New Zealand Updates Money Laundering Risk Assessment for Accountants
New Zealand’s Department of Internal Affairs (DIA) has published a new sector risk assessment setting out the money laundering, terrorism financing and proliferation financing risks facing accounting practices.
The Accounting Sector Risk Assessment 2026, released on 9 September, draws on the 2024 National Risk Assessment, supervisory experience, intelligence and sector information. DIA said the assessment is intended to help accounting firms understand which services and activities may be attractive to criminals seeking to move, conceal or legitimise illicit funds.
The assessment highlights risks associated with company and trust structures, complex ownership arrangements, business establishment and restructuring, and financial transactions that may obscure beneficial ownership, source of funds or the movement of assets.
DIA emphasised that these services are not inherently high risk. Firms are expected to apply a proportionate, risk-based approach, focusing stronger controls on higher-risk customers, structures and activities.
The update is also significant because DIA became New Zealand’s sole AML/CFT supervisor on 1 July 2026. Its sector assessments therefore provide an important indication of current supervisory priorities across the country’s reporting entities.
For accountants and other professional intermediaries, the practical message is to ensure that customer due diligence, beneficial ownership analysis, ongoing monitoring and suspicious activity reporting reflect the actual risks created by the services being provided.
Sources
New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs, “New sector risk assessment highlights money laundering risks facing accountants”, 9 September 2026.
