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Outsourcing Agreement Template for Accountants (UK, Free Download)
A starting point for setting out terms with an outsourcing or offshore provider.
Built by a practising Chartered Accountant · Unlimited users · 60-day free trial · Last updated 24 September 2026
Quick answer
General guidance, not legal advice. Take advice on your contracts and data transfers. This template sets out a starting structure for an agreement between your firm and an outsourcing or offshore provider, covering scope, confidentiality, data handling and termination. Use it as a discussion draft, then have a solicitor review and finalise the wording before signature.
Who is this sent to, and when?
- Sent to
- Outsourcing/offshore provider
- When to send it
- Before work begins with any outsourcing or offshore provider
Why put a formal agreement in place with an outsourcing provider?
A written agreement clarifies scope, responsibilities, confidentiality and what happens if the arrangement ends. Without one, firms can be exposed if client data is mishandled or work quality falls short, and regulators expect firms to have oversight arrangements documented.
Professional bodies expect firms that outsource client work to retain oversight and accountability, even where day-to-day tasks are performed by a third party.
A clear agreement also makes it easier to review the arrangement periodically and to exit cleanly if the provider is no longer suitable.
What should the agreement cover?
At minimum, cover scope of services, confidentiality, data protection obligations, sub-processing, liability, termination and audit rights. Where personal data leaves the UK, a separate transfer mechanism such as the ICO's International Data Transfer Agreement (IDTA) or UK Addendum is usually needed alongside this agreement. [VERIFY] the exact clauses required against current ICO guidance and your regulator's rules before use.
Core clauses to consider
- Scope of services and standards expected
- Confidentiality and restricted use of client data
- Data protection responsibilities and sub-processing controls
- Liability, insurance and indemnity
- Termination, notice period and return/deletion of data
- Right to audit or request evidence of controls
Preview the template
Template only. Review with a solicitor or your professional body before use.
Outsourcing Agreement Template for Accountants
Outsourcing Agreement
This Agreement is made between [Firm Name] ("the Firm") and [Provider Name] ("the Provider").
**1. Scope of Services**
The Provider will perform the following services on behalf of the Firm: [Insert Service Description]. Work will be carried out to the standard reasonably expected of a competent professional in this field.
**2. Confidentiality**
The Provider agrees to keep all client and Firm information strictly confidential and to use it only for the purposes of providing the agreed services.
**3. Data Protection**
Where the Provider processes personal data on behalf of the Firm, the parties will enter into a separate data processing agreement compliant with UK GDPR. Where data
Preview shows the opening and key sections. The full editable file is free to download below.
See it working with your own clients
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Send this from Remindoo
Save it once in Remindoo and send it from there. Store the wording as an email template, then use tokens so client names, company numbers and dates fill in automatically. Send it to one client or to a filtered group with bulk client emails. For requests that repeat, pair it with automated reminders and a recurring task so it goes out every period without anyone remembering. For engagement letters and proposals, use proposals and letters of engagement with e-signatures.
What are the common mistakes?
- Starting work before any written agreement is signed
- Leaving out a data transfer mechanism when data leaves the UK
- Not defining what happens to client data on termination
- Failing to review the agreement periodically
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Frequently asked questions
Is this template legally binding as it stands?
General guidance, not legal advice. Take advice on your contracts and data transfers. It is a starting draft only and must be reviewed and adapted by a solicitor before use.
Do I still need a separate data processing agreement?
Usually yes, where the provider processes personal data on your behalf. [VERIFY] whether your circumstances require a standalone DPA in addition to this agreement.
What if the provider is based outside the UK?
You will likely need an appropriate international transfer mechanism, such as the ICO's IDTA or the UK Addendum to the EU SCCs, alongside this agreement. Take advice on which applies.
How often should this be reviewed?
At least annually, or whenever the scope of outsourced work changes materially.
Does Remindoo manage these contracts for me?
Remindoo does not draft or manage legal contracts; you can store notes and dates against the relevant record and set a reminder to review the agreement.
Can I use one agreement for multiple providers?
You can use this as a base template, but each provider relationship should have its own signed, tailored agreement.
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Sources
Last updated 24 September 2026. General guidance, not regulatory advice.
Why recording every task matters in an accountancy practice
Accounting firms run on deadlines: VAT returns, payroll, confirmation statements, accounts and Self Assessment. Recording every job as a task, with an owner and a date, is the simplest way to make sure nothing is missed.
Avoid penalties
HMRC and Companies House charge penalties for late filing. A task for every deadline, with an internal date before it, gives the team a buffer.
Nothing depends on memory
Recorded tasks mean work continues when someone is off sick, on leave or has left the firm.
Consistent quality
Subtask checklists make every job follow the same steps and reviews, whoever does the work.
Visibility for managers
Filters by owner, status and deadline show at a glance what is late, what is due and who needs help.
Practical tips from UK practice
- Set an internal deadline two to four weeks before every statutory deadline.
- Use recurring tasks for repeat work such as VAT, payroll and bookkeeping.
- Break larger jobs into subtasks, including a review step.
- Comment on the task instead of by email, so the history stays with the work.
Related Remindoo features
Written and reviewed by Waqas Sagar ACA FCCA FMAAT, Chartered Accountant with 18+ years in practice. Founder and MD of Accotax, an ICAEW, ACCA and AAT regulated London practice that has served over 5,000 clients, and founder of Remindoo. Guidance is general; check current GOV.UK and professional body guidance for your firm.
What UK practices say about Remindoo
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