If you are considering applying for FCSA Accreditation, you may have questions about what is involved in the compliance review process:
As a guide, we have produced this step-by-step summary of what the accreditation compliance review process involves.
The FCSA is the UK’s leading professional membership body dedicated to raising standards and promoting supply chain compliance for the temporary labour market. The scope of FCSA’s accreditation covers 3 types of business operation in the UK: umbrella employment, contractor accountancy and CIS payroll services. In order to be eligible to for FCSA accreditation, all applicants must meet all of the following criteria:
The above minimum criteria are essential for FCSA to be able to assess applicants’ business operations in practice, not just in theory. It is important to realise that FCSA accreditation is not just a tick-box exercise.
In order to achieve FCSA accreditation, applicants are independently audited against our published standards. The process requires applicants to provide documentary evidence of how they adhere to each and every standard. In addition to the paperwork element, assessors conduct in-depth site visits to the applicant’s business to interview their staff, test scenarios, undertake random audits, listen to on-boarding calls and ensure that all policies and procedures are being implemented in practice.
The first step involves the applicant selecting a reviewer for the accreditation compliance checks. All FCSA Code assessors are either chartered accountants or regulated solicitors and have at least five years demonstrable experience of specialising in the freelance sector. You can choose from the list below:
Financial assessors
Legal assessors (for umbrella and CIS applications)
You will need to choose a financial assessor from the first list, and if you are applying to have your umbrella or CIS accredited you will also need to select a legal assessor. EY has a SRA regulated legal team , so if you choose them for the financial elements they will also cover the legal aspects. If you choose BDO or Saffery Champness to be your financial assessors, then you will need to choose a legal assessor from Brabners or JMW Solicitors, as listed above. The cost of the application is the same whichever assessors you select.
Once you have selected your reviewer, you will need to notify FCSA Chief Executive, Phil Pluck and pay the cost for the review directly to the FCSA. The FCSA will then ask the reviewer to commence the review.
The review involves a 3 stage review process:
Once all their queries have been answered, your assessors will report their findings to FCSA. You will be informed of the outcome as soon as possible thereafter.
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