Engagement letters for accountancy practicesWhat ICAEW, ACCA and AAT require an engagement letter to cover: scope, client duties, fee basis, complaints, insurance, data protection and money laundering checks.Anti-money laundering supervision for accountantsWho supervises accountants under the Money Laundering Regulations 2017, HMRC registration fees, OPBAS, suspicious activity reports and the five-year record rule.Client due diligence for accountancy practicesWhen the Money Laundering Regulations require customer due diligence, what it involves, simplified and enhanced checks, PEPs, ongoing monitoring and reliance.Pricing methods for accounting servicesFixed fees, per-service fees, packages, value pricing and time-based fees, what each asks of the practice, and the ICAEW and ACCA rules on fee information.A year-end workflow for a limited company clientThe sequence from records request to filing for a limited company year end, with the Companies House and HMRC deadlines and a worked 31 March example.Changing accounts software in a practiceA checklist for moving a practice to new accounts software: timing around year ends, trial balances, record retention periods, agent authorisations and MTD.The HMRC agent services accountWhat the HMRC agent services account is, the tax adviser registration windows from May 2026, what you need to apply, copying authorisations, and team access.Agent authorisation and form 64-8How agents get client authorisation: the digital handshake, online agent authorisation and the paper 64-8, which tax uses which, and the time limits on each.Professional clearance when a client changes accountantThe ICAEW, ACCA and AAT rules on professional enquiry when a client changes accountant, what to ask the previous accountant, and what they must hand over.Professional body requirements for practising accountantsPractising certificates and licences, professional indemnity insurance, CPD, money laundering supervision and client money under ICAEW, ACCA and AAT rules.Data protection for accountancy practicesThe ICO data protection fee tiers, why an accountant is a controller, processor contracts, retention, breach reporting in 72 hours and subject access requests.
Running a practice
Guides for the owner of a small accountancy or bookkeeping practice: engagement letters, anti-money laundering supervision and client due diligence, HMRC agent authorisation, professional clearance, professional body requirements, data protection and the year-end workflow.