Introduction
These terms and conditions set out the general terms under which we undertake our business. The specific conditions relating to particular assignments will be covered in a separate letter of engagement.
Applicable lawThis engagement letter, the schedule of services and our standard terms and conditions of business are governed by, and should be construed in accordance with, the law and practice of England and Wales. Each party agrees that the Courts of England and Wales will have exclusive jurisdiction in relation to any claim, dispute or difference concerning this engagement letter and any matter arising from it. Each party irrevocably waives any right to object to any action being brought in those Courts, to claim that the action has been brought in an inappropriate forum, or to claim that those courts do not have jurisdiction.
Authorisation and registrationATP Accountants are registered with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants as chartered certified accountants and can be found on the register of members at https://members.accaglobal.com/en/find-an-accountant.
We are registered as auditors by the ACCA in the UK and details of our registration can be found at www.auditregister.org.uk under registration number 8008247 or at https://members.accaglobal.com/en/find-an-accountant
Client identification and verificationAs with other professional services firms, we are required to identify and verify our clients for the purposes of the UK anti-money laundering legislation. Save in exceptional circumstances we cannot start work until this requirement has been met. We may request from you, and retain, such information and documentation as we require for these purposes and/or make searches of appropriate databases including ID verification software.
Client moniesWe may, from time to time, hold money on your behalf. Such money will be held in trust in a client bank account, which is segregated from the firm’s funds. The account will be operated, and all funds dealt with, in accordance with the Clients’ Monies Rules of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. These rules can be found on the ACCA website at http://www.accaglobal.com/en.html.
Fees paid by you in advance for professional work to be performed and clearly identifiable as such shall not be regarded as clients’ monies.
Commissions and other benefitsIn some circumstances, we may receive commissions and/or other benefits for introductions to other professionals or in respect of transactions which we arrange for you. Where this happens, we will notify you in writing of the amount and terms of payment and receipt of any such commissions or benefits. The same will apply where the payment is made to or transactions are arranged by a person or business connected with ours. The fees you would otherwise pay will not be reduced by the amount of the commissions or benefits.
ConfidentialityCommunication between us is confidential. We shall take all reasonable steps not to disclose your information except where we are required to and as set out in our privacy notice. Unless we are authorised by you to disclose information on your behalf this undertaking will apply during and after this engagement.
We may, on occasions, subcontract work on your affairs to other tax or accounting professionals. The subcontractors will be bound by our client confidentiality and security terms.
Conflicts of interestIf there is a conflict of interest in our relationship with you or in our relationship with you and another client that is capable of being addressed successfully by the adoption of suitable safeguards to protect your interests, then we will adopt those safeguards.
Where conflicts are identified that cannot be managed in a way that protects your interests then we regret that we will be unable to provide further services. If this arises, we will inform you promptly. We reserve the right to act for other clients whose interests are not the same as or are adverse to yours, subject, of course, to the obligations of confidentiality referred to above.
Consumer creditThe firm is not authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for non-credit related activities. We fall within the ACCA DPB regime (FSMA 2000 Part 20) for incidental Consumer Credit services that we provide to you as part of your professional accounting and tax services.
If, during the provision of professional services to you, you need advice or services on areas from us that fall within Consumer Credit activity, we may have to refer you to someone who is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as we are not authorised to undertake this activity.
Data ProtectionWe confirm that we will comply with the provisions of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) when processing personal data about your directors and employees.
Processing means:
● obtaining, recording or holding personal data; or● carrying out any operation or set of operations on personal data, including collecting and storage, organising, adapting, altering, using, disclosure (by any means) or removing (by any means) from the records manual and digital.
The information we obtain, process, use and disclose will be necessary for:
● the performance of the contract● to comply with our legal and regulatory compliance and crime prevention● contacting you with details of other services where you have consented to us doing so● other legitimate interests relating to protection against potential claims and disciplinary action against us.
This includes, but is not limited to, purposes such as updating and enhancing our client records, analysis for management purposes and statutory returns.
In regard to our professional obligations we are a member firm of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). Under the ethical and regulatory rules of ACCA we are required to allow access to client files and records for the purpose of maintaining our membership of this body.
Further details on the processing of data are contained in our privacy notice, which should be read alongside these terms and conditions.