ACCA CPD Requirements 2026: What Members Need to Know

You can then select which covers you want to include in your policy, ensuring you only ever pay for the cover you want and no unnecessary extras. There are no hidden fees or cancellation charges when you arrange cover with Markel Direct, and you can spread the cost of your policy over 10 interest free instalments. Professional indemnity insurance for accountants is often considered a priority. It pays for your legal fees as well as any compensation which you may be liable for in the event of an allegation of professional negligence. Public liability insurance for accountants is another important cover to consider, protecting your business in the event someone is injured (or their property damaged) as a result of a mistake you make.

• Choose an appropriate level of cover: Third-Party Only (TPO), Third-Party Fire and Theft (TPFT), or Comprehensive.
• Consider optional add-ons like breakdown cover, legal expenses insurance, or courtesy car provision.
• Review the policy excess amounts (compulsory and voluntary) and ensure they are affordable.
• Check if the policy includes coverage for personal belongings or audio equipment.

Aside from these two important pieces of cover, there are a number of other forms of insurance for accountants you should consider.

Provider / Scheme Name	Type of Offering	Key Features / Notes	Contact Method
ACCA Approved Scheme (via Lockton)	Dedicated scheme for members	Competitive rates, ACCA-approved policy wording.	Online portal / dedicated phone line
Marsh Commercial	Broker with ACCA expertise	Tailored quotes for accountancy practices.	Broker website and direct contact
Hiscox	Direct insurer	Specialist in professional and financial risks.	Online quote system
Travelers	Direct insurer	Offers comprehensive practice insurance packages.	Via appointed brokers

Rated 4.8 stars from 351 customer reviews at Google Employers' liability insuranceIf your accountancy practice has employees, employers' liability insurance is essential cover.

• Declare all material facts relevant to the risk, such as the vehicle's primary use (e.g., business, commuting).
• Accurately state the vehicle's registered address and where it is normally kept overnight.
• Disclose any previous insurance claims, cancellations, or refusals within the period requested by the insurer.
• Provide correct information about the driver's license status, points, and convictions for all drivers.
• Declare any pre-existing damage to the vehicle before the policy inception.

It protects against allegations of injury or illness suffered by employees in the course of their employment with you. Legally, you are required to hold a minimum of £5m worth of cover (we provide £10m cover as standard), and it should be arranged for anyone who works for you - including temporary or casual staff.

Who Else Should Strongly Consider PI Insurance?

It’s generally considered essential protection for accountants and is usually a requirement of your regulatory body or membership association. See our ‘Frequently Asked bet free bets today football Questions’ section below to learn more about how AAC, ATTA and CIMA requirements can affect the type of cover you should be applying for. In the meantime, here are some examples of claims that accountants’ professional indemnity insurance could protect against: Failing to inform a client that their business has breached the VAT threshold Failing to properly prepare and file end of year accounts Providing incorrect advice regarding a company structure Professional indemnity Insurance for accountants is available with limits ranging from £50,000 to £5m. Starting at £5 per month* (depending on your business requirements), arranging accountants insurance with Markel Direct is fast and easy. Our simple quote form will collect a few details about your business and provide you with a quotation for a range of covers. If your accountancy practice has employees, employers' liability insurance is essential cover. Legal expenses insuranceLegal expenses insurance covers a wide range of legal costs and expenses that could be incurred in the course of your business - including contract disputes, tax enquiries, attending jury service, debt recovery, personal injury, as well as any award you are required to pay following an employment dispute with an employee. Legal expenses insurance covers a wide range of legal costs and expenses that could be incurred in the course of your business - including contract disputes, tax enquiries, attending jury service, debt recovery, personal injury, as well as any award you are required to pay following an employment dispute with an employee.

Getting a quote for professional indemnity insurance

For instance a client could claim that you have breached their confidentiality, while another might suffer an injury at your premises and hold you responsible. Without comprehensive accounting insurance in place, your business could struggle to survive such claims. Other unexpected circumstances, such as the theft of computer equipment, or a fire or flood at bet betting apps with sign up bonus uk your business premises, could be financially damaging for your business. Accounting business insurance can protect you and make the difference. Most accountancy associations (including the ACCA, AAT, CIMA and ICAS) require members to hold a minimum level of accountants’ professional indemnity insurance to protect you if a client alleges you have made a mistake in your work - such as not filing their accounts on time, making an error in a VAT return or providing poor advice in relation to a self-assessment.

12.4 The audit-claim hot spots

Our specialist accountants’ insurance can be tailored to provide cover however you need it, as well as giving you complementary access to a 24-hour legal advice helpline and legal hub for any business-related legal issues. Professional indemnity insurance for accountants covers the cost of defending your business against allegations of professional negligence (such as giving your client incorrect or wrongful advice). If your defence should be unsuccessful, it also covers the cost of damages awarded against you. Making a mistake in a piece of work could cause a financial loss to your client, and they may take legal action against you to recover their losses. This cover is crucial when it comes to protecting accountants. Directors and officers insuranceIf your accountancy firm operates as a limited company, you may wish to consider directors and officers insurance.

• For young or inexperienced drivers, consider telematics (black box) policies to potentially reduce premiums.
• Build a No Claims Discount (NCD) by driving claim-free; protect the NCD if the policy offers that option.
• Declare any business use accurately, as using a vehicle for business on a social-only policy invalidates cover.
• Ensure all drivers hold a valid license for the vehicle category and have the insurer's permission to drive.
• Provide accurate annual mileage estimates to the insurer, as significant underestimation can affect claims.
• For classic cars, ensure the policy is specifically designed for classic or vintage vehicles with agreed value.

It protects you in your capacity as a director or officer of the company against against allegations of wrongful acts and any damages subsequently awarded against you.

Professional Indemnity Insurance by Profession

Let's look at how these factors affect the limit of professional indemnity insurance (PII) an accountant needs. Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars on Reviews.co.uk Chartered accountants must have a professional indemnity insurance (PII) policy, and this policy must meet certain requirements. For starters, PII for a chartered (or chartered certified) accountant must be considered 'qualifying insurance'. Underwriters issuing qualifying insurance agree to abide by certain minimum terms on accountant PII, to make sure all chartered accounts maintain a certain standard of protection. Next, chartered accountants have to abide by certain minimum limits of insurance as stipulated by their accountancy body membership (e.g., ICAEW, ACCA).

Defamation and Libel

The required amount of professional indemnity dictated by these bodies is linked to fee income (both annual fee income and largest client fee income). BUT many accountancy businesses need to hold more depending on their fees and the work they do. Let's have a look at the minimum PII requirements as stipulated by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), since these are the two largest accountancy bodies in the UK. Under the ICAEW Professional Indemnity Insurance Regulations (effective September 2024), the previous £100,000 minimum has been abolished. For 2026, most chartered accountancy firms are now required to maintain a minimum limit of indemnity of £2 million for any one claim and in the aggregate.

Employers’ liability for accountants

However, for smaller practices with a gross fee income of less than £800,000, the minimum limit is calculated as two and a half times the firm's gross fee income, subject to a absolute minimum of £250,000. Additionally, firms must ensure their policy excess does not exceed the higher of £3,000 or 3% of their gross fee income. As of 2026, the ACCA has simplified its requirements into two primary income bands, having increased the absolute minimum limit from £50,000 to £100,000. For firms with a total income below £600,000, the required PII limit is the greater of two and a half times the firm's total income or £100,000. For firms with a total income of £600,000 or more, the minimum limit of indemnity is now fixed at £1.5 million. Cover is also provided to defend you against disqualification as a director, investigations and extradition proceedings.

16. Sole-practitioner economics: why small does not mean cheap

Note that the old '25 times the largest fee' multiplier has been removed from the standard calculation to simplify compliance. Accountants who are not chartered technically don't have any obligation to buy PII. That said, it is widely bet acca minimum insurance requirements recommended for all accountants to have professional indemnity insurance. To figure out how much you need, you can still follow the guidance issued by the ICAEW and ACCA or speak with a specialist broker or agent regarding limits of insurance. We've calculated the minimum PII limits for accountants of various sizes according to ACCA and the proposed new ICAEW requirements in the table below.

12.3 FRC sanctions

As you can see, we varied both the total annual fees and the largest fees earned from one client in the past year (which factor into the ACCA calculations). While these figures show a range of accountancy business sizes, if your business size is not displayed here then you can use the formulas shown in the previous section to calculate what you would need. Use these figures as a rough-and-ready guide to give you an indication of what is basically required; calculating the amount of insurance an accountant needs can certainly be a complicated answer. A professional insurance specialist can help also you figure it out if you still have questions. Rated 4.8 out of 5 stars on Reviews.co.uk Specialist insurance for accountants from £5 a month* Fast, easy online quote in 90 seconds Fast, easy online quote in 90 seconds Accountant insurance covers a great deal of risks that could face you and your business, but from professional indemnity insurance through to employers’ liability insurance policies and more – Markel have you covered.

16.6 Group schemes versus open-market for sole practitioners

Accountants insurance is an important form of business insurance designed to protect your business against the unexpected. It’s worth noting that it’s not a single product, but rather a group of covers that can be tailored to suit you and your business needs. It can protect you against the costs involved in defending allegations of professional negligence (such as making a mistake in a piece of work), causing injury to a third party, or damage to vital equipment (or property) you use for business. Covers such as bookkeepers’ insurance for instance, will protect you allegations of poor or incorrect bookkeeping, or the theft of a laptop containing important and confidential client data. Even with many years' experience in accountancy, an unexpected circumstance could see a claim brought against you. If your accountancy firm operates as a limited company, you may wish to consider directors and officers insurance.

• Keep proof of insurance accessible, either in physical or digital form, for presentation to authorities.
• Ensure all named drivers on the policy are disclosed and meet the insurer's eligibility criteria.
• Pay insurance premiums on time to avoid policy lapse and potential legal penalties.
• Understand the policy's territorial limits and ensure coverage applies for where you drive.