Website and email privacy policy
Our Privacy Policy
The Institute believes it is very important to respect the privacy of individuals, and to make only safe and ethical use of the information that is provided through electronic channels.
Where we collect information we are doing so in order to offer you better services, both on the website and in the rest of our operations.
If any of the information we hold about you is inaccurate we will do our best to correct it quickly once you notify us. You can update your contact details yourself online.
Some of the information you give will be held in databases: we will ensure that these are secure and can only be accessed by authorised people.
This privacy policy describes:
• The information we collect through the website and emails
• What we do with it
• Who we share parts of it with
Our website staff are fully trained in the privacy policy and are aware that ensuring it is fully implemented is an important part of their jobs.
The implementation of the privacy policy is directly supervised by senior managers of the Institute.
The information we collect and how we use it
You do not need to give any information other than your membership number/student number/other identification id (provided by the ICAEW) and password to use the Institute website
We do not collect any financial information on this website except where you choose to pay online via debit/credit card for subscriptions, exam fees or to join a faculty.
We do not collect any mandatory demographic information, but we may ask you to provide some information voluntarily including, for members, completion of a questionnaire.
We may also ask you to complete surveys or questionnaires on the website from time to time. These will always be voluntary, but we may use the information from them to personalise the web site and to target marketing to relevant users.
We will ask you for your email address if you wish the Institute to contact you in this way, receive update information and newsletters through email or if you wish to pay online. You can delete or change your email address at any time or unsubscribe to particular types of email.
We may collect management information on our email campaigns, for example whether you have read an email sent by us, when and how many times. This information will be used to improve content and services and to inform groups of users about relevant products and services.
The website offers you the opportunity to change your preferences about receiving conventional postal mailings. To change preferences, login and select 'My page' from the top horizontal menu.
We will use any or all of the personal information we collect about you to build up a profile of you use of the website and its facilities. This information will be stored under your name on the ICAEW’s system.
Who will have access to the information?
Any information you give will be available to the Institute, including its faculties and district societies. Details of international focus members may go outside of the European Economic Area to other international focus members. However, no financial information will go outside of the European Economic Area.
No information about you or your use of the site will be made available to any other organisation without your consent other than as anonymous usage statistics. Information about domain names or IP addresses will not be included in statistics made available to other organisations. If you choose to add your email address to your membership record, it will not be made available to any third party.
We may, however, need to share your information with our service providers and agents for the purposes set out in this privacy policy but we will ensure that it is protected.
We may disclose personal data in order to comply with a legal or regulatory obligation.
Information you give in response to surveys and questionnaires on the website will be used in two ways:
• By the Institute itself to help determine policy and to help improve its services to members
• By third parties that the Institute may make the information available to for market research: in this case, the information will be made available only in the form of anonymous statistical reports
We may follow up some survey responses by phone or email.
The website compiles user profiles automatically to help us improve the content, design and performance of the site. These profiles will be used only for this purpose and will not be released to any other organisation.
Technical information
Like most websites, our server gathers limited information about you during a session, including the IP address and domain name from which you are accessing the server. This information is used to help us improve the content, design and performance of the site.
The log files or the information they contain will not be made available to any third parties.
The website software is able to recognise the configuration of the computer you are using and the browser software you are using. This will help us provide you with an optimised experience.
This information is collected with your name, email address and, if appropriate, membership number if you complete a contact us feedback form.
If you provide feedback via an online feedback form we will collect your name, email address and, if appropriate, membership or student number.
Use of cookies
Cookies are small files stored in your computer’s hard drive by your web browser. Every visitor to the website receives a cookie. When you log in to the site our computer server will access these cookies so that it can recognise your computer, and make using the site easier for you.
Cookies allow us to remember your username and password to save you having to retype it every time you log in. They enable us to measure and analyse general visitor information.
This website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, Inc. ("Google"). Google uses (first party) “cookie” information for the purpose of evaluating your use of the website, compiling reports on website activity for website analyists and providing other services relating to website activity and internet usage. Google may also transfer this information to third parties where required to do so by law, or where such third parties process the information on Google's behalf. Google will not associate your IP address with any other data held by Google.
They also enable us to track what pages and facilities on this site that you visit so that we can build up a profile of your interests and needs to target marketing and information to your needs.
If you would like to receive more information on Google Analytics and the kind of information that is collected and processed, we refer you to Google’s website and its privacy policy on that website www.google.com and their terms of service.
Most web browsers automatically accept cookies but you can alter your settings so you are prompted every time a cookie is sent to you. You can also choose not to receive cookies at all. However, please note that if you have ‘disabled’ cookies in your browser this way you may not be able to use certain features on this Website.
For independent information about cookies you can go to www.allaboutcookies.org
Access to your Personal Information
You are entitled to see the information held about you and to amend or update any inaccuracies in your personal information. Please note that we are entitled to charge a £10 fee for providing you with access to your personal information.
If you would like to review or update your personal information please contact us
Other web sites
The website and Institute emails may contain links to other websites. The Institute is not responsible for the privacy policies, content or practices of these sites.
Data Protection
This privacy statement forms part of the Institute's commitment to the principles of the Data Protection Act 1998.
A full copy of our Data Protection Policy can be obtained by contacting the ICAEW's IT Director, Bill Wilson by email on bill.wilson@icaew.com, by phone on 01908 248 384 or in writing at the address below.
Alternatively, you may read the Data Protection Policy online:
Read the Data Protection Policy
If you wish to exercise your rights of access to your personal data processed by ICAEW then please contact us in writing at the address below :
Bill Wilson, Director of IT
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales
Metropolitan House
321 Avebury Boulevard
Central Milton Keynes
MK9 2FZ
Alternatively, please send an email to: bill.wilson@icaew.com
Queries and concerns
Should you have any questions or concerns about this policy or the way we operate it, please feel to contact:
Bill Wilson, director of IT
(+44) 1908 248384
John Pearce, head of digital communications
(+44) 20 7920 8514
Updated 12/05/08
