Privacy Policy

Elite Accountants & Consultants ("we", "us", "our") is committed to protecting the privacy of everyone who visits this website or contacts us through it. This policy explains what personal data we collect, why, how we use it, and the choices and rights you have. It's written to comply with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018, and the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR).

Who we are

Elite Accountants & Consultants is the data controller for the personal data described in this policy.

• Address: Mill Street, Slough, Berkshire
• Email: info@eacaccountants.co.uk
• Phone: +44 7865 577354

What personal data we collect

Information you give us

When you submit our contact/enquiry form, we collect the information you provide: your name, email address, phone number, the service you're enquiring about, and any message you include. We only ask for what we need to respond to your enquiry.

Information collected automatically

If you accept analytics cookies (see "Cookies" below), we collect standard usage data such as the pages you visit, how you arrived at the site, your approximate location (derived from IP address), and the type of device and browser you're using.

How we use your data and our legal basis

• Responding to your enquiry — we use the details you submit to reply to you and discuss the services you've asked about. Legal basis: taking steps at your request prior to entering into a contract, and/or our legitimate interest in responding to enquiries about our services (UK GDPR Art. 6(1)(b) and 6(1)(f)).
• Providing accountancy services to clients — if you become a client, we process your data under our engagement with you, and to comply with our own legal and regulatory obligations (e.g. anti-money-laundering checks, HMRC and Companies House filing requirements). Legal basis: contract (Art. 6(1)(b)) and legal obligation (Art. 6(1)(c)).
• Website analytics — we use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our site, so we can improve it. Legal basis: your consent (Art. 6(1)(a)), given via the cookie banner. You can withdraw this at any time — see "Cookies" below.

We do not use your data for automated decision-making or profiling, and we do not sell your personal data to anyone.

Third parties we share data with

We keep the number of third parties we use to a minimum, and only work with providers who process data on our behalf under their own privacy and security terms:

• FormSubmit — our contact form is processed by FormSubmit, a third-party form-to-email service, which forwards your enquiry directly to our inbox. FormSubmit does not use your data for its own purposes beyond delivering the message. See FormSubmit's privacy policy.
• Google Analytics (GA4) — used only if you accept analytics cookies, to help us understand site usage. IP addresses are anonymised. See Google's Privacy Policy.

Where a third party is based outside the UK (such as Google), your data may be transferred internationally. These providers maintain appropriate safeguards, such as the UK's International Data Transfer Addendum or the EU Standard Contractual Clauses, to protect your data in line with UK GDPR.

Cookies

Cookies are small text files placed on your device. We use two categories:

• Essential cookies — needed for the site to function (for example, remembering your cookie preference). These are set automatically and don't require consent.
• Analytics cookies (Google Analytics) — help us see how the site is used, in aggregate. These are only set if you click "Accept All" on our cookie banner, and never before.

You can change your mind at any time using the "Cookie Settings" link in the footer of every page, which reopens the banner so you can accept or reject analytics cookies again. You can also block or delete cookies through your browser settings, though this may affect how parts of the site work.

How long we keep your data

• Enquiries that don't become clients — kept only for as long as needed to respond to and follow up on your enquiry, then deleted.
• Client records — kept in line with our professional and statutory obligations as accountants (typically for the period required by HMRC and our professional body), as set out in your engagement letter.
• Analytics data — retained by Google Analytics per Google's standard retention settings, and only collected at all if you've consented.

Your rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:

• Ask us what personal data we hold about you, and get a copy of it (right of access)
• Ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data (right to rectification)
• Ask us to delete your data, where we're not required to keep it (right to erasure)
• Ask us to restrict or object to certain processing
• Ask for your data in a portable format, where applicable
• Withdraw consent at any time for anything based on consent (such as analytics cookies)

To exercise any of these rights, email us at info@eacaccountants.co.uk. If you're not satisfied with how we've handled your data, you have the right to complain to the UK's data protection regulator, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

Keeping your data secure

We take reasonable technical and organisational steps to protect the personal data we hold from loss, misuse or unauthorised access.

Children's privacy

This website and our services are directed at businesses and individual adults. We do not knowingly collect personal data from children.

Changes to this policy

We may update this policy from time to time, for example if we start using a new tool or service. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated "last updated" date.

Contact us

If you have any questions about this policy or how we handle your data, please get in touch at info@eacaccountants.co.uk or +44 7865 577354.