{"id":4245,"date":"2018-04-18T10:00:16","date_gmt":"2018-04-18T09:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/?p=4245"},"modified":"2026-01-29T10:38:50","modified_gmt":"2026-01-29T10:38:50","slug":"gdpr-readiness-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/gdpr-readiness-plan\/","title":{"rendered":"GDPR readiness plan: 5 steps for accountants to help clients"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStrategy, Legal & Operations<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\tGDPR readiness plan: 5 steps for accountants to help clients\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t

\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t
\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t
\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\t\t\t\tStacey McIntosh<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
<\/video><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s only a matter of weeks before the General Data Protection Regulation<\/a> (GDPR) comes into force. On 25 May 2018, your accountancy practice will need to be GDPR compliant<\/a>. As an accountant, your clients may also turn to you for advice on preparing for the new legislation. A GDPR readiness plan can help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Small and medium-sized businesses will be focusing on running and growing their firms and a part of that involves them relying on their network for guidance. As an accountant, you\u2019ll play a key role in this, which is why offering the necessary advice on the GDPR<\/a> will be vital for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To assist your clients in their GDPR preparations, you will need to go through a few steps to determine what they need to do and how you can help them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By using a GDPR readiness plan, you can work with your clients to help them take the actionable steps required to make sure they are compliant. However, there\u2019s also a benefit for your practice in this too: the plan will help you to identify opportunities to offer additional services to your clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow these steps to create GDPR readiness plans for your clients and it\u2019s worth working closely with them to implement the plans within their businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Ask questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Start by finding out what your clients know about GDPR<\/a> \u2013 have they heard of the legislation? Are they starting to put plans in place to be compliant? Have they heard about the GDPR but are ignoring it as they want to focus on building their businesses? Or do they know exactly what they are doing but need some help to be fully prepared?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you know the answers to these questions, you can start to build a plan. Other questions worth asking include the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n