The UK privacy regulator has asked accountants to play a key role in ensuring that the country’s small businesses comply with strict data protection laws.
According to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), a 2021 survey found that nearly one-third (34%) of small businesses trust the advice of their accountants, and one-fifth (20%) to keep abreast of developments in data protection. GDPR.
According to the ICO, it’s unclear what size organizations qualify as SMEs.
The regulator has published a series of questions accountants ask their small business clients to strengthen compliance across the small business community.
- How much do your clients know about data protection compliance and ICOs?
- What types of personal information do they collect on a daily basis?
- Why are they holding this information?
- What security measures are in place to protect this data?
- Do you have a privacy notice for customers and employees?
- Do you know what a Subject Access Request (SAR) is?
- Do they know what to do if their organization is compromised?
“Small businesses have a lot to think about when running a business. It makes sense that they rely on a network of professionals for guidance as they aim to grow their business. Being an important part of the network and our involvement with small businesses, it is clear that many small businesses rely on their accountants to ensure that their business transactions comply with data protection laws.”
“We encourage accountants across the UK to recognize the role they play and the value they can add in providing peace of mind to clients running their own businesses.”
The ICO’s long-term plan is to enable SMEs to self-assess their compliance with data protection laws via the new SME Data Essentials scheme. We are currently piloting the scheme with 60 SMEs as part of our three-year ICO25 plan to reduce compliance costs while helping SMEs innovate and grow.
