Client Center

Privacy Policy

Vickney & Associates CPA S.C.
Last Updated: August 2025

Introduction

This Privacy Policy describes how Vickney & Associates CPA S.C. ("Company," "we," "our," or "us") collects, uses, discloses, and protects information collected from or about you through our website at https://www.vickneycpa.com (our "Website"), our accounting and tax services, and other interactions you may have with us (collectively, the "Services").

Your privacy is important to us, and this policy will inform you of the information that we may collect from you, how it is used, and/or disclosed. By using our Website or engaging our Services, you are acknowledging and accepting the practices described in this policy.

PLEASE READ THIS POLICY CAREFULLY TO UNDERSTAND HOW WE HANDLE YOUR INFORMATION. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO THIS POLICY, PLEASE DO NOT USE OUR WEBSITE OR SERVICES.

Information We Collect

We collect information about you in several ways:

Information You Provide Directly to Us

We collect information that you directly provide to us when you:

  • Visit our Website or contact us through online forms
  • Engage our accounting, bookkeeping, tax preparation, or advisory services
  • Correspond with us via phone, email, or other communication methods
  • Subscribe to our newsletters or marketing communications
  • Attend our seminars, webinars, or other events

The types of information we may collect directly from you include:

  • Contact Information: Name, email address, postal address, and telephone number
  • Business Information: Company name, job title, industry, business structure
  • Financial Information: Tax documents, financial statements, banking information, payroll data, and other financial records necessary to provide our services
  • Payment Information: Credit card details, bank account information for payment processing
  • Tax and Compliance Data: Social Security numbers, Employer Identification Numbers, and other tax-related information
  • Professional Information: Licensing information, professional certifications, business relationships
  • Communication Records: Records of our communications, including emails, phone calls, and meeting notes

Information We Collect Automatically

When you visit our Website, we automatically collect certain information about your device and how you use our Website, including:

  • IP address, browser type, and operating system
  • Pages visited, time spent on pages, and referring/exit pages
  • Date and time of visits
  • Device information and unique device identifiers
  • General location information based on IP address

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to collect this information. You may set your web browser to refuse cookies, though some parts of our Website may not function properly if you do so.

Information from Other Sources

We may collect information about you from other sources, including:

  • Public records and databases
  • Professional networks and business directories
  • Third-party service providers who assist in providing our services
  • Business partners and referral sources
  • Government agencies and regulatory bodies

How We Use Your Information

We use your information for various business purposes, including:

Primary Business Operations

  • Service Delivery: Providing accounting, bookkeeping, tax preparation, payroll processing, and advisory services
  • Client Communication: Responding to your inquiries, providing service updates, and maintaining ongoing client relationships
  • Compliance and Reporting: Meeting legal, regulatory, and professional obligations, including tax filings and regulatory reporting
  • Quality Assurance: Maintaining and improving the quality of our services

Business Development and Marketing

  • Marketing Communications: Sending newsletters, service updates, tax law changes, and promotional materials (with your consent where required)
  • Business Analysis: Analyzing client needs and market trends to improve our services
  • Relationship Management: Maintaining and developing client relationships

Legal and Administrative

  • Legal Compliance: Complying with applicable laws, regulations, and professional standards
  • Risk Management: Protecting against fraud, security threats, and legal liability
  • Business Operations: Managing our business operations, including accounting, HR, and administrative functions

How We Disclose Your Information

We may disclose your information to third parties in the following circumstances:

Service Providers and Vendors

We may share your information with third-party service providers who assist us in providing our services, including:

  • Cloud storage and IT service providers
  • Payment processors and banking partners
  • Professional service providers (attorneys, consultants, technology providers)
  • Marketing and communication service providers
  • Document storage and management companies

These service providers are contractually required to protect your information and use it only for the purposes we specify.

Legal and Regulatory Requirements

We may disclose your information when required by law or to:

  • Comply with legal obligations, court orders, or regulatory requirements
  • Cooperate with government investigations or legal proceedings
  • Protect our rights, property, or safety, or that of our clients or others
  • Prevent fraud or other illegal activities

Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, or similar business transaction, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.

Professional Obligations

As a CPA firm, we may be required to disclose certain information to:

  • Regulatory bodies and professional organizations
  • Peer reviewers and quality control reviewers
  • Government agencies for tax and regulatory compliance

With Your Consent

We may disclose your information for other purposes with your express consent or at your direction.

Data Security and Protection

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

  • Secure data transmission using encryption
  • Access controls and authentication measures
  • Regular security assessments and updates
  • Employee training on data protection
  • Secure document storage and disposal procedures

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information using commercially reasonable measures, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

Data Retention

We retain your information for as long as necessary to:

  • Provide our services to you
  • Comply with legal and regulatory requirements
  • Fulfill legitimate business purposes
  • Resolve disputes and enforce our agreements

For tax and financial records, we typically retain information for at least seven years after the completion of services, or as required by applicable law. Some records may be retained for longer periods based on legal requirements or business needs.

Your Rights and Choices

Access and Correction

You have the right to access and correct your personal information that we maintain. To request access or correction, please contact us using the information provided below.

Marketing Communications

You may opt out of receiving marketing communications from us by:

  • Using the unsubscribe link in our emails
  • Contacting us directly using the information below
  • Updating your preferences in your client portal (if available)

Please note that even if you opt out of marketing communications, we may still contact you regarding your account and services.

Data Subject Rights

Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have additional rights regarding your personal information, including:

  • The right to request deletion of your information
  • The right to restrict or object to certain processing
  • The right to data portability
  • The right to file a complaint with supervisory authorities

To exercise these rights, please contact us using the information provided below.

California Privacy Rights

If you are a California resident, you have specific rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

  • Right to Know: You can request information about the categories and specific pieces of personal information we collect, use, and disclose
  • Right to Delete: You can request deletion of your personal information
  • Right to Opt-Out: You can opt out of the sale of your personal information (Note: We do not sell personal information)
  • Right to Non-Discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights

To exercise these rights, please contact us at the information provided below.

Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we become aware that we have collected information from a child under 18, we will take steps to delete such information.

Links to Third-Party Websites

Our Website may contain links to third-party websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these third-party sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party websites you visit.

Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will post the updated policy on our Website and indicate the "Last Updated" date. For material changes, we may provide additional notice, such as email notification to our clients.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

Contact Information

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your privacy rights, or need to report a privacy concern, please contact us:

Vickney & Associates CPA S.C.

Hartford Office:
120 County Highway K
Hartford, WI 53027
Phone: (262) 673-6322
Email: info@vickneycpa.com

Mequon Office:
10144 N. Port Washington Road, Suite 2-D
Mequon, WI 53092

Privacy Officer: Gretchen M. Vickney, CPA, CVA, MBA
Email: gretchen@vickneycpa.com

Professional Standards and Compliance

As a certified public accounting firm, we are subject to professional standards and regulations that govern the confidentiality and protection of client information. These include:

  • American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Code of Professional Conduct
  • Wisconsin State Board of Accountancy regulations
  • Federal and state confidentiality requirements
  • Professional liability and ethics standards

Our privacy practices are designed to meet or exceed these professional requirements while providing transparency about our information handling practices.

This Privacy Policy is effective as of the Last Updated date shown above and applies to all information collected by Vickney & Associates CPA S.C.

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