Recorded Webinar: Ethics in Focus: The Accountant’s Role in Combatting Financial Crime

As the scope of Australia’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) regime expands, accountants face not only new regulatory obligations, but also heightened ethical responsibilities. The role of the accountant in identifying, preventing, and responding to financial crime is under renewed scrutiny—and professional judgment, integrity, and public interest obligations are at the heart of it. This session explores the intersection between compliance and ethics, helping accountants understand not just what the law requires, but what ethical conduct demands in complex client scenarios. It will:

• Unpack the core ethical principles underpinning AML/CTF obligations, including the duty to act in the public interest, integrity in client relationships, and professional scepticism
• Review the key reforms to AML and CTF laws and how they apply to accountants, particularly where services trigger AUSTRAC enrolment and compliance duties
• Explore ethically challenging scenarios, including suspected black economy participation, confidentiality dilemmas, and when to escalate concerns
• Consider the ethical implications of providing services that may appear benign (e.g. company formations, registered office use, or ASIC agent roles) but are vulnerable to misuse
• Provide guidance on reconciling AML/CTF reporting obligations with client confidentiality and privacy expectations
• Examine real-world case examples where ethical and legal obligations intersect—and how practitioners can respond with integrity