Policies, checklists, and monitoring to keep your Galway business on the right side of the DPC. Start in under 2 minutes.
Join 2,000+ Irish businesses already protected
Data protection law doesn't make exceptions based on your business size or location. Whether you operate a accountant in the heart of Galway City or in rural Galway, the GDPR requirements are the same — and the DPC is watching.
Galway supports roughly 15,000 small and medium enterprises. Galway is the economic capital of the west of Ireland, with a thriving medtech cluster that includes Medtronic, Boston Scientific, and Zimmer Biomet. NUI Galway and the city's vibrant arts scene make it a hub for education and cultural tourism. The county's Atlantic coastline and Connemara attract significant tourism revenue year-round. Among them, accountants face particular challenges around client pps numbers, bank details, and tax returns stored in unencrypted shared drives or legacy accounting software, which makes having the right policies and procedures essential.
Below, you'll find a practical guide tailored to your sector and your county — no legal jargon, just clear steps to compliance.
Absolutely. GDPR applies to all accountants in Galway that handle personal data of EU residents — whether that's booking information, contact details, or employee records. Ireland's Data Protection Commission actively enforces these rules, with penalties reaching up to 4% of annual global turnover.
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 Galway 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 usOTHER SERVICES
Every day your Accountant in Galway 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.