confidentiality policy

Confidentiality is one of the cornerstones of our profession. We know client financial information is private, and the client can be assured that we employ every reasonable data security measure available – including physical locks on file cabinets, password protections, hard and soft network firewalls, and data encryption techniques. Client files, electronic and otherwise, are available only to our firm staff and contractors (“team members”). Electronic files are backed up daily and stored on private, offsite storage media with high-level password protection. All copies of client documents not needed in hard-copy format are shredded. We retain scanned copies of the documents necessary for the performance of our services. All digital copies of client documents are stored in such cloud-based services as we may use from time to tame and not stored locally on any team member’s computer or other electronic device.

Without the client’s specific, written permission, no personal information may be disclosed to anyone, except that which is already public or required or permitted by law. The information clients give us about their personal or business records is reserved only for our Team Members and contractors who need to know in order to properly service the account.

All new team members at our firm are required to sign an acknowledgement of our firm’s strict adherence to confidentiality regarding client information.

Team members are required to turn off computers, clean off their desks and return files to secure locations when leaving their office for more than 15 (fifteen) minutes and abide by our computer usage policy to protect client information. Should a team member’s computer be lost, stolen, or sent for repair or the team member’s passwords be compromised, the team member will notify the us immediately so that measures may be taken to protect our data and our clients.

Team members may never discuss firm or client information with anyone other than the client or fellow team members working on the account. In particular clients and client information should never be discussed in public places such as restaurants or social events.

Our company policy also prohibits disclosing client names to anyone outside the accounting firm.

In the event of review, litigation, or other disclosure allowed by confidentiality standards only the minimum client information necessary to comply with the event will be disclosed.