Policies, checklists, and monitoring to keep your Cork business on the right side of the DPC. Start in under 2 minutes.
Join 2,000+ Irish businesses already protected
If you run a accountant in Cork, you're handling personal data every single day — from client pps numbers, dates of birth, and personal identification data to bank account details, mortgage information, and investment records. With over 32,000 SMEs in the county and the Data Protection Commission actively issuing fines, GDPR compliance isn't something you can afford to ignore.
Cork is Ireland's second-largest economic centre, with a powerful pharmaceutical and life sciences cluster including Pfizer, Eli Lilly, and Johnson & Johnson. The tech sector thrives with Apple's European headquarters and a growing startup scene. The county's food heritage is nationally renowned, with Ballymaloe and the English Market underpinning a vibrant artisan food economy. For accountants operating in and around Cork City, the risks are concrete: client pps numbers, bank details, and tax returns stored in unencrypted shared drives or legacy accounting software is one of the most common triggers for DPC investigations in this sector.
This guide breaks down exactly what your business needs to do — and how ComplianceKit.ie can get you there in hours, not weeks.
Yes. Every accountant in Cork that collects or processes personal data must comply with GDPR under the Irish Data Protection Act 2018. This includes customer records, payment details, and staff information. The Data Protection Commission can impose fines of up to €20 million for non-compliance.
RISK ASSESSMENT
Client PPS numbers, bank details, and tax returns stored in unencrypted shared drives or legacy accounting software
Payroll bureau data containing employee PPS numbers, salaries, and bank details for hundreds of client employees processed without adequate security
Client financial documents received via unencrypted email and retained in inboxes indefinitely
Tax return data retained for decades beyond the six-year Revenue requirement without a retention review
Audit working papers containing sensitive third-party data (e.g. employee details, customer lists) retained after audit completion without clear authority
DATA INVENTORY
FREE ASSESSMENT
See exactly where your Accountant in Cork stands on GDPR compliance — no signup required.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Every Accountant in Ireland needs these documents to demonstrate GDPR compliance. ComplianceKit generates all 8 policy types with a living compliance score that tracks your progress.
STEP BY STEP
Implement encrypted file storage for all client data, moving away from unencrypted shared drives and local storage on individual laptops.
Establish a secure client portal or encrypted file transfer system for receiving sensitive documents, replacing unencrypted email as the default.
Create a data retention schedule that distinguishes between the six-year Revenue requirement, professional body obligations, and GDPR minimisation principles.
Review payroll bureau operations to ensure Data Processing Agreements are in place with each client and that employee data is segregated by client with appropriate access controls.
Audit all cloud-based accounting software (Sage, Xero, QuickBooks) to confirm Data Processing Agreements are in place and data is stored within the EU/EEA.
Train all staff on the sensitivity of financial data, phishing risks specific to accounting firms, and the procedures for handling data subject requests.
COMMON PITFALLS
Retaining client tax files for 15-20 years or more when the Revenue requirement is six years, creating an unnecessary store of sensitive personal data.
Receiving client PPS numbers and bank details via unencrypted email and leaving them sitting in email inboxes with no plan for secure deletion.
Failing to have formal Data Processing Agreements with payroll clients, despite processing their employees' PPS numbers and salary data.
Assuming that professional confidentiality obligations automatically satisfy GDPR requirements, when in fact they are separate legal frameworks.
FAQ
Everything you need to know about GDPR compliance for your business.
Contact usNEARBY COUNTIES
OTHER SERVICES
Every day your Accountant in Cork operates without proper GDPR compliance is a risk. The DPC is increasing enforcement across Ireland — get ahead of it today.
Join 2,000+ Irish businesses. No credit card required.