AML & KYC Policy | About Britvex | Britvex Advisory
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🛡️ About Britvex

AML & KYC Policy

Our Anti-Money Laundering and Know Your Customer procedures — required by UK Money Laundering Regulations and essential for protecting Britvex clients, the firm and the integrity of the UK financial system.

🛡️ AML Compliant🆔 KYC Verified📋 MLR 2017⚖️ Regulated
Regulations: MLR 2017KYC: Identity VerifiedCDD: Enhanced AvailableReporting: MLRO AppointedSupervision: Regulatory Oversight
Overview

Anti-Money Laundering & Know Your Customer

As a UK accountancy firm providing regulated services, Britvex Advisory is legally required to maintain robust AML and KYC procedures under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017. These procedures protect our clients, our firm and the integrity of the UK financial system.

The UK Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (MLR 2017) — which implement the EU’s Fourth Money Laundering Directive and its subsequent amendments — require all firms providing accountancy, tax advisory and trust services to implement comprehensive anti-money laundering controls. Britvex Advisory fully complies with these obligations.

Customer Due Diligence (CDD) is the process by which we verify the identity of new clients before providing regulated services. For individual clients, this typically involves verifying name, date of birth and residential address using acceptable identity documents. For corporate clients, it involves verifying the company’s existence, beneficial ownership and controlling officers.

Britvex applies Enhanced Due Diligence (EDD) in higher-risk situations — including transactions involving politically exposed persons (PEPs), clients in high-risk jurisdictions, complex ownership structures and transactions that appear inconsistent with the client’s known business profile.

We have appointed a Money Laundering Reporting Officer (MLRO) who is responsible for receiving internal suspicious activity reports, determining whether they should be reported to the National Crime Agency (NCA) and ensuring the firm’s AML controls remain current and effective.

All Britvex staff receive regular AML training and are required to report any suspicions of money laundering or terrorist financing to the MLRO. Tipping off — informing a client that a report has been made — is a criminal offence under POCA 2002, and we are unable to disclose whether any report has been made in any specific case.

✅ Our AML/KYC Requirements

  • Valid government photo ID (passport or driving licence)
  • Proof of address (utility bill or bank statement)
  • Company registration documents (for corporate clients)
  • Beneficial ownership confirmation for companies
  • Enhanced due diligence for PEPs and high-risk clients
  • Ongoing monitoring of client transactions and activity
  • Annual CDD refresh for all active client relationships
  • MLRO appointed and trained — suspicious activity reported to NCA
How It Works

What to Expect

1
Initial Contact
All new clients are subject to Customer Due Diligence before any regulated services begin. We cannot commence services until verification is complete.
2
Document Collection
We request appropriate identity documents — typically by secure upload via the Britvex Hub portal. Documents are verified against official records where required.
3
Risk Assessment
We conduct a risk assessment for each new client, determining the appropriate level of due diligence required based on their profile, services required and jurisdiction.
4
Ongoing Monitoring
Active client relationships are subject to ongoing monitoring. Changes in circumstances, unusual transactions or inconsistencies with known profile may trigger a CDD refresh.
5
Annual Refresh
All client CDD is reviewed annually. Expired documents are updated, beneficial ownership is reconfirmed and risk assessments are reassessed in light of any changes.
Why Britvex

Why Choose Britvex

⚖️

Legal Compliance

Our AML procedures are required by law — they protect Britvex, our clients and the wider financial system from the serious harm caused by money laundering.

🛡️

Protecting Our Clients

Robust KYC procedures protect legitimate clients by ensuring Britvex is not inadvertently used as a vehicle for financial crime — which could create legal risks for all parties.

🔒

Confidential Process

All identity documents and CDD records are treated as strictly confidential and stored securely in accordance with UK GDPR and our data retention policy.

🆔

Quick and Simple Process

For most UK-based individual or corporate clients, our KYC process is completed within 1–2 working days using simple, widely available identity documents.

Key Numbers

By the Numbers

MLR
2017 Compliance
CDD
Standard & Enhanced
MLRO
Appointed
AML
Training — Annual
NCA
Reporting Capability
GDPR
CDD Records Protected
Common Mistakes

4 Mistakes to Avoid

⚠️

Delaying Providing Identity Documents

AML regulations require us to verify identity before providing services. Delays in providing documents delay the start of your service — provide requested documents promptly to avoid unnecessary waiting.

⚠️

Providing Documents That Don’t Match

Ensure names, addresses and company details on identity documents match those provided on your engagement form. Inconsistencies trigger additional verification requirements.

⚠️

Not Declaring Beneficial Ownership

UK companies are required to maintain a PSC (Persons with Significant Control) register and declare beneficial owners. Failure to disclose true beneficial ownership is a serious regulatory concern.

⚠️

Misunderstanding the Purpose of KYC

KYC is not about suspicion — it is a standard legal requirement that applies to all new clients regardless of their profile. It is not personal and does not reflect any specific concern about any individual client.

Pricing

Transparent Fixed Fees

AML/KYC compliance is part of our standard onboarding process. There is no additional charge for standard CDD. Enhanced due diligence may be subject to a supplementary fee in high-complexity cases.

£0
Setup Fee

No setup charges. Fixed fee agreed upfront before you commit.

Free
Consultation

Free no-obligation consultation. No pressure, no commitment.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Britvex asking for my identity documents?
All UK accountancy firms providing regulated services are legally required to verify client identity under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017. This applies to all clients, regardless of their background or the nature of services required. It is a standard legal requirement, not an indication of any suspicion.
What identity documents does Britvex accept?
For individuals, we accept a valid passport or UK driving licence as photo ID, plus a utility bill or bank statement (dated within 3 months) as proof of address. For companies, we require company registration documents and beneficial ownership confirmation. Other documents may be accepted depending on circumstances.
How are my identity documents stored?
Identity documents are stored securely within our compliant document management system, encrypted and accessible only to authorised Britvex staff. Documents are retained for a minimum of five years from the end of the client relationship, as required by MLR 2017.
What is enhanced due diligence and when does it apply?
Enhanced due diligence (EDD) is a higher level of identity and background verification applied in situations that present a higher risk of money laundering or terrorist financing — for example, politically exposed persons (PEPs), clients in high-risk countries or complex beneficial ownership structures.
Can Britvex tell me if it has made a suspicious activity report?
No. Informing a client that a suspicious activity report has been submitted — known as ‘tipping off’ — is a criminal offence under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. Britvex is legally prohibited from confirming or denying whether any report has been made in any specific case.

Questions About Our AML & KYC Requirements?

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