Application de la loi anti-blanchiment par les réviseurs en Belgique : bilan et perspectives

Abstract

In a world of ever-growing money laundering typologies, the external auditor’s mission is to attempt to address the numerous stakeholders’ rising needs for a high level of financial security and confidence.

The literature review unveiled a branch of the law which has devoted itself to anti-money laundering spanning the past few years. This research focuses on the implications for the external auditor arising from the transposition of the fourth EU Directive under Belgian law.

Such a study is conducted by means of interviews with the collaboration of field professionals. Empirical study results, a case study and the analysis of GAFI and CTIF activity reports attest to the impact on the external auditor’s due diligence measures approach on the one hand, and an organisational change in audit firms on the other.

These findings lead to the following conclusion: in any situation, the external auditor’s professional judgement should take precedence over all; it embodies his greatest ally as the grounds for his decisions.

Law of September 18th, 2017 undeniably equips the professional. The latter though needs to have the benefit of hindsight in order to get a better grasp of the legal text preserving the effectiveness of the preventive mechanism.