Payroll may not be the first place you think of when you hear “anti-money laundering.” But for accountants and bookkeepers, payroll can provide a unique window into a business’s financial activity, employee information, payments, and changes over time. That visibility can sometimes reveal activity that deserves a closer look, even when your primary role is simply managing payroll. The important distinction is that seeing something unusual does not automatically mean you have a FINTRAC reporting obligation. What matters is understanding when AML obligations apply to your specific activities, recognizing potential red flags, and knowing what steps you can take when something doesn’t add up.