Terms &
Conditions

1. Application law

Our engagement letter, the schedules of services, and our standard terms and conditions of business are governed by, and shall be construed in accordance with, the laws of England and Wales.

Each party irrevocably agrees that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction in relation to any claim, dispute, or matter arising out of or in connection with this engagement letter, the provision of services, or any matter arising therefrom on any basis whatsoever. Each party waives any right to object to proceedings being brought in such courts, or to claim that such proceedings have been brought in an inappropriate forum, or that such courts do not have jurisdiction.

We shall not accept responsibility for any loss or damage arising where you act on advice previously given by us without first obtaining written confirmation that such advice remains valid in light of any changes in law, regulation, HMRC practice, or your personal or business circumstances.

We accept no liability for any loss, damage, costs, or expenses arising from changes in legislation, regulation, or interpretation thereof occurring after the date on which any advice has been given.

2. Client identification and anti-money laundering

As a professional services firm, we are required under UK anti-money laundering legislation to verify the identity of our clients and, where applicable, beneficial owners and connected parties.

We may request, obtain, and retain such documentation and information as we consider necessary for these purposes and may also undertake electronic verification checks and searches of appropriate databases.

If we are unable to obtain satisfactory evidence of identity or compliance, we shall be entitled to decline or cease acting.

Where you undertake activities subject to supervision under anti-money laundering regulations, or where you make or receive high-value cash transactions of €10,000 or more (or equivalent), you must notify us without delay.

Any personal data processed for anti-money laundering compliance purposes shall be processed strictly in accordance with applicable legislation and shall not be used for any other purpose unless permitted by law or with appropriate consent.

3. Confidentiality

We shall at all times during and after the engagement treat all information received from you as confidential, except where disclosure is required by law, regulatory obligation, professional duty, or with your prior consent.

Where we act for multiple clients, including clients who may be competitors, you agree that we may take reasonable steps to preserve confidentiality, including the use of internal information barriers, separate teams, and restricted access systems.

Where conflicts of interest arise, we shall implement appropriate safeguards in accordance with professional ethical guidance.

We may, where necessary, subcontract elements of work to third-party professionals who will be subject to equivalent confidentiality obligations.

The use of cloud-based systems and external service providers shall not constitute a breach of confidentiality provided that appropriate safeguards are in place.

This clause operates in addition to our obligations under data protection legislation.

4. Conflicts of interest

We shall take reasonable steps to identify and assess any actual or potential conflicts of interest arising in the course of providing services to you.

Where a conflict is identified, we shall notify you where we are able to do so and shall implement appropriate safeguards to manage such conflict in accordance with applicable professional standards.

Where we determine that a conflict cannot be adequately managed, we reserve the right to cease acting for one or more parties.

You acknowledge and agree that we may continue to act for other clients whose interests may be competitive or adverse to yours, provided that appropriate safeguards are in place and confidentiality is maintained.

5. Data protection and data controller status

For the purposes of this clause, “client personal data” means any personal data provided to us by you or on your behalf for the purpose of providing services under this engagement.

Both parties shall act as independent data controllers and shall comply with all applicable obligations under data protection legislation, including the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

We shall process client personal data solely for the purposes of providing professional services, complying with legal or regulatory obligations, and where necessary for legitimate business interests, provided such interests do not override individual rights and freedoms.

We may disclose client personal data to regulatory bodies, professional advisers, IT providers, and other third parties as necessary for the provision of services. Such third parties may process data outside the United Kingdom where appropriate safeguards are in place.

We shall implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data against unauthorised access, loss, or destruction.

We shall notify you where legally permitted in the event of any data breach, regulatory investigation, or data subject request relevant to the services provided.

6. Disengagement

Where our engagement ends for any reason, we shall normally issue a disengagement letter confirming the termination of services and clarifying outstanding responsibilities.

If we receive no communication from you for a period of 14 days or more, we reserve the right to issue a disengagement letter and cease acting.

7. Electronic communication

Unless otherwise instructed, we may communicate with you and third parties electronically, including by email.

Electronic communication carries inherent risks, including interception, delay, or corruption of data. While we take reasonable precautions, we accept no liability for any loss arising from electronic communication.

It remains your responsibility to ensure appropriate virus protection and security measures are in place when receiving communications from us.

8. Fees and payment terms

Our fees are based on time incurred, level of skill and responsibility, complexity of work, and value of advice provided.

Where estimates are provided, these are indicative only and shall not be binding unless expressly stated otherwise.

Invoices are issued periodically and are payable within 7 days unless otherwise agreed. We reserve the right to charge interest on late payments at 8% above the Bank of England base rate under the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate services where payment is not received in accordance with agreed terms.

We may also require payment on account prior to commencing or continuing work.

9. Help us to provide the best service

We are committed to providing a high standard of professional service. If at any point you are dissatisfied, you should notify us as soon as possible.

We will acknowledge complaints promptly and aim to resolve matters within a reasonable timeframe. Where appropriate, you may refer matters to our professional body, ACCA, or an alternative dispute resolution provider.

10. Intellectual property rights

All intellectual property rights in materials, documents, templates, and outputs created by us during the course of providing services shall remain our property unless otherwise agreed in writing.

You may not reproduce, distribute, or use our materials for any purpose other than that for which they were supplied without our prior written consent.

11. Period of engagement and termination

Our engagement shall commence upon acceptance of the engagement letter and shall continue until terminated by either party.

Either party may terminate the engagement by giving not less than 30 days’ written notice, unless immediate termination is required due to breach, insolvency, non-payment, or regulatory obligations.

We reserve the right to terminate immediately where circumstances require, including failure to provide information, failure to pay fees, or loss of independence.

12. Professional standards and obligations

We shall act in accordance with the ethical and professional standards of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), including applicable tax and professional conduct regulations.

We may be required to correct errors identified in submissions to HMRC and you agree to provide full cooperation in such circumstances.

13. Retention of documents

We shall retain client records in accordance with statutory, regulatory, and professional requirements.

Unless otherwise agreed, records may be destroyed after a minimum retention period of six years, except where longer retention is required or advised.

You remain responsible for retaining original documents where required by law.

14. Limitation of liability

We shall not be liable for any indirect, consequential, or special loss arising from the provision of services.

Our liability shall be limited to the extent permitted by law and shall not extend to losses arising from inaccurate or incomplete information provided by you.