AccountingWitness

Cookie Policy

Last updated: May 2026 · Operated in line with UK GDPR, the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR), and common CCPA-style transparency practices for non-UK visitors.

1. Who we are

AccountingWitness ("we", "us") operates this website. This Cookie Policy explains how we use cookies and similar technologies, how you can control them, and how this interacts with our Privacy Policy.

2. What are cookies?

Cookies are small text files stored on your device. Similar technologies include local storage (for example to remember your consent choices), pixels, and scripts that set identifiers in the browser.

3. How we obtain consent

On your first visit, we show a consent banner. Non-essential cookies and third-party scripts load only after you opt in through Accept all, granular toggles under Customise preferences, or equivalent saved choices. You can reopen the dialog anytime via Cookie settings in the site footer.

Consent is stored locally in your browser (localStorage) with a version flag and an expiry date so we can re-prompt when appropriate. Strictly necessary operations do not require marketing or analytics consent.

4. Categories we use

  • Necessary: required for security, consent storage, core navigation, and similar essential functions. Always active.
  • Analytics: helps us measure traffic and improve the site (for example Google Analytics, Hotjar). Only if you allow this category.
  • Marketing: may include advertising and social measurement tools (for example Meta Pixel, LinkedIn Insight Tag, tags fired through Google Tag Manager). Only if you allow this category.
  • Preferences: remembers optional UI or feature choices when we offer them. Only if you allow this category.

5. Example third-party tools (when enabled)

The table below is illustrative. Actual vendors depend on your configuration and which environment variables are set in production.

TechnologyTypical purposeCategory
Google Analytics 4Audience measurementAnalytics
Google Tag ManagerTag orchestration / marketing pixelsAnalytics / Marketing
Meta PixelAdvertising effectivenessMarketing
LinkedIn Insight TagProfessional audience measurementMarketing
HotjarUX analytics / session insightAnalytics

6. Google Consent Mode

Where Google tags are used, we aim to align with Google Consent Mode signals (for example analytics_storage, ad_storage, ad_user_data, ad_personalization, and personalization_storage) so consent updates apply when you change preferences without always requiring a full page reload.

7. Withdrawing consent

Use Cookie settings in the footer to change or withdraw optional categories. You can also clear site data for this origin in your browser settings. Withdrawing consent stops new non-essential reads/writes where technically feasible; some identifiers may persist until natural expiry unless you clear them manually.

8. Contact

Questions about this policy or our privacy practices should be sent using the details in our Privacy Policy.

Developer note: environment variables

Optional measurement IDs (only used when set and after consent):

  • NEXT_PUBLIC_GA_MEASUREMENT_ID
  • NEXT_PUBLIC_GTM_ID
  • NEXT_PUBLIC_META_PIXEL_ID
  • NEXT_PUBLIC_LINKEDIN_PARTNER_ID
  • NEXT_PUBLIC_HOTJAR_SITE_ID
  • NEXT_PUBLIC_HOTJAR_SNIPPET_VERSION (optional, default 6)

Choose which optional categories we may use. Necessary cookies are always on because the site cannot function without them.

Necessary cookies

Security, load balancing, consent storage, and core navigation. Required for the service.

Analytics

Helps us understand how the site is used (e.g. Google Analytics, Hotjar) so we can improve content and performance.

Marketing

Used to measure ad effectiveness and remarketing where applicable (e.g. Meta Pixel, LinkedIn Insight, tags via GTM).

Preferences

Remembers choices such as region or UI preferences when we add features that rely on them.

You can change your mind anytime via Cookie settings in the footer. See our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.