Accountants
Tax return errors, late filing penalties, incorrect accounts, VAT/payroll advice errors, bill disputes, confidentiality breaches, fraud/AML failings (unregulated practitioners)
Mandatory ADR
Max award: No cap / See notes
Uphold rate: N/A (body sanctions only)%
Key Legislation
Consumer Rights Act 2015; ICAEW Disciplinary Bye-laws; ACCA Rulebook; Anti-Money Laundering Regulations 2017; Companies Act 2006 (statutory auditors → FRC)
Companies in This Sector
Big 4 (PwC/KPMG/Deloitte/EY — FRC for audit)BDO/Grant Thornton/RSM/Mazarslong tail of 14000+ ICAEW firms~25000+ unregulated sole-trader accountants
Annual complaint volume: 1132 (ICAEW new complaint files 2024)
Note: MAJOR GAP. 'Accountant' is an unprotected title — anyone can practise. Estimated 25000+ unregulated 'accountants'. Tax advisory market 'alarmingly unregulated' (TaxWatch 2025). Consumers with losses from accountant errors (HMRC fines/penalties) have no clear escalation route outside court. No consum