Accountants PII · London

PI insurance broker for accountancy firms in London

Reviewed by Matthew Bartlett, Director, Apex Insurance Brokers Limited (FCA FRN 724952) · Published 14 July 2026

Apex places PI insurance for ICAEW, ACCA and independent accountancy firms across the UK including London and the South East. This page sets out how we approach accountants' PI placements for London-based firms.

Serving London accountancy firms

  1. ICAEW Bye-law 61 compliance — 2.5x fee income formula, £100k minimum, £5m maximum per claim.
  2. ACCA Rule 8 alternative framework support.
  3. DPB regime for firms doing FCA-regulated investment business.
  4. R&D tax credit exposure underwriting expertise.
  5. Named-broker model and wholesale market access.

Common London accountancy profiles

  1. Sole-practitioner tax-only firms at the ICAEW £100k floor.
  2. Mid-market general practice firms with audit and corporate finance.
  3. Specialist tax and R&D advisory firms.
  4. DPB-regulated firms combining accountancy with investment advisory.
  5. Multi-partner firms with corporate finance and complex advisory.

The ICAEW framework

  1. Bye-law 61 sets PII requirements.
  2. 2.5x formula scales cover with fee income, subject to £100k floor and £5m ceiling per claim.
  3. Two-year run-off mandatory after firm cessation.
  4. DPB rulebook for FCA-regulated activity.

R&D tax credit underwriting for London firms

  1. R&D tax credit work attracts specific underwriter attention post-HMRC scrutiny increase.
  2. Volume, methodology, HMRC engagement all matter.
  3. Some insurers restrict or exclude R&D advice.
  4. Documented methodology supports underwriting.
  5. Specialist broker essential for R&D-heavy firms.

Frequently asked

Do you serve London accountancy firms specifically?
Yes. Apex is a UK-wide specialist broker serving accountancy firms across every region including London.
How does the ICAEW 2.5x formula work?
PI cover must be at least 2.5 times gross fee income, subject to a £100,000 minimum and a £5m maximum per claim. Scales cover with revenue.
How much does accountancy PI cost for a London firm?
Small tax-only sole-practitioner at ICAEW floor: low four figures typically. Larger practices with audit, corporate finance and R&D materially more. We quote what the market returns.
Can you place cover for London R&D tax credit specialists?
Yes typically. Specialist broker with wholesale market access essential for R&D-heavy practices given the underwriter attention.
Do you handle DPB-regulated firms?
Yes. DPB-regulated firms carry both ICAEW Bye-law 61 obligations plus FCA-adjacent PII standards. We place both scopes.
Do you serve non-ICAEW London accountants?
Yes. Non-body-regulated accountancy firms don't face statutory PII requirements but typically hold cover commercially. We place cover appropriate to the firm's activity.
Can you help a London firm with a prior claim?
Yes typically. Wholesale market access materially widens options for difficult-risk placements.
Do London firms need cyber cover alongside PI?
Yes typically for material client-data holdings. Combined PI-cyber policies streamline. We advise on both.

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