Do existing staff need to complete Personnel Due Diligence?
Yes, existing staff performing AML/CTF designated services from 1 July 2026 need PDD completed before the deadline; the questionnaire depth scales by role under AUSTRAC's integrity rules.
Yes - existing staff need a Personnel Due Diligence (PDD) done. This isn't optional for staff who will be performing AML/CTF designated services from 1 July 2026 - AUSTRAC's integrity rules apply to current staff regardless of when they joined the firm.
Firms with formal HR-side onboarding processes may already cover several or all of these items - the PDD module in easyAML captures and structures the information for AUSTRAC purposes rather than duplicating existing employer processes. The CO can mark items as "covered externally" with supporting evidence uploaded.
What this means in practice:
- Existing employees in CDD-relevant roles (Frontline, CDD User, CO, 2IC) need their PDD completed before the 1 July deadline.
- The questionnaire and depth depend on the role - COs get the deepest treatment; Frontline gets a lighter version.
- One-off completion - PDD isn't a recurring annual obligation unless the firm's policies require a refresher (some firms align with general HR-side annual confirmations).
- New hires complete PDD as part of their onboarding before being given operational access.
Firms with large teams should plan the PDD rollout alongside the training rollout - both gate operational use of the platform, both take time, and both should be initiated well before launch. The CO is typically responsible for orchestrating PDD across the team.