Research carried out by the UK regulator, the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), found that over a third (34%) of SMEs trust their accountants for advice and a fifth (20%) actively use theirs to keep them up to date on data protection and the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).

Faye Spencer, head of business services at the ICO, said: ‘SMEs have a lot to think about when running a business and it’s natural that they rely on their professional network for guidance as they look to grow their business.

‘Accountants are a key part of this network and it’s clear from our engagement with SMEs that many of them are reliant on their accountant to ensure their business dealings are compliant with data protection laws.