Measures to deal with COVID-19 has led to many more people now working from home. This includes many accountancy staff who are must now use computers and other devices remotely.
This poses many new challenges for businesses and there are extra considerations that must be addressed to stay safe.
Providing an excellent service to your clients requires you to collect data. The volume of data created and collected and the regulations for data compliance means that you are responsible for the way that client information is handled.
Reputation
How confident are you that your devices are secure? Are you 100% certain that you take all the necessary steps to protect the information you hold? Do you have the latest security updates installed on your computer?
Legal compliance is critical, but it is also your reputation that is key when working as an accountant. Social media and personal recommendation can build a strong client base, but if that trust is broken by careless data handling, the effect on your business could be huge.
Clients are aware of their rights and are increasingly ready to act against anyone who is careless with their data. This not only could this result in financial penalties but would also reputational damage.
The data security regulations apply whether you are part of a large organisation or are your own boss. Everyone working in the finance and accountancy industry in particular, needs to be aware of the personal data they collect, how this data is secured and what this information is used for.
Recent research shows that 79% of clients would not use an accountant again who had unlawfully disclosed personal information.
Trust
Accountants reputations are built on trust and the type of work expected of accountants is ever-increasing and evolving. Gone are the days of only offering tax-compliancy and bookkeeping services.
The sector is moving towards being an advisory-led firm and clients want a better understanding of how to grow their business and keep a competitive edge. Having up to date and forward-looking services means you can really help them shape their future.
ICPA
iCaaS – the trusted standard in data protection, partnered with the ICPA as we knew accountancy firms could add our solution to their own advisory services offered to clients.
The ICPA was formed to help small accountancy practices throughout the UK. Its motto is ‘Supporting You Support Your Clients’ and that’s just what it does. ICPA is practice specific and concentrates solely on the needs and wants of the small practitioner. From humble beginnings the ICPA now provide a huge range of benefits and support to over 1,100 UK Accounting Practices in their day to day roles. The ICPA is made up of members from ALL the major UK institutes and offer a home to those practices qualified by experience.
iCaaS
We know your time is precious, so we have done the hard work for you. We have created an easy to use solution which is tailored to your needs. This will give you the competitive edge, allowing you to build trust and win new clients. iCaaS is an advanced, cloud-based, data compliance solution. It will help you to become GDPR compliant and to stay compliant. iCaaS will keep you up to date with the latest changes in legislation giving you peace of mind that you are always covered.
To learn more about Data Security & Compliance for accountants and to get in touch with one of our UK based experts, call us on 0345 646 0066 or email us at contact@myicaas.com
