Privacy Policy
Heartland Chartered Professional Accountants LLP
OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR PRIVACY
INTRODUCTION
Heartland CPAs is strongly committed to a “best practices” approach to information privacy. As dedicated professionals, we work towards compliance with the highest standards of information handling practices. Our privacy and confidentiality commitment is an integral part of our relationship with our clients.
WHY WE COLLECT, USE AND DISCLOSE PERSONAL INFORMATION
We collect personal information about our individual clients for the purposes of providing taxation and accounting advice and business advisory services to them. Usually the scope of advice and service is set out in detail in a formal engagement letter with our client. If an individual client is also involved in organizations for which we are separately retained to provide services, their information would also be used to coordinate the collective financial affairs of the individual and these organizations. If instructed, we add client contact details to our database, to send newsletters, brochures, and other materials of interest. Clients can opt-out of these mailings at any time by contacting us.
WHAT KINDS OF PERSONAL INFORMATION WE COLLECT
We collect a wide variety of personal information in connection with our services. This information primarily relates to the financial, tax and business affairs of our clients.
HOW WE COLLECT PERSONAL INFORMATION
Most of the personal information collected by us is provided directly by the individual. In some cases, information is provided to us by an organization with which the individual is associated, or by consultants. Information is also occasionally collected from government and regulatory bodies or from publicly available sources.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Our firm adheres to the highest standards of confidentiality and abides by the standards and ethics promulgated by CPA Manitoba. Our employees receive training and instruction in client confidentiality. All staff are required to sign a specific pledge of secrecy and independence, a copy of which will be made available on request.
DISCLOSURE
As a general rule, we only disclose personal information of our clients as instructed by them. However, there are a number of exceptions. Circumstances of disclosure without consent include: as permitted or required by applicable law; to defend our firm in proceedings; to outsource service providers; to professional regulatory bodies, as required.
ACCESS/CORRECTIONS
As necessary, you may view or update your personal information on file by contacting our Chief Privacy Officer at Suite 620 - 1445 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3G 3P4 or by contacting your engagement partner. We make every effort to ensure personal information used or disclosed by us is accurate.
PROTECTION
We will use reasonable security safeguards to protect your personal information against such risks as loss, theft or unauthorized access. We will protect personal information regardless of the format in which it is kept and used, using safeguards that are appropriate to the sensitivity of the information.
RETENTION
We will keep personal information only as long as it remains necessary or relevant for the identified purposes, as required for normal business purposes, as required by law, or as otherwise stated in engagement letters.
COMPLAINTS
An individual who has a concern about our privacy practices has the right to make a written inquiry or complaint to us. We will use our internal complaint handling procedure to investigate and attempt to resolve the matter.
PRIVACY POLICY
The Chief Privacy Officer is responsible for our privacy policy, a full copy of which can be obtained from our office. Our Chief Privacy Officer can be contacted as follows:
Gabriella Zaporozan, CPA, CGA
Heartland Chartered Professional Accountants LLP
Suite 620 - 1445 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3G 3P4