOS App Store/Google App Store, DO NOT download the Zoom’s software from other sources.
- You will be automatically registered with Zoom, and you should receive Zoom’s registration confirmation email with the meeting details, no further registration is required. At the time of the meeting, simply click the link provided and the link will activate any pre-installed Zoom-related software and take you directly to the Webinar.
- Please note that we will never ask you for any password or personal information, please do not provide such information to anyone.
- To avoid last-minute technical issues, you should check if you are ready for Zoom.
- Any questions, please email us or reach us at citytaxation.com.au.
- We may not be able to resolve or attend to your needs during the webinar, but we will attempt to relay any questions to the presenter as soon as practicable.
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11 August 2025 | RecordingsWe note that our live Zoom webinar has been completed.
Please refer to the recordings.
Please note that some videos may be large in file size and may cause the video player to take some time to load. We have attempted to reduce the file size as much as possible.
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11 August 2025 | Attendance CheckThis quiz is set up as a final verification for the CTDG Convenors only. No action is required.
Meeting summary
Quick recap
The City Taxation Discussion Group meeting focused on upcoming changes to Australia's anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing regime, which will require accountants to register with Austrac and implement new compliance measures starting in 2026. The discussion covered various aspects of the new requirements, including customer due diligence for cryptocurrencies, suspicious matter reporting, and the development of tailored AML/CTF programs, with emphasis on the challenges and implications for accounting firms of different sizes. The conversation ended with guidance on compliance programs, risk assessment procedures, and professional obligations, including the potential impact on professional indemnity insurance and the importance of documentation and training.
Next steps
- All accountants to start preparing for AML/CTF compliance by conducting risk assessments of their clients and drafting compliance programs.
- All accountants to sign up for Austrac newsletters to receive updates on AML/CTF requirements.
- All accountants to begin staff training on AML/CTF obligations and suspicious matter reporting.
- All accountants to register with Austrac by March 2026 for transitional obligations.
- All accountants to prepare for full AML/CTF compliance by July 29, 2026.
- All accountants to document all compliance decisions and risk assessments for Austrac review.
- All accountants to develop client communication strategies regarding new AML/CTF requirements.
- All accountants to consider the cost implications of AML/CTF compliance and how to incorporate these into business operations.
- CPA Australia to provide resources and guidance for smaller practitioners to adapt to AML/CTF requirements.
- All accountants to review Austrac's small business starter program when it launches in December 2025.
