Adrian Leopard & Co is subject to the requirements of the Money Laundering Regulations 2007.
This means that for certain of our activities we must carry out certain identification procedures when taking on new clients.
These procedures relate in our case to the following activities:
- Acting as an insolvency practitioner in relation to work for which an insolvency licence is required. For the purposes of this site, this will relate broadly to administrations, voluntary liquidations and voluntary arrangements and providing advice in the capacity of office holder of an insolvent entity
- Acting as an “external accountant”. This is defined as the providing of accountancy services and relates to this site if we record, review, analyse, calculate or report on financial information. It is important to understand, therefore, that if you want us to talk to you about specific financial figures or financial transactions for your own business or private affairs then we must follow the money laundering procedures.
- Acting as a tax adviser. Sometimes it will be necessary to provide tax advice and that activity is regulated.
We carry out identity by means of electronic verification; this is very quick and efficient and can normally be done by you completing our pro-forma with as much of the information as possible which is then verified by us through our money laundering verification facilities.
The information you provide to us is completely confidential and used only for the purposes of money laundering “know your client” procedures.
What is not regulated:
If you telephone our advice line for general advice concerning the law or procedures other than tax advice, then that advice is not a regulated activity and we may proceed without any money laundering due diligence requirement. You may even speak to us without disclosing your name if you wish. You will be regarded as a “General Advice Only” client.
Our page of “questions often asked” contains many subjects and all of those can be dealt with on an unregulated basis.
If you decide to upgrade your contact with us so as to discuss your personal finances then you must convert to a “Full Client”.
What do we normally require from “Full Clients?
The law says:
- We must identify the customer and verify his identity on the basis of documents, data or information obtained from a reliable and independent source
- Where there is a “beneficial owner” involved who is not the customer, he must also be identified
- We must obtain information on the purpose and intended nature of our business relationship
Please see our pro forma for the information required. It is not necessary to complete every field but the more information you provide the quicker and easier it is to complete verification with less likelihood of having the revert to you for further information, possibly having to provide original documents.
In the case of a company, we require the same information in relation to the directors and also the beneficial owner if that is someone else.