GDPR applies to every accountant in Ireland, whether you’re based in Kilkenny City or anywhere across Kilkenny. With approximately 5,800 SMEs in the county, the DPC has made it clear that enforcement applies to businesses of all sizes. Let’s walk through what compliance looks like for your business.
Join 2,000+ Irish businesses already protected
Yes. Every accountant in Kilkenny that processes personal data of EU residents must comply with GDPR. This includes collecting customer names, email addresses, payment details, or any information that can identify a person. Non-compliance can result in fines of up to €20 million or 4% of annual global turnover. The Data Protection Commission (DPC) in Ireland is actively enforcing these rules.
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 Kilkenny stands on GDPR compliance — no signup required.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
Every Accountant in Ireland needs these documents to demonstrate GDPR compliance.
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 Kilkenny 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.