Privacy Policy
AZ Accounting Firm is committed to protecting the privacy rights of our clients, employees and contractors, as well as any others with whom the firm deals. We are governed by the Rules of Professional Conduct of the accounting profession which ensure our best efforts to protect the privacy and confidentiality of all information offered in order to perform our retained functions.
We collect and use personal, business and financial information from our clients in the normal course of our business. The information is used to assist us in the preparation of your bookkeeping records, financial statements, tax returns, payroll information and other business and personal filings as may be required by various governmental and legislative agencies. We do our utmost to protect the confidentiality of the information that is entrusted to us and will not release your information to a third party without your consent or knowledge.
Retention And Safeguarding
In order to preserve the information for governmental and professional purposes, and to serve you better, we will retain and safeguard your information for as long as we determine is necessary, even if you are no longer a client. We will use appropriate technologies and maintain reasonable security standards to ensure the protection of your information.
AZ Accounting Firm utilizes third party applications to process your accounting files, such as Quickbooks, Receiptbank, Hubdoc and others. As such, your data may be stored on a 3rd party server which is beyond our knowledge and control, and therefore our clients assume the risks of holding their data with these entities. AZ Accounting Firm makes best efforts to ensure all data is fully encrypted and protected through restricted access authentication.
We understand that in the course of our review of your information, we may become party to personal information that you have collected on your employees, customers, and other relations. We assure you that this information will be kept private and confidential and will not be released to any third party other than as may be required by law, unless consent is obtained.
Consent
AZ Accounting Firm collects personal information only by lawful and fair means. Wherever possible, AZ Accounting Firm collects personal information directly from the individual, but we may obtain personal information from other sources, such as governmental agencies and financial institutions, or the individual’s employer in the event that AZ Accounting Firm acts for an individual. AZ Accounting Firm seeks written consent where possible however also accept oral consent, for the personal information that it collects, uses and discloses. AZ Accounting Firm may use personal information without explicit consent when, for instance, AZ Accounting Firm needs to contact or respond to requests from governmental agencies such as Canada Revenue Agency, regulatory bodies, as well as AZ Accounting Firm’s professional organization.
We are also provided personal information and business records in the natural course of our business dealings. If an individual has voluntarily provided information, such individual has consented to the collection, use and disclosure of personal information as described in this privacy policy. If AZ Accounting Firm requires personal information for a purpose not identified in this policy, we will contact the individual to seek consent for such new use.
Limits For Collecting, Using, Disclosing And Retaining Personal Information
In all cases, AZ Accounting Firm limits the amount and type of information collected to only the personal information that is required to provide the individual with advice and services and to administer client and employee databases.
Safeguarding Of Information Through Internet, Electronic Mail Or Online Storage Platforms
We respect the privacy of our clients and employees and will protect that privacy as vigorously as possible. AZ Accounting Firm stores personal information in electronic and physical files that are secure and to which access is restricted. Unfortunately, no data transmission over the Internet or by electronic mail can be guaranteed to be 100% secure; no third-party online storage platform can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. As a result, AZ Accounting Firm cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information transmitted or stored electronically.
Accuracy Of And Access To Personal Information Collected
AZ Accounting Firm makes every effort to keep personal information as accurate, complete, current and relevant as necessary for the purpose of providing accounting and other related services to clients. We are committed to maintaining accurate information and urge you to notify us promptly of any changes in your personal information. With reasonable notice our clients may review their personal information and request corrections if necessary.
Our Responsibilities
Each of our partners, employees, and contractors are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of all personal information to which they have access. It is mandatory that such individuals sign a confidentiality agreement concerning their acceptance of this responsibility. This agreement remains in effect even if they leave or retire from the firm.
If you wish to discuss our firm’s policies and procedures regarding your privacy, please contact our AZ Accounting Firm by email at contactus@azaccountingfirm.ca