Technical resources

Prohibition on provision of accountancy services to Russia

A summary of new regulations impacting on accountants

Ban on the provision of auditing services to Russia

The UK government has extended regulations

Consultation: reforming the framework for better regulation

Read ACCA’s submission to the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Technical factsheet: partnership law and practice

This factsheet emphasises the importance of putting a partnership agreement in place for partners and advisers

Technical factsheet: business recovery options

This factsheet explores the recovery work you can undertake with your clients, and provides guidance on when you would need to consider other options in light of the new Corporate Insolvency and Governance Act 2020.

Consultation on Economic crime levy: Funding new government action to tackle money laundering

ACCA is a Professional Body Supervisor (PBS) for anti-money laundering (AML) in the UK. We welcome the opportunity to provide views on the design principles of the economic crime levy and how it could operate in practice in order to ensure that it is proportionate and effective.

FCA's CP20/7: Quarterly Consultation Paper No 28

ACCA's response to FCA consultation on the OPBAS Sourcebook, Bounce Back Loan Scheme and a rule clarification to confirm the ability of the FSCS to declare in default firms and successors subject to the proposed new moratorium under the Insolvency Act 1986.

The risks for M&A accountants

Financial professionals who are involved in mergers and acquisitions must understand the professional indemnity insurance implications

ACCA guide to... GDPR: your data protection responsibilities

If your business collects or uses personal data, you must comply with GDPR

Guide to... legal responsibilities of community organisations

Volunteers at community organisations are often surprised to discover that their legal responsibilities are little different from those of businesses run for profit

Call for Evidence: Regulation of insolvency practitioners - review of current regulatory landscape

ACCA response to call for evidence on the review of the current regulatory framework for insolvency practitioners (IPs) in the UK in order to inform any future changes to the framework.

Professional indemnity insurance helpline

Lockton offers support for ACCA members

A guide to professional indemnity claims and circumstances

Lockton's step-by-step guide will take you through the process

Technical factsheet: accountants and competition law

The Competition and Markets Authority summarises key aspects of competition law

Accountants and competition law

The key aspects of competition law and practical suggestions on how accountants can encourage businesses to stay on the right side of the law

A guide to processing subject access requests

It's vital to have a clear action plan for processing SARs

Recovering the costs of the Office for Professional Body Anti-Money Laundering Supervision (OPBAS): proposed fee rates for 2018/19

Comments from ACCA on consultation paper CP18/32 Published by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).

Technical factsheet: exempt regulated activities registration

ACCA accountancy firms in the UK can carry out a limited range of regulated activities, known as exempt regulated activities

Companies House: suspicious emails

Some practitioners have received emails purporting to be from Companies House

Cyber attacks

Membership of the CiSP will help accountancy firms defend themselves from cyber attacks

Trusts legal framework factsheets

ACCA members can request a range of legal framework factsheets

Accountants' reports

The SRA has highlighted its expectations of accountants' reports

Accountants' reports

The SRA has highlighted its expectations of accountants' reports

Privacy and protection: specimen policies

The specimen policies, which cover a wide range of issues, are basic examples that will require tailoring to specific circumstances.

Technical factsheet: Employment status: workers

Determining a person’s employment status has been a contentious legal issue since the middle of the 20th century. Although current cases have tended to focus on employment rights, there is a large body of case law around tax, and the principles applied are not always entirely consistent, which adds to the difficulty.

Technical factsheet: Disciplinary, dismissal and grievance procedures

It is very important for employers to ensure that they follow a good procedure in disciplining and dismissing employees. If a fair procedure is not followed, a dismissal is likely to be unfair, no matter how good the employer’s reason for terminating the employment.

Technical factsheet: Dealing with sickness

Staff sickness may be a considerable burden on a business, leading to additional staffing costs and increasing the workload for other workers. While all employers would want to support members of staff who are unwell, sickness absence must be managed otherwise it can cause problems in the workplace.

Technical factsheet: The contract of employment

Every relationship between an employer and an employee is governed by a contract of employment, which is an agreement setting out their mutual obligations. The contract starts as soon as the employee starts work, and if there are no written terms, the parties’ obligations are implied by looking at how the parties conduct their relationship on a day-to-day basis.

Technical factsheet: Age discrimination

The law in relation to age discrimination is covered by the Equality Act 2010. All employees and workers are covered, as well as those accessing vocational training, including job applicants and people who have left their job (and, for example, have not received a reference).

Technical factsheet: Working time

The Working Time Regulations were introduced in 1998 to give effect to the European Working Time Directive. They are a health and safety measure, primarily intended to ensure that working hours are limited, proper breaks are taken and that workers receive paid holidays. We do not know what impact Brexit will have on these regulations as the government will be free to repeal them if it chooses to do so. It is thought to be unlikely that there will be a wholesale repeal, but there may be some elements that are less popular with government and employers, and which may be subject to change.

Technical factsheet: Unlawful discrimination

The law recognises the right of an individual worker to be treated equally with others regardless of personal characteristics that should be irrelevant in decision-making, such as sex or race. These are known as ‘protected characteristics’. This area of law is about trying to prevent employers making choices that are detrimental to someone at work for reasons that are unlawful.

Technical factsheet: Settlement agreements

The settlement offer was introduced by s111A of the Employment Rights Act 1996 to provide a new tool to assist employers to resolve issues at work. The offer and the subsequent discussions between the employer and the employee can result in them concluding a settlement agreement by which the employment is terminated in a mutually acceptable way.

Technical factsheet: Redundancy

Redundancy is a separate and specific reason for an employer to fairly terminate a contract of employment. It is a form of dismissal but the conduct or competence of the employee is irrelevant; the reason for the dismissal is economic and/or organisational reasons which have led to a reduction in the workforce. It is governed by the Employment Rights Act 1996.

Technical factsheet: Family-friendly rights

A number of important rights have been introduced in an effort to address the work/life balance problems faced in modern working families. These rights are only accorded to employees. Most of them depend upon serving a particular period of continuous employment. Employers are free to provide enhancement to these rights if they wish but the outline below is the basic statutory entitlement.

Suspicious activity reports (SARs)

The National Crime Agency (NCA) has issued SARS Regime Good Practice Frequently Asked Questions: Defence Against Money Laundering (DAML)

ACCA guide to... choosing and using accountants and lawyers

You should choose advisers who understand your kind of business and will value you as a client.

ACCA guide to... email policy for your employees

A clear email policy helps prevent timewasting, protects data security and minimises the risk of legal problems.

Technical factsheet: charitable incorporated organisations

Guidance on structure and some of the benefits of being a company, without the additional reporting and legal requirements to which charitable companies are subject

What is GDPR?

What the Information Commissioner's Office told us when we asked a few questions

Businesses fined £1.7m for breaching company law

The Competition and Markets Authority has highlighted a recent case that resulted in the businesses concerned being fined £1.7m

Tax irregularities – should I resign?

A step-by-step guide to dealing with possible tax irregularities

Auto-enrolment: declaration of compliance

What you need to know about completing a declaration of compliance

ICO: GDPR fees

The introduction of the General Data Protection Regulation will affect fees issued by the Information Commissioner's Office

Anti-money laundering guidance

CCAB guidance on anti-money laundering regulations is now available

Apprenticeship levy – English account

Levy-paying businesses finally have the option of transferring funds to another organisation

Probate

ACCA has been approved to authorise individuals and firms to carry out probate work.

ACCA response to LSB consultation on draft strategy 2018-21

Draft: Strategy 2018-21 and Business Plan 2018/19 A public consultation issued by the Legal Services Board (LSB) ACCA response February 2018

Global Growth Service

The Department for International Trade is piloting a support initiative called the Global Growth Service

UK credit and debit card fees abolished

UK member reminder and advice on credit and debit card fees being dropped from 13 January 2018.

Consumer credit – how it affects ACCA practitioners

On 1 April 2014 the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) took responsibility for regulating consumer credit activities. Prior to that, ACCA had a Consumer Credit Group Licence in place for its members in practice but at this date all group licences were withdrawn by the regulator.

Regulatory performance assessment consultation by LSB

ACCA response to 'Regulatory performance assessment', a public consultation issued by the Legal Services Board (LSB)

Technical factsheet: rights of access to accounting records when those records are held by a third party

Documents belonging to clients must be given to clients (or their agents if authorised to do so) promptly on request, or on ceasing to act for the client, except in those cases where members are able to exercise a right of lien.

Anti-money laundering supervisory review: consultation published by HM Treasury

ACCA comments on the Anti-Money supervisory review: consultation published by the HM Treasury.

Money Laundering Regulations 2017

The government has implemented the European Union’s Fourth Anti Money Laundering Directive, effective from 26 June 2017

Money Laundering Regulations 2017

Comments from ACCA on a public consultation issued by HM Treasury on Money Laundering Regulations 2017.

Cybersecurity

Businesses must guard against security breaches

Technical factsheet 192: Alternative dispute resolution (ADR)

The purpose of this factsheet is to provide guidance in respect of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and the changes currently taking place in the UK.

Introduction to Intellectual Property

Introduction to intellectual property

Standard statement of employment terms and conditions

Standard statement of employment terms and conditions.

Computer use policy

Specimen computer use policy

Updated employment law factsheets

Eleven updated Employment Law Factsheets are now available, including proforma contracts and policies.

The cancellation of contracts made in a consumer's home or place of work etc. regulations 2008

Details of The Cancellation of Contracts made in a Consumer's Home or Place of Work etc. Regulations 2008 which came into force on 1 October 2008.

Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000

Details of the Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000 (DSRs).

Bribery Act 2010

The Bribery Act 2010 will come into force on the revised implementation date of 1 July 2011.

Guidance on ethical matters for members in business

ACCA has issued guidance for members in business to assist them in discharging their professional obligations.

Technical factsheet 146 - Data Protection Act 1998

Data Protection Act 1998

Technical factsheet 143 - The impact of the credit crunch in the audit of small companies

The impact of the credit crunch in the audit of small companies.

Technical factsheet 135 - UITF 40 and taxation

October 2006. UITF 40 and taxation.

Business rules

Business rules have changed. Do you still comply? View the Statutory Instrument 2006 / 3429 PDF.

Technical factsheet 132 - Employment status

Employment status