{"id":10774,"date":"2026-01-06T01:53:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T01:53:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/?p=10774"},"modified":"2026-09-07T13:22:08","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T13:22:08","slug":"whats-an-opaque-structure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/bhs\/whats-an-opaque-structure\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u2019s an opaque structure?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-8cdf7575 alignfull uagb-is-root-container\"><div class=\"uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap\"><h1 style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\" class=\"wp-block-post-title\">What\u2019s an opaque structure?<\/h1>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-4293da6b uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-left-title uagb-infobox-left uagb-infobox-image-valign-middle\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-left-title-image\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-image-content\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Richard-Simms-AMLCC-956x1024.png\" alt=\"Richard Simms\" width=\"80\" height=\"85\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/div><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ifb-title-prefix\">Richard Simms<\/span><h3 class=\"uagb-ifb-title\">Director and Founder of AMLCC and AMLCC Consult<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1706\" src=\"https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-pixabay-247899-scaled.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"What\u2019s an opaque structure?\" style=\"aspect-ratio:16\/9;width:100%;height:480px;object-fit:cover;\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-pixabay-247899-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-pixabay-247899-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-pixabay-247899-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-pixabay-247899-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-pixabay-247899-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/pexels-pixabay-247899-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-f4715dae alignfull uagb-is-root-container\"><div class=\"uagb-container-inner-blocks-wrap\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-f9c6201f\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An opaque structure is any ownership or control arrangement that makes it hard to work out who really owns or controls a client, or how decisions inside that structure actually get made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">FATF names this directly in its own guidance. Its 2023 guidance on beneficial ownership lists &#8220;opaque ownership and control structures&#8221; as a known risk factor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It points to nominee directors and nominee shareholders, including foreign ones, as a common way this happens. Wherever you&#8217;re regulated, the idea behind the term is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong><strong><strong>What makes a structure opaque?<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Layering, where ownership passes through multiple companies, partnerships or trusts, is one of the most common descriptions of an opaque structure. But it&#8217;s only one. Opacity can also build up through:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/nominee-directors-and-aml-risk\/\">nominee directors<\/a> or nominee shareholders standing in for the people actually calling the shots;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>control exercised through informal influence rather than a formal shareholding;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>decision-makers who aren&#8217;t named anywhere in the entity&#8217;s constitutional documents;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>ownership or control that shifts often, or that&#8217;s explained inconsistently by the client.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A structure with a single layer can still be opaque if a nominee is standing in for the real owner. Equally, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/whats-a-layered-ownership-structure\/\">layered ownership structure<\/a> can be entirely transparent if you can trace every step of it. What matters is simple: can you see who&#8217;s really in control, or not?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><span style=\"font-family: ITCAvantGardePro-Bold, Arial; font-size: 1.636364rem; font-weight: 700; letter-spacing: 0px;\"><strong><strong>Why this matters<\/strong><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">FATF&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/whats-a-beneficial-owner\/\">beneficial ownership<\/a> standards, which are set out in Recommendations 24 and 25, exist because those involved in money laundering, terrorist financing or proliferation financing routinely hide behind structures that are hard to see through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This doesn&#8217;t make an opaque structure automatically suspicious. Plenty of legitimate group structures, family arrangements and cross-border investments are opaque at first glance, for entirely ordinary commercial reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, opacity does raise your risk and the presence of an opaque structure should shape how much due diligence you carry out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When should opacity should trigger enhanced due diligence?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">FATF&#8217;s Recommendation 10 requires you to apply <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/what-is-enhanced-due-diligence\/\">enhanced due diligence<\/a> (EDD) wherever a transaction or relationship carries higher risk. This includes where:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>it has no apparent economic or lawful purpose;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>it\u2019s unusually complex or large;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>it follows an unusual pattern.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Opaque ownership or control should be treated in the same way. If you can&#8217;t clearly identify and verify who&#8217;s really behind a client, your own risk assessment should reflect this and a form of EDD needs to be applied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These are just some red flags that should prompt you to dig deeper rather than proceed as normal:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The ownership chain is more complex than the client&#8217;s stated activity would explain;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Overseas entities are involved without a clear commercial reason;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nominees, informal arrangements or verbal agreements are doing the work that a shareholding or a written contract normally would;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The client can&#8217;t explain, or keeps changing their explanation of, who controls the structure; or<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The structure doesn&#8217;t match what you&#8217;d expect given the client&#8217;s profile or source of wealth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How far you go with your EDD should follow your own application of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/what-is-a-risk-based-approach\/\">risk-based approach<\/a>, which is set out in FATF\u2019s Recommendation 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What good practice looks like<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Regulators don&#8217;t expect you to refuse every client with a complex structure. What they do expect is that you record the decision-making process, to show how you\u2019ve identified the risk, mitigated it and how effective this process has been in practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Where a structure is opaque, your file should show:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>what you found difficult to establish and why;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>what steps you took to resolve it, including any independent sources you checked;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>whether you reached a clear view of who ultimately owns or controls the client;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>if you couldn&#8217;t, what that meant for the relationship, including the mitigations you\u2019ve put in place.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">FATF&#8217;s standards ask you to be proportionate when collecting your evidence and mitigating the risk. As a general rule, the harder it is to see who&#8217;s really in control, the more work you should do before you&#8217;re comfortable that you know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The question is the same one that sits behind every beneficial ownership check: who ultimately owns or controls this client and can you evidence how you reached that view?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-info-box uagb-block-7e2f0fec uagb-infobox__content-wrap  uagb-infobox-icon-above-title uagb-infobox-image-valign-top has-ast-global-color-4-background-color\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-content\"><div class=\"uagb-ifb-title-wrap\"><\/div><p class=\"uagb-ifb-desc\"><strong>Explore how AMLCC&#8217;s features can keep your business completely compliant<\/strong><\/p><div class=\"uagb-ifb-button-wrapper wp-block-button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/product-features\/training\/\" class=\"uagb-infobox-cta-link wp-block-button__link\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" onclick=\"return true;\"><span class=\"uagb-inline-editing\">Learn more<\/span><\/a><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container article-cta uag-hide-desktop uagb-block-f6be450a\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-69b8c097\"><h3 class=\"uagb-heading-text\">The one-stop AML solution<\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-ast-global-color-6-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:20px;line-height:1.3\">Educate your teams, improve efficiency and achieve AML compliance all in one place, using AMLCC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-2 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\" style=\"justify-content: center;\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a href=\"\" class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button demo-secondary\" onclick=\"Calendly.initPopupWidget({url: 'https:\/\/calendly.com\/lisa-jco\/amlcc-demo?hide_gdpr_banner=1&#038;primary_color=ff4f5b'});return false;\">Book now<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uag-hide-desktop uagb-block-c5c14d25\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-a787415a\"><h3 class=\"uagb-heading-text\">We know AML<\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-ast-global-color-6-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-2 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:20px;line-height:1.3\">We\u2019re regulated professionals too. We know what you need to comply with the Regulations.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-icon-list uagb-block-cffcf54f\"><div class=\"uagb-icon-list__wrap\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child uagb-block-082e00ee\"><span class=\"uagb-icon-list__source-wrap\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M0 256C0 114.6 114.6 0 256 0C397.4 0 512 114.6 512 256C512 397.4 397.4 512 256 512C114.6 512 0 397.4 0 256zM371.8 211.8C382.7 200.9 382.7 183.1 371.8 172.2C360.9 161.3 343.1 161.3 332.2 172.2L224 280.4L179.8 236.2C168.9 225.3 151.1 225.3 140.2 236.2C129.3 247.1 129.3 264.9 140.2 275.8L204.2 339.8C215.1 350.7 232.9 350.7 243.8 339.8L371.8 211.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"uagb-icon-list__label\">We\u2019re internationally recognised AML experts<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child uagb-block-ebce1a01\"><span class=\"uagb-icon-list__source-wrap\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M0 256C0 114.6 114.6 0 256 0C397.4 0 512 114.6 512 256C512 397.4 397.4 512 256 512C114.6 512 0 397.4 0 256zM371.8 211.8C382.7 200.9 382.7 183.1 371.8 172.2C360.9 161.3 343.1 161.3 332.2 172.2L224 280.4L179.8 236.2C168.9 225.3 151.1 225.3 140.2 236.2C129.3 247.1 129.3 264.9 140.2 275.8L204.2 339.8C215.1 350.7 232.9 350.7 243.8 339.8L371.8 211.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"uagb-icon-list__label\">We work with most accountancy supervisors and the Law Society<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child uagb-block-352e4894\"><span class=\"uagb-icon-list__source-wrap\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M0 256C0 114.6 114.6 0 256 0C397.4 0 512 114.6 512 256C512 397.4 397.4 512 256 512C114.6 512 0 397.4 0 256zM371.8 211.8C382.7 200.9 382.7 183.1 371.8 172.2C360.9 161.3 343.1 161.3 332.2 172.2L224 280.4L179.8 236.2C168.9 225.3 151.1 225.3 140.2 236.2C129.3 247.1 129.3 264.9 140.2 275.8L204.2 339.8C215.1 350.7 232.9 350.7 243.8 339.8L371.8 211.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"uagb-icon-list__label\">Bespoke AML consultancy available for all sectors<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-buttons uagb-buttons__outer-wrap uagb-btn__default-btn uagb-btn-tablet__default-btn uagb-btn-mobile__default-btn uagb-block-fc153394\"><div class=\"uagb-buttons__wrap uagb-buttons-layout-wrap \">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-buttons-child uagb-buttons__outer-wrap uagb-block-79a4148c wp-block-button\"><div class=\"uagb-button__wrapper\"><a class=\"uagb-buttons-repeater wp-block-button__link\" aria-label=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/consult\/\" rel=\"follow noopener\" target=\"_self\" role=\"button\"><div class=\"uagb-button__link\">Find out more<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-99e38104\">\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-table-of-contents uagb-toc__align-left uagb-toc__columns-1  uagb-block-1daea5fd article-toc     \"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-scroll= \"1\"\n\t\t\t\t\tdata-offset= \"30\"\n\t\t\t\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"uagb-toc__wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"uagb-toc__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJump to:\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"uagb-toc__list-wrap \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<ol class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#what-makes-a-structure-opaque\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">What makes a structure opaque?<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#when-should-opacity-should-trigger-enhanced-due-diligence\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">When should opacity should trigger enhanced due diligence?<\/a><li class=\"uagb-toc__list\"><a href=\"#what-good-practice-looks-like\" class=\"uagb-toc-link__trigger\">What good practice looks like<\/a><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container article-cta uag-hide-tab uag-hide-mob uagb-block-9b41d3fe\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-28078d4a\"><h3 class=\"uagb-heading-text\">The one-stop AML solution<\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-ast-global-color-6-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-3 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:20px;line-height:1.3\">Educate your teams, improve efficiency and achieve AML compliance all in one place, using AMLCC. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-ast-global-color-6-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-4 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:20px;line-height:1.3\">Talk to our experts about how we can help you secure your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-2 wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\" style=\"justify-content: center;\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-fill\"><a href=\"\" class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button demo-secondary\" onclick=\"Calendly.initPopupWidget({url: 'https:\/\/calendly.com\/lisa-jco\/amlcc-demo?hide_gdpr_banner=1&#038;primary_color=ff4f5b'});return false;\">Book a demo<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"uagb-position__sticky wp-block-uagb-container uag-hide-tab uag-hide-mob uagb-block-353bcb12\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-45cdaeb7\"><h3 class=\"uagb-heading-text\">We know AML<\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-ast-global-color-6-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-5 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0px;margin-bottom:0px;font-size:20px;line-height:1.3\">We\u2019re regulated professionals too. We know what you need to comply with the Regulations.<br><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-icon-list uagb-block-b41f0db0\"><div class=\"uagb-icon-list__wrap\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child uagb-block-333d0a11\"><span class=\"uagb-icon-list__source-wrap\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M0 256C0 114.6 114.6 0 256 0C397.4 0 512 114.6 512 256C512 397.4 397.4 512 256 512C114.6 512 0 397.4 0 256zM371.8 211.8C382.7 200.9 382.7 183.1 371.8 172.2C360.9 161.3 343.1 161.3 332.2 172.2L224 280.4L179.8 236.2C168.9 225.3 151.1 225.3 140.2 236.2C129.3 247.1 129.3 264.9 140.2 275.8L204.2 339.8C215.1 350.7 232.9 350.7 243.8 339.8L371.8 211.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"uagb-icon-list__label\">We\u2019re internationally recognised AML experts<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child uagb-block-b485c460\"><span class=\"uagb-icon-list__source-wrap\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M0 256C0 114.6 114.6 0 256 0C397.4 0 512 114.6 512 256C512 397.4 397.4 512 256 512C114.6 512 0 397.4 0 256zM371.8 211.8C382.7 200.9 382.7 183.1 371.8 172.2C360.9 161.3 343.1 161.3 332.2 172.2L224 280.4L179.8 236.2C168.9 225.3 151.1 225.3 140.2 236.2C129.3 247.1 129.3 264.9 140.2 275.8L204.2 339.8C215.1 350.7 232.9 350.7 243.8 339.8L371.8 211.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"uagb-icon-list__label\">We work with most accountancy supervisors and the Law Society<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-icon-list-child uagb-block-c0d2ec75\"><span class=\"uagb-icon-list__source-wrap\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M0 256C0 114.6 114.6 0 256 0C397.4 0 512 114.6 512 256C512 397.4 397.4 512 256 512C114.6 512 0 397.4 0 256zM371.8 211.8C382.7 200.9 382.7 183.1 371.8 172.2C360.9 161.3 343.1 161.3 332.2 172.2L224 280.4L179.8 236.2C168.9 225.3 151.1 225.3 140.2 236.2C129.3 247.1 129.3 264.9 140.2 275.8L204.2 339.8C215.1 350.7 232.9 350.7 243.8 339.8L371.8 211.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"uagb-icon-list__label\">Bespoke AML consultancy available for all sectors<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-buttons uagb-buttons__outer-wrap uagb-btn__default-btn uagb-btn-tablet__default-btn uagb-btn-mobile__default-btn uagb-block-27986e97\"><div class=\"uagb-buttons__wrap uagb-buttons-layout-wrap \">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-buttons-child uagb-buttons__outer-wrap uagb-block-5e096d1b wp-block-button\"><div class=\"uagb-button__wrapper\"><a class=\"uagb-buttons-repeater wp-block-button__link\" aria-label=\"\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/consult\/\" rel=\"follow noopener\" target=\"_self\" role=\"button\"><div class=\"uagb-button__link\">Find out more<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container half-blue-desktop uagb-block-89ea4904 alignfull uagb-is-root-container\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-fdab8534\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-52a83ed5\"><h3 class=\"uagb-heading-text\">What others have said<\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-slider amlcc-testimonial-slider uagb-block-6c68dd50 uagb-slider-container\"><div class=\"uagb-slides uagb-swiper\"><div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-slider-child uagb-slider-child-wrap swiper-slide uagb-block-b998a2d4\"><div class=\"swiper-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-04f3c45e\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-02c01de1\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-b215507c\"><h3 class=\"uagb-heading-text\">&#8220;We had the man from the ICAEW here yesterday to carry out a QAD practice review. We got a clean bill of health \u2013 not a single action point\u2026That is in no small measure due to AMLCC so I just wanted to say \u2018thank you\u2019&#8221;<\/h3><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-949a56df\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"550\" height=\"812\" src=\"https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/testimonial-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-495\" style=\"aspect-ratio:3\/4;object-fit:contain;width:auto;height:382px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/testimonial-1.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/testimonial-1-203x300.jpg 203w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-slider-child uagb-slider-child-wrap swiper-slide uagb-block-cc23ebfe\"><div class=\"swiper-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-af8628f6\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-9e1b5830\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-bdd14157\"><h3 class=\"uagb-heading-text\">&#8220;Thank you for such a perfect and informative [solution]. You have given me a clear direction for my AML training and CPD.&#8221;<br><\/h3><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-ef336e36\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"550\" height=\"786\" src=\"https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/testimonial-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-496\" style=\"aspect-ratio:3\/4;object-fit:contain;width:auto;height:382px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/testimonial-2.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/testimonial-2-210x300.jpg 210w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-slider-child uagb-slider-child-wrap swiper-slide uagb-block-040a7367\"><div class=\"swiper-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-3b2e0080\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-64ce7dad\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-3d47ccc6\"><h3 class=\"uagb-heading-text\">&#8220;I just wanted to say \u2018thank you\u2019 to you, Richard, and all the team at AMLCC for providing a service that really does minimise the burden of AML compliance.&#8221;<br><\/h3><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-e1d755c8\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"550\" height=\"732\" src=\"https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/testimonial-3.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-494\" style=\"aspect-ratio:3\/4;object-fit:contain;width:auto;height:382px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/testimonial-3.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/testimonial-3-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-slider-child uagb-slider-child-wrap swiper-slide uagb-block-403770d4\"><div class=\"swiper-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-a0d5a66b\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-a9b0dbd5\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-302585b3\"><h3 class=\"uagb-heading-text\">&#8220;What a refreshing pleasure working with a company who actually listens to the feedback from their customers and communicates with them!&#8221;<br><\/h3><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-64782dba\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"550\" height=\"732\" src=\"https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/testimonial-4.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-497\" style=\"aspect-ratio:3\/4;object-fit:contain;width:auto;height:382px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/testimonial-4.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/testimonial-4-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-slider-child uagb-slider-child-wrap swiper-slide uagb-block-9b9b7e36\"><div class=\"swiper-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-3a9f75d3\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-aa8435c0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-afe45a8b\"><h3 class=\"uagb-heading-text\">&#8220;Your team they have been excellent from the moment Fiona did a demo for me with only 15 minutes notice, and thoroughly going through the AMLCC product, answering the many questions I had! It was at this point at which I made up my mind this is the sort of business I want to work with for my AML.&#8221;<br><\/h3><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-8f4648c6\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"550\" height=\"798\" src=\"https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/testimonial-5.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-498\" style=\"aspect-ratio:3\/4;object-fit:contain;width:auto;height:382px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/testimonial-5.jpg 550w, https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/testimonial-5-207x300.jpg 207w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 550px) 100vw, 550px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-container uagb-block-bd594624\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-advanced-heading uagb-block-deefd48d\"><h3 class=\"uagb-heading-text\">Making compliance easier<\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-image aligncenter uagb-block-94cd8a56 wp-block-uagb-image--layout-default wp-block-uagb-image--effect-static wp-block-uagb-image--align-center\"><figure class=\"wp-block-uagb-image__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.amlcc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/image-22-1.png\" alt=\"AMLCC newsroom\" class=\"uag-image-1454\" width=\"700\" height=\"450\" title=\"image-22-1\" loading=\"lazy\" role=\"img\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-buttons uagb-buttons__outer-wrap uagb-btn__default-btn uagb-btn-tablet__default-btn uagb-btn-mobile__default-btn uagb-block-d88e5ed5\"><div class=\"uagb-buttons__wrap uagb-buttons-layout-wrap \">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-buttons-child uagb-buttons__outer-wrap uagb-block-762fbc5a wp-block-button\"><div class=\"uagb-button__wrapper\"><a class=\"uagb-buttons-repeater wp-block-button__link\" aria-label=\"\" href=\"\/press\/\" rel=\"follow noopener\" target=\"_self\" role=\"button\"><div class=\"uagb-button__link\">View more articles<\/div><\/a><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An opaque structure is any ownership or control arrangement that makes it hard to work out who really owns or controls a client, or how decisions inside that structure actually get made. FATF names this directly in its own guidance. Its 2023 guidance on beneficial ownership lists &#8220;opaque ownership and control structures&#8221; as a known [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":10764,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"unboxed","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-4)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10774","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What Is an Opaque Structure? 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