AML Compliance Services for UK Businesses
Most AML failures start the same way. A policy document gets downloaded, lightly edited, and filed. Two years later HMRC walks in, asks three questions, and the whole thing falls apart in real time. We help UK businesses avoid that outcome. The practice is led in partnership with Shazia Zamir, who has 27 years in financial crime compliance and was named among the leading AML services providers of 2024.
Built for the moments when compliance has to hold up
We work with regulated businesses, large corporates, and law enforcement bodies across the UK, Dubai, and Pakistan. Clients come to us when the stakes are real and stay because the work survives scrutiny.
Industry leadership
Our practice is led in partnership with Shazia Zamir, recognised internationally for 27 years of work in financial crime compliance across regulated firms, corporates, and enforcement bodies.
Global reach, local insight
Offices in the UK and Dubai, mean one accountable team across MLR 2017, EU directives, UAE Federal Decree-Law 20/2018, and FATF recommendations.
Senior delivery not handoffs
Every engagement is run by senior compliance specialists directly, not passed down a chain of junior associates. When a judgement call is needed on a live case, you are speaking to the person who will make it, from the first meeting through to sign-off.
What UK AML compliance actually requires
The Money Laundering Regulations 2017, working alongside the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 and the Terrorism Act 2000, apply to a wider range of firms than people often realise.
If your business falls into any of these categories, the regulations require you to appoint a Money Laundering Reporting Officer, write a risk assessment, run customer due diligence to a documented standard, train your staff, and keep records for five years.
The documents must reflect your actual business. Generic templates fail inspection within minutes because inspectors today know what generic templates look like.
- Accountancy and audit firms
- Solicitors and licensed conveyancers
- Estate and letting agencies
- Trust or company service providers
- High-value dealers (cash > €10,000)
- Casino operators
- Cryptoasset exchanges and custodian wallets
- Independent financial advisers
- Money service businesses (bureau de change, transfer)
- Mortgage brokers and intermediaries
- Insolvency practitioners
- Tax advisers
Full lifecycle AML support
From initial gap analysis through ongoing MLRO support. Every engagement starts with understanding how your firm actually operates.
AML policy design
Policies that describe what your team actually does when a customer walks in, when a transaction looks odd, and when something needs escalating.
- MLR 2017 and FATF-aligned policy
- CDD at simplified, standard, enhanced levels
- PEP screening and ongoing monitoring
- Source of funds verification
MLRO advisory & outsourced MLRO
Two routes for firms with or without internal compliance capacity. Shazia personally supports high-stakes advisory retainers.
- Outsourced nominated officer service
- SAR filing with the National Crime Agency
- On-call advisory for complex cases
- Second-opinion reviews on borderline calls
Risk assessments & CDD
The risk assessment is the document inspectors read first. Get it right or the whole inspection becomes harder than it needed to be.
- Customer, product, geographic, channel risk
- FATF grey-list and sanctions exposure
- CDD tier design and rollout
- Enhanced due diligence frameworks
AML training & audits
Real UK enforcement cases as the basis for every session, plus independent audits that show you what an inspector would find.
- Annual refresher and role-specific training
- Independent AML health checks
- Mock inspections with feedback
- Board-level presentation of findings
Shazia Zamir
27 years in financial crime compliance across the UK, EU, and international markets. Advisor to regulated firms, corporates, and law enforcement bodies.
Judgement calls not textbook answers
Complex AML problems do not have textbook answers. They have judgement calls. When you are deciding whether a customer’s source of funds explanation is credible enough to onboard them, or whether a transaction pattern is suspicious enough to file a SAR, you want someone in the conversation who has made those calls hundreds of times.
That is the access our clients get. Direct, not filtered through layers of account management.
Specialist support across regulated sectors
AML exposure varies sharply by sector. ICAEW does not ask the same questions HMRC asks. The SRA does not assess firms the way the FCA does. We adapt to your supervisor’s specific expectations.
ICAEW · ACCA · AAT · CIMA
SRA · CLC · Bar Standards Board
HMRC supervised
HMRC supervised
FCA supervised
Precious metals · Art · Luxury
FCA registered
FCA supervised
Cross-border programmes
One team across every relevant regime
UK AML compliance rarely sits in isolation. Cross-border exposure shifts your obligations in ways that single-jurisdiction consultancies tend to miss.
London
Tooting and Barking offices. MLR 2017, FCA, HMRC, and supervisor-aligned delivery.
Dubai
Federal Decree-Law 20/2018, Cabinet Decision 10/2019, DNFBP and goAML compliance.
Speak to a UK AML specialist
Book a consultation if you have an inspection coming up, if you suspect your current AML programme has gaps you cannot quite see or if you are building compliance for a new venture.
Frequently Asked Questions
Got questions about our services? We have answers.
What is AML compliance and who needs it in the UK?
AML compliance means meeting the obligations set by the Money Laundering Regulations 2017. The regulations apply to firms in regulated sectors, including financial services, legal services, accountancy, estate agency, trust and company services, high-value dealing, and cryptoasset activity. If your business sits in any of these sectors, you must implement an AML programme regardless of size.
Do I need an MLRO for my UK business?
If your business operates in a regulated sector, you must appoint a nominated officer to receive internal suspicious activity reports and file them with the National Crime Agency. Most firms also appoint a Money Laundering Reporting Officer to oversee the wider programme. The MLRO can be an internal hire or an outsourced specialist.
What does MLR 2017 require for the risk assessment?
Regulation 18 requires every regulated firm to produce a written risk assessment covering customer risk, product risk, geographic risk, and delivery channel risk. You must review and update it when your business changes, when the regulator updates guidance, and at sensible intervals in between.
How often should AML training be refreshed?
Annual refresher training is the minimum. Higher-risk sectors and customer-facing roles benefit from more frequent updates. Whatever cadence you choose, it must be documented with attendance records and competence checks. New joiners need induction training before handling customer relationships unsupervised.
What makes IBISS & CO different from other AML consultants?
Three reasons matter most. Shazia Zamir runs the practice with 27 years of international financial crime experience, which is not something a boutique consultancy can usually offer. Our offices in the UK, Dubai, and Pakistan mean clients with cross-border exposure get one accountable team across every regime. And every engagement is delivered by senior practitioners, not handed to a junior associate after the proposal is signed.
How much do AML services cost for a UK SME?
Costs depend on your sector, your size, and the state of your existing compliance. Initial gap analysis for a small firm typically runs £1,500 to £3,000. Full programme implementation, including policies, risk assessment, training, and supporting procedures, usually sits between £4,000 and £12,000. Retainers start at £500 a month. We confirm fixed fees after the diagnostic call so there are no surprises.
We understand that navigating AML regulations can be confusing. If you have specific inquiries or need more personalized assistance, dont hesitate to reach out. Our team is here to provide clarity and guidance.
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