Freelance Accountant Contract Template (UK 2025)

When You Need This Contract

Freelance accountant contracts must address the regulated nature of accountancy services, professional body requirements from ICAEW, ACCA, or CIMA, and the specific responsibilities involved in handling a client's financial affairs with HMRC. The contract must cover agent authority for HMRC filings, anti-money laundering obligations, professional indemnity insurance, and the accountant's duty of care for advice given. The engagement letter format must comply with the relevant professional body's standards.

Key Clauses

• Scope of accounting services with specific deliverables and deadlines
• HMRC agent authority and filing responsibility allocation
• Professional qualifications and regulatory body membership
• Anti-money laundering compliance obligations
• Professional indemnity insurance at required minimum levels

What to Watch Out For

• Not formalising HMRC agent authority, leaving ambiguity about who is responsible for filing deadlines
• Failing to include anti-money laundering provisions as required by the accountant's regulatory body

Sample Clauses

• Sample HMRC clause: 'The Client authorises the Accountant to act as their agent with HMRC for the purposes of [self-assessment, corporation tax, VAT, PAYE]. The Accountant shall register as agent with HMRC upon signing this agreement. The Accountant is responsible for filing returns by the applicable deadlines, provided the Client delivers all required information by [X] weeks before the deadline.'
• Sample AML clause: 'The Accountant is required to comply with anti-money laundering regulations and may need to verify the Client's identity before commencing work. The Accountant may be required to make a disclosure to the National Crime Agency if they suspect money laundering, and is prohibited from informing the Client of any such disclosure.'