Overview   

The 2026 compliance environment has become increasingly complex for accounting practitioners, with growing pressure from regulators, clients, and administrative systems. Accountants are no longer only expected to process submissions and maintain records, but are now required to identify, manage, and document compliance risks across multiple regulatory areas before they escalate into penalties, disputes, or professional exposure. From beneficial ownership declarations and CIPC annual return complications to SARS administrative changes, FICA obligations, client governance failures, and heightened scrutiny from regulators, practitioners are facing mounting operational and ethical challenges in their day-to-day work. 

This practical discussion forum is designed to unpack the real compliance pressure points currently affecting practitioners and their clients. Rather than focusing on theory, the session will explore the latest regulatory developments, recurring implementation difficulties, professional risk areas, client red flags, and practical strategies for managing compliance obligations more effectively. The discussion will also address how practitioners can improve documentation, client communication, engagement management, and professional judgement when dealing with high-risk or non-compliant clients. 

Join Caryn Maitland on the 20th of July 2026 from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm as she leads a practical and engaging discussion on the compliance realities currently affecting accounting practitioners. This session will provide valuable insight into beneficial ownership compliance, CIPC annual return challenges, SARS administrative developments, FICA implementation requirements, client risk indicators, and the increasing expectation that accountants must actively manage regulatory risk within their practices. Participants will gain practical guidance on managing client expectations, improving compliance processes, documenting professional decisions, and protecting themselves from growing professional and ethical exposure. 

Learning objectives and competencies developed 

Through real-world case studies, practical examples and an in-depth analysis of the latest regulatory developments, this webinar will equip you with the following competencies: 

• Identify the key 2026 compliance pressure points affecting accounting practitioners and their clients 
• Understand the practical impact of beneficial ownership compliance and annual return obligations 
• Recognise client-side red flags that increase professional and compliance risk 
• Apply practical strategies for managing compliance workload, documentation, engagement terms, and client expectations 
• Improve professional judgement when dealing with non-compliant, high-risk, or uncooperative clients 

Content to be discussed 

The following topics are under discussion for this month:  

• The 2026 Practitioner Compliance Environment 
o Regulatory fatigue and compliance overload 
o Increasing regulatory scrutiny 
o The accountant’s expanding compliance responsibilities 
o Distinguishing practitioner responsibility from client responsibility 

• CIPC Beneficial Ownership Compliance 
o Beneficial ownership declarations and annual return integration 
o Securities registers and beneficial interest registers 
o Late filing penalties and deregistration risks 
o Practical challenges in obtaining ownership and control information 
o Client misunderstandings regarding legal versus beneficial ownership 

• FICA and Anti-Money Laundering Compliance 
o Customer due diligence and beneficial ownership verification 
o Risk-based compliance approaches 
o Suspicious and unusual transaction reporting 
o Record-keeping and sanctions screening obligations 
o Practical implementation challenges for accounting practices 

• SARS and Tax Administration Updates 
o 2026 tax amendment legislation 
o Administrative non-compliance risks 
o SARS verification and supporting documentation requirements 
o Registered representative challenges and client delays 
o Penalties, interest, and historical non-compliance risks 

• Client Compliance Red Flags 
o Incomplete statutory records and poor bookkeeping practices 
o Unclear ownership or control structures 
o Resistance to FICA procedures and information requests 
o Last-minute submissions and missing mandates 
o Inconsistent information across regulatory records 

• Practice Management and Engagement Risk 
o Engagement letters and limitation of responsibility clauses 
o Client responsibility acknowledgements 
o Documentation of advice and professional judgement 
o Fee recovery and compliance administration billing 
o Client onboarding, continuance procedures, and disengagement decisions 

• Ethical and Professional Conduct Considerations 
o Integrity, objectivity, and professional competence 
o Association with misleading information 
o Client pressure and intimidation risks 
o Escalation of concerns and refusal to act 
o Withdrawal from high-risk engagements 

• Practical Discussion: What Practitioners Are Seeing 
o Common CIPC portal and filing frustrations 
o SARS administrative delays and verification queries 
o FICA implementation burdens 
o Staff burnout and deadline pressure 
o Managing non-compliant client behaviour 

• Practical Takeaways and Action Points 
o 2026 compliance checklist for practitioners 
o Client communication and documentation templates 
o Red flag client risk indicators 
o FICA onboarding and beneficial ownership information checklists 
o When to escalate concerns, disengage, or refuse further work 

 Obtaining your CPD certificate 

This training is compliant with the International Education Standard (IES7) issued by the International Federation of Accountants and recognised for CPD by relevant professional bodies including ACCA, CIMA, IAC, IIA, SAICA and SAIPA. 

All attendees are issued with a CPD certificate available in an online profile.   

Meet your presenter 

Caryn Maitland CA(SA) 

Caryn Maitland is a Chartered Accountant (SA). She has been a member of IRBA as a registered auditor and accountant since 2002 and is also a registered member of SAICA. 

Caryn has lectured Auditing and Accounting at various institutions and has conducted independent workshops and seminars for professional accountants since 2006 on various topics. She has presented on the national tour for the annual Legislation Update with ProBeta Training (Pty) Ltd in 2014 and 2015, as well as on the FASSET national tour for the Tax Administration Act in 2014.  Caryn is also involved with the annual SAICA SMP Technical tour. 

Who should attend? 

  The following persons will benefit from attending this webinar: 

• Professional accountants such as CA(SA), BAP(SA), AGA(SA), Professional Accountant (SA), FCCA, BA(SA) and ACCA. 

• Registered auditors. 

• Company directors. 

• Financial managers. 

• Registered tax practitioners.  

• Trainee accountants.  

Price 

•  Individual Booking: R380.00  

• Company Booking: 

  • Group Price 1 - From R198 per person (up to 5 users)  

  • Group Price 2 - From R153 per person (up to 10 users)  

  • Group Price 3 - From R132 per person (over 11 users) 

Steps to register for the event:  

If you already have a profile, login and register for the webinar. 

If you don’t have a profile, create a free profile then login and register for the webinar. Click here to create a free profile (There is no charge to create a profile and gain access to our free content). 

To find out about the Resource Centre, Accounting Library and CPD Subscription Plans, click here . 

Corporate training solutions 

At SA Accounting Academy, we recognise the evolving needs of businesses in today's dynamic environment. Beyond our standard webinar offerings, we provide tailored corporate training solutions designed to empower your team with the latest in accounting and professional skills. Whether you're looking for online sessions or face-to-face training, our programs are crafted to ensure a comprehensive and engaging learning experience. 

Drawing inspiration from modern training methodologies, our corporate solutions are interactive, adaptable, and focused on real-world applications. We prioritize hands-on learning, ensuring your team can immediately apply their newfound knowledge in practical scenarios. 

Interested in a bespoke corporate training experience? Reach out to us at corporate@accountingacademy.co.za or call 010 593 0466. Together, let's design a training program that elevates your team's capabilities and aligns with your organizational goals. 

Contact us 

Have any questions or need any assistance? Contact us today! 

• Online chat through our website. 

• WhatsApp: Start chatting (+27635026114) 

• Phone: 010 593 0466 

• E-mail: ticket@accountingacademy.co.za