Privacy notice
This notice explains how MFS Accountants uses personal data collected through the public website, personalised quote flow, onboarding process, and client portal.
1. Data controller
MFS Accountants is the controller for the personal data submitted through these website processes. The practice uses that data to review enquiries, prepare quotes, assess engagement suitability, complete onboarding, communicate with clients, and operate the client portal.
2. Data collected
The website may collect names, email addresses, phone numbers, postal addresses, tax references, business descriptions, transaction estimates, VAT and payroll details, predecessor-accountant details, source-of-funds information, uploaded documents, portal-login details, and basic audit information about when submissions were made.
3. Why the data is used
The practice uses personal data to prepare and review quotes, carry out onboarding and anti-money-laundering checks, assess scope and risk, communicate about the engagement, run the client portal, manage document requests and uploads, and keep records required for professional and regulatory purposes.
4. Legal bases
The main legal bases are taking steps before entering into a contract, performing a contract once an engagement exists, complying with legal and regulatory obligations, and the practice's legitimate interests in running a secure and traceable client service.
5. Sharing and disclosure
Personal data is not published publicly. It may be shared where necessary with hosting, email, or infrastructure providers acting on the practice's instructions, or with regulators, law-enforcement bodies, professional bodies, or successor advisers where disclosure is required or justified by law, regulation, or the engagement.
6. Retention
Data is retained only for as long as reasonably needed for quote review, onboarding, engagement management, legal and regulatory record-keeping, dispute handling, and backup or audit purposes. Records may be retained longer where tax, anti-money-laundering, limitation, or professional obligations require it.
7. Your rights
Subject to the normal legal limits, you may have rights to request access, rectification, erasure, restriction, objection, or data portability. If you have a concern that cannot be resolved directly with the practice, you may also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office.
8. Security
The website uses authenticated portal access, server-side storage, audit trails, and secure cookies for login sessions. Some device-level preferences, such as dismissing the install-as-app prompt, may also be stored in the browser's local storage rather than as cookies. You should still avoid sharing portal links or passwords and should contact the practice promptly if you believe your access details have been compromised.
9. Contact
If you need to raise a privacy or data-protection query about the website, onboarding process, or client portal, contact the practice directly at hello@mfs-accountants.co.uk before using the service further. If you remain unhappy after raising it with the practice, you may be able to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office.