Privacy Policy

This Privacy Information Notice describes how Joe Ward Accountancy collects, uses, stores and protects your personal information. It applies to our website, applications, portals and services offered by Joe Ward Accountancy.
 

1. Who We Are
 

Joe Ward Accountancy of 5 Dewy Meadow Road, Salford, M6 6GT, United Kingdom is the Data Controller responsible for your personal information.
 

For the purposes of the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018, references in this Privacy Information Notice to "we", "us" and "our" mean Joe Ward Accountancy.
 

Definitions
 

Agent
A person or organisation whom you have appointed to act on your behalf in relation to a product or service offered by Joe Ward Accountancy.
 

Data Controller
The person or organisation that determines the purposes and means of processing personal information.
 

Data Processor
A person or organisation responsible for processing personal data on behalf of a Data Controller.
 

Personal Data
Any information relating to an identified or identifiable individual.
 

UK GDPR
The United Kingdom General Data Protection Regulation.
 

2. Why We Need to Collect, Use and Process Personal Information
 

We collect and process personal information in order to:

• Perform our contractual obligations to you.
• Comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Provide accountancy, bookkeeping, payroll, taxation and advisory services.
• Verify your identity and undertake anti-money laundering checks.
• Protect our legitimate business interests.
• Improve our services and customer experience.
 

3. The Information We Collect, Hold and Process About You
 

We may collect and process the following information:

• Title
• Full name
• Permanent residential address and previous address (if applicable)
• Telephone number
• Email address
• Date of birth
• National Insurance number
• Tax reference numbers
• Nationality
• Country of residence
• Marital or civil partnership status where relevant
• Employment details
• Employer's name and address
• Financial information
• Bank account details
• Details of pensions and investments where relevant
• Identity verification documents
• Anti-money laundering due diligence information
• Communications between you and us by telephone, email, post or other means
 

4. How We Use Your Personal Information
 

We use your information:

• To prepare financial statements and accounts.
• To prepare and submit tax returns.
• To provide payroll services.
• To provide bookkeeping and advisory services.
• To comply with legal and regulatory obligations.
• To prevent, detect and investigate fraud, money laundering and other criminal activity.
• To protect our legal rights and interests.
• To communicate with you regarding our services.
• To administer our website and client portals.
• To conduct internal analysis and improve our services.
• To send marketing communications where you have consented to receive them.
 

5. How We Collect Information
 

You may provide information to us by:

• Telephone
• Email
• Post
• Online forms
• Secure client portals
• Other electronic communications
 

This includes information provided when you:

• Visit our website
• Enquire about our services
• Become a client
• Use our services
• Contact us for support
 

We may also receive information from third parties where legally permitted, including:

• HM Revenue & Customs
• Banks and financial institutions
• Solicitors
• Financial advisers
• Professional service providers
• Identity verification providers
 

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

• IP address
• Browser type and version
• Device information
• Operating system
• Website usage data
• Referral sources
• Pages visited and time spent on those pages
 

6. Disclosure of Your Information
 

We may share your personal data with:
 

• Agents authorised by you.
• Regulatory authorities and government bodies where required by law.
• Law enforcement agencies where legally required.
• Professional advisers.
• Service providers who process data on our behalf.
• Third-party software providers used to deliver our services.
• Courts and legal representatives in connection with legal proceedings.
 

All third parties are required to respect the security of your personal data and process it in accordance with the law.
 

7. Data Retention
 

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including satisfying legal, accounting, regulatory and reporting requirements.
 

In most cases, client records will be retained for a minimum of six years following the end of the business relationship unless a longer retention period is required by law. When information is no longer required, it will be securely deleted or destroyed.
 

8. Automated Decisions
 

We may use automated systems for identity verification, fraud prevention and anti-money laundering checks.

Where automated decision-making significantly affects you, you have the right to request human intervention and to challenge the decision.
 

9. Mobile Applications
 

Where we provide access through mobile applications or third-party software, personal information may be processed through those platforms.

You should review the privacy policies of any third-party applications you use, as we are not responsible for their privacy practices.
 

10. Marketing
 

Where you have provided consent, we may contact you by email, telephone or post regarding services that may be of interest to you.

You may withdraw your consent or unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time.
 

11. Security and Storage of Information
 

We maintain appropriate technical and organisational security measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorised access, loss, misuse, alteration or disclosure.
 

Information is stored on secure systems protected by access controls, encryption where appropriate, firewall technology and other security measures.

Although we take reasonable steps to protect personal information, no method of electronic transmission or storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
 

12. Cookies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies to improve website functionality, analyse traffic and enhance user experience.
 

These may include:

• Essential cookies
• Analytics cookies, including Google Analytics
• Functional cookies
 

You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of certain parts of the website.
 

13. Your Rights
 

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:
 

• Be informed about how your information is used.
• Access your personal information.
• Request correction of inaccurate information.
• Request deletion of your information in certain circumstances.
• Restrict processing of your information.
• Object to processing.
• Data portability.
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent.
• Object to automated decision-making and profiling.
• Lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
 

Please note that some rights may be limited where legal or regulatory obligations apply.

To exercise your rights, contact:
 

Joe Ward Accountancy
5 Dewy Meadow Road
Salford
M6 6GT
United Kingdom

Email: joe@joewardaccountancy.co.uk
 

14. Other Websites and Social Media
 

Our website may contain links to third-party websites and social media platforms.

This Privacy Information Notice does not apply to those websites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.
 

15. Electronic Communications
 

You or your authorised representatives may send personal information to us electronically.

Where possible, sensitive information should be shared through secure or encrypted methods.

While we take appropriate security measures, we cannot guarantee the security of information transmitted via unsecured communication channels.
 

16. Changes to this Privacy Information Notice
 

We may update this Privacy Information Notice from time to time to reflect changes in legislation, regulation or our business practices.

The latest version will always be available on our website at www.joewardaccountancy.co.uk.
 

17. Contact Us
 

If you have any questions about this Privacy Information Notice or how we handle your personal information, please contact:
 

Joe Ward Accountancy LTD
5 Dewy Meadow Road
Salford
M6 6GT
United Kingdom

Email: joe@joewardaccountancy.co.uk

If you are dissatisfied with how we have handled your personal information, you have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO):

https://ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint/