Disciplinary outcome: Robin Leathley

1. For an unknown period up until on or around 19 July 2023, he failed to have in place any or any adequate procedures to report discrepancies to Companies House concerning persons of significant control in connection to limited company clients and/or limited liability partnership clients.
2. For an unknown period up until on or around 19 July 2023, he failed to perform anti-money laundering (AML) risk assessments for one or more new clients.
3. For an unknown period up until on or around 19 July 2023, he failed to implement procedures to perform enhanced due diligence for one or more clients.
4. For an unknown period up until on or around 19 July 2023, he failed to implement any or any effective verification procedures for one or more clients.
5. For an unknown period up until on or around 19 July 2023, he failed to conduct a regular compliance review of his firm’s AML policies, controls, and procedures.
6. For an unknown period up until on or around 19 July 2023, he failed to receive and/or hold clients’ money in a designated client bank account.
7. For an unknown period up until on or around 19 July 2023, he received commissions without notifying his clients’ and retained said commissions without obtaining his clients’ consent.
8. For an unknown period up until on or around 19 July 2023, he failed to adequately document an independent examination of charity accounts in accordance with the Charity Act 2011.
9. For an unknown period up until on or around 19 July 2023, he failed to keep his professional knowledge and skills up to date and failed to keep a CPD record.
10. For an unknown period up until on or around 19 July 2023, he failed to have any or any adequate continuity of practice agreement in place.
11. On or around 14 September 2022, you submitted a completed annual declaration, wherein which you answered ‘yes’ to the statement, I am compliant with AAT’s CPD policy.
12. On or around 15 September 2022, you submitted a completed licence reinstatement application, within which you answered ‘yes’ to each of the following statements:
    1. I am complying with my obligations under the Money Laundering Regulations in force and will comply with any other anti-money laundering legislation (as it comes into force) in the exercise of providing accountancy services as an external accountant.
    2. I am aware of and will adhere to the requirements of AAT’s Continuity of Practice policy.
    3. I understand that all clients' money must be held in a client bank account and if I do hold clients' money, I will comply with my obligations under AAT's Clients' Money policy.
13. His conduct at Allegation 11 to 12 above was misleading

By reason of the conduct set out in the Allegations above, Robin Leathley is guilty of misconduct pursuant to Article 21 of AAT’s Articles of Association.

Robin Leathley is hereby: 

1. Fined £3,600
2. Severely Reprimanded for a period of three years
3. Removed of his Fellow membership for a period of three years

The decision of the Investigations Team shall stand as an Order of the Association pursuant to Regulations 5.2 and 5.3 of the Disciplinary Regulations.