Privacy Policy

Alands Accountants Privacy Policy

Alands Accountants ("Alands", "we", "our" or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy and handling personal information in a responsible and transparent manner.

We are bound by the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth), including the Australian Privacy Principles ("APPs"), and this Privacy Policy explains how we collect, hold, use, disclose and protect personal information.

 

What Personal Information We Collect

The personal information we collect will depend on the services we provide to you but may include:

  • Name, date of birth and contact details.
  • Residential, postal and business addresses.
  • Email addresses and telephone numbers.
  • Tax file numbers and Australian Business Numbers.
  • Bank account and financial information.
  • Employment and business information.
  • Investment, superannuation and taxation information.
  • Information required for identity verification, beneficial ownership and anti-money laundering compliance purposes.
  • Information relating to trusts, companies, partnerships and self-managed superannuation funds.
  • Information contained in correspondence between you and us.
  • Any other information reasonably required for the provision of our services.

If you do not provide requested information, we may be unable to provide some or all of our services.

 

How We Collect Personal Information

We may collect personal information:

  • Directly from you.
  • From persons authorised by you.
  • From other entities within your family group or business group.
  • From your legal, financial or professional advisers.
  • From government agencies and regulatory bodies.
  • From publicly available sources.
  • Through our website and electronic communications.
  • Through third-party software platforms used in delivering our services.

 

Why We Collect Personal Information

We collect, use and hold personal information for purposes including:

  • Providing accounting, taxation, bookkeeping and advisory services.
  • Preparing and lodging documents with government agencies.
  • Verifying identity and complying with legal obligations.
  • Managing client relationships.
  • Responding to enquiries and requests.
  • Quality assurance and internal administration.
  • Risk management and professional compliance.
  • Improving our services and business operations.
  • Meeting our legal, regulatory and professional obligations.
  • Conducting identity verification procedures and meeting anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing obligations.

 

Disclosure of Personal Information

We may disclose personal information where reasonably necessary to provide our services or comply with legal obligations.

Recipients may include:

  • The Australian Taxation Office.
  • ASIC and other government authorities.
  • Professional advisers and insurers.
  • Information technology and software providers.
  • Cloud hosting providers.
  • Banks and financial institutions.
  • Legal advisers.
  • External auditors and peer reviewers.
  • Contractors and service providers engaged by us.
  • Other parties authorised by you.

We take reasonable steps to ensure that third parties who receive personal information from us maintain appropriate privacy, confidentiality and security standards.

 

Offshore Service Providers and Overseas Disclosure

To assist in providing our services, we may engage contractors, service providers and personnel located outside Australia.

This may include personnel located in Sri Lanka who assist with accounting, taxation, bookkeeping, administration, document management, compliance support, workflow management and other professional support services.

These personnel may have access to personal information and confidential business information solely for the purpose of assisting us in providing services to our clients.

We take reasonable steps to ensure that offshore personnel and overseas service providers are subject to appropriate confidentiality obligations, privacy protections and information security requirements.

Personal information may therefore be disclosed to, accessed by or processed by recipients located outside Australia.

 

Technology Platforms and Cloud Services

We utilise various third-party software, cloud computing, document management, communication and workflow management platforms to support the delivery of our services.

Information stored within these systems may be processed or hosted in Australia or overseas depending on the infrastructure and hosting arrangements of the relevant provider.

We take reasonable steps to ensure technology providers maintain appropriate security standards consistent with industry practices and regulatory requirements.

 

Use of Artificial Intelligence

We may utilise artificial intelligence ("AI") and other automated technologies to assist with administrative, analytical, document processing, drafting, summarisation, research, workflow and quality assurance functions.

AI-assisted tools are used as support tools only.

Professional judgement, advice, review decisions and final deliverables remain the responsibility of appropriately qualified Alands personnel.

We take reasonable steps to ensure that any AI-assisted technologies used by us are implemented in a manner consistent with our professional obligations, confidentiality obligations and privacy obligations.

 

Security of Personal Information

We take reasonable steps to protect personal information from:

  • Misuse.
  • Interference.
  • Loss.
  • Unauthorised access.
  • Modification.
  • Disclosure.

Measures may include:

  • Secure cloud-based systems.
  • Password protection and access controls.
  • Encryption technologies.
  • Multi-factor authentication.
  • Staff confidentiality obligations.
  • Security monitoring and review processes.

While we take reasonable precautions, no method of electronic transmission or storage can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

 

Retention of Information

We may retain personal information for as long as required to:

  • Provide our services.
  • Comply with legal and regulatory obligations.
  • Meet professional record-keeping requirements.
  • Resolve complaints or disputes.
  • Maintain back-up and archive records.

When information is no longer required, we will take reasonable steps to securely destroy or de-identify it.

 

Access and Correction

You may request access to personal information we hold about you.

You may also request correction of information that is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date.

Requests should be made using the contact details below.

We may refuse access where permitted by law and will explain the reasons for any refusal.

 

Complaints

If you believe we have breached the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) or mishandled your personal information, you may lodge a complaint with us.

We will investigate complaints and endeavour to resolve them promptly.

If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC).

 

Contact Us

For privacy enquiries, requests for access or correction, or complaints relating to privacy, please contact:

Alands Accountants
PO Box 10095
Brisbane Adelaide Street QLD 4000

Phone: 07 3211 8560
Email: info@alands.com.au