Glossary

Personal Service Company (PSC)

This is another term used to define a limited company and is most commonly used with reference to a company that contains a sole director/shareholder that supplies services to an end hirer, often through a recruitment agency.

The PSC (or limited company) supplies the services of its worker, but is legally considered a separate entity to the worker, unlike those workers that operate as traditionally self-employed sole traders.

Workers that operate via their own PSC will often receive payment for their work through a mix of salary and dividends if working outside of the IR35 legislation, or just employment remuneration if working inside IR35.

Other common terms

PSL

Is a ‘Preferred Suppliers List’ that recruiters will use to identify companies that they are happy to work with, such as specific umbrella companies, that

Open Book Accounting

Open book accounting involves companies publishing information whose availability is often restricted on the grounds of commercial sensitivity. FCSA’s approach to auditing Accredited Members involves

FCSA Accredited Member

An FCSA Accredited Member is a service provider – namely an umbrella employer, contractor accountant or CIS payroll provider – that has been independently audited