How ready is your firm for an AML inspection?
Answer 9 questions in about 2 minutes to see where your firm stands against the Money Laundering Regulations, with a next step for every gap. It is private: your answers stay in your browser.
A few answers are missing
Answer these questions to see your result:
Your result:
/18
Areas to work on
Client ID and screening checks, not your whole AML programme
Your client verifies themselves through one secure link: ID document and selfie, address match, sanctions and PEP screening and adverse media. You get a timestamped PDF report for the file. It costs £5.40 per check including VAT (£4.50 + VAT), with 5 free checks when you sign up and no subscription.
Your risk assessment, policies, nominated officer, source of funds checks and training remain your firm’s responsibility. AML Buddy does not do them for you.
This is a self-assessment based on your answers. It is not legal advice and does not predict the outcome of an inspection by your supervisor.
What the health check covers
Each question maps to a duty in the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (MLRs), as amended up to and including SI 2026/621.
| Area | What we ask | Where it comes from |
|---|---|---|
| 1Supervision and registration | Do you know who supervises your firm for AML, and are your registration details up to date? | MLR reg 7; HMRC registration guidance |
| 2Firm-wide risk assessment | Does your firm have a written firm-wide risk assessment? | MLR reg 18 |
| 3Policies, nominated officer and reporting | Do you have written AML policies, a nominated officer and a clear way for staff to report a suspicion? | MLR regs 19 and 21 |
| 4Customer due diligence | Do you identify and verify every client before you start working for them? | MLR regs 27, 28 and 30 |
| 5Sanctions and PEP screening | Do you screen every client for sanctions and politically exposed persons (PEPs), and know what to do on a match? | MLR reg 35; UK Sanctions List |
| 6Ongoing monitoring | How do you keep client checks up to date during a longer relationship? | MLR reg 28(11) |
| 7Enhanced due diligence and source of funds | When a client or transaction is higher risk, what do you do? | MLR regs 33 and 35(5) |
| 8Record keeping | Could you show your supervisor a client’s CDD records quickly, and do you keep them for 5 years after the relationship ends? | MLR reg 40 |
| 9Staff training | Do relevant staff get regular AML training, and do you keep a record of it? | MLR reg 24 |
Sources
Health check questions
What does the AML health check cover?
Nine duties under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017 (MLRs): registration with your supervisor, your firm-wide risk assessment, policies and a nominated officer, customer due diligence, sanctions and PEP screening, ongoing monitoring, enhanced due diligence, record keeping and staff training. Each answer scores 0, 1 or 2, for a total out of 18.
Is the result legal advice or an inspection outcome?
No. It is a self-assessment based on your own answers. It does not tell you what your supervisor will find, and it is not legal advice. For your firm’s position, use your supervisor’s guidance or speak to a compliance adviser.
Do you store my answers?
No. Your answers stay in your browser and disappear when you close or reload the page. When you finish, we record only that a health check was completed, with your sector, score and grade, so we can see how the tool is used. We do not ask for your name or email.
What should I do after the health check?
Work through the actions for your weakest areas, starting with the first. Our free AML templates cover the policy, firm-wide risk assessment, client risk assessment and a CDD checklist. For client ID and screening checks, AML Buddy costs £5.40 per check including VAT, with 5 free checks when you sign up.