Some of the main types of insurance accountants should consider are:
Professional indemnity insurance
The greatest risks faced by accountants and bookkeepers relate to legal liability. Whether a client claims you didn’t suggest the correct tax deductions for them or a company claims you didn’t warn them in time that they were trading insolvent, there is always a risk someone will hit you with a professional liability lawsuit. For this reason, professional indemnity insurance is a must for all accountants.
Professional indemnity insurance covers you against claims that the accountancy service you provided was negligent or fell short of expected professional standards. It’s a very important type of insurance to have for accountants and is a compulsory part of your membership in most professional associations. Cover is available starting from $250,000, but can extend up to $10 million or more.
What it covers
- Cover for your legal defence costs
- Payment of compensation if there’s a successful claim against you
- Payment of court-awarded damages to the litigant
- Cover for the cost of disciplinary proceedings or investigations
Cyber liability insurance
Cyber liability insurance can protect your client’s secrets from many forms of cybercrime. It is another form of insurance which is vital for accountants and many other groups, such as IT professionals, in an age when there are so many cyber criminals actively trying to get hold of your clients’ data.
What it covers
- Data breaches including theft of client information
- The cost of forensic investigation into the cause of the breach
- Data recovery costs
- Cyber extortion and denial of service threats
- Crisis management costs
- Advertising and communicating with customers
- Legal costs including any fines and penalties imposed
Public liability insurance
Public liability insurance is essential for any accountant who has contact with other people, such as in an office space they own or lease. It will cover you against claims that your business activity caused injury to a member of the public or damaged their property. This insurance can offer between $5 million and $20 million worth of coverage.
What it covers:
- Third-party personal injury claims
- Damage to a third party’s property
- Legal fees to defend yourself
General business insurance
General business insurance may also be worthwhile if you have portable equipment such as computers and servers to protect as part of your accountancy business.
What it covers:
- Fire, storms, theft, vandalism and collision which cause damage to your business assets
- Specialist cover for electronic and other portable equipment such as laptops and EFTPOS terminals
- Limited business interruption insurance