INTHEBLACK May 2026 - Magazine - Page 6
CPA AUSTRALIA
Advocacy update
CPA Australia’s policy team advocates for the interests of the accounting profession,
members and the public. Here is some of their recent work.
“With around 80,000 entities now brought into the regime,
many practitioners are still coming to terms with what the
AML/CTF reforms actually mean in practice. Our message
to members is simple: do not wait. The guidance is available
now on both AUSTRAC and CPA Australia’s websites,
and the 1 July 2026 deadline will come quickly.”
NEVILLE BIRTHISEL, ADVISOR, REGULATIONS AND STANDARDS, CPA AUSTRALIA
SUBMISSION
Anti-money laundering/Counter-terrorism
financing reforms
In a January 2026 submission on the proposed AML/CTF reforms,
CPA Australia calls for robust safeguards and meaningful
consultation before any “high risk” accounting service restrictions
can be imposed. It urges the government to ensure the accounting
sector is not vulnerable to blanket measures that fail to reflect
the realities of professional services.
READ
more ethics and
governance
articles in
INTHEBLACK
Read the submission
ARTICLE
How sensitive data is exposed
Weak passwords remain an underestimated risk in the finance
sector, with research showing some professionals still use
predictable passwords, despite understanding the dangers.
This article outlines the top 20 most common passwords in the
sector, why convenience consistently overrides caution, and
the simple habits professionals can adopt to better protect
client data and maintain trust.
READ
CPA Australia’s
recent policy
submissions
Read the article
PODCAST
What AML/CTF reforms mean for accountants
In this episode, CPA Australia’s Neville Birthisel is joined by
Adrian Verdnik, partner and section leader at Hall & Wilcox, to
explain how the 2026 AML/CTF changes affect the accounting
profession. Hear about what qualifies as “designated services”
under the new regime, how AUSTRAC will approach compliance,
and what firms and sole practitioners need to do to prepare.
Listen to the podcast
6 INTHEBLACK May 2026
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CPA Australia’s
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