What ACCA's verification guidance means, and why your accountant's registration matters

ACCA published this guidance for accounting firms, for practices like Fileminder. Reading it from a director's perspective, the key question it answers is: what does it actually mean when your accountant is ACSP-registered, and why should you care?

An ACSP, Authorised Corporate Service Provider, is an accountant or firm that has applied to Companies House, been approved, and taken on ongoing compliance obligations in order to provide identity verification services. Not every accountant is an ACSP. Registration is not automatic, it requires an application, a fit-and-proper check, and continued compliance with government standards. Fileminder is registered as an ACSP.

The practical implication for you as a director: when Fileminder verifies your identity as an ACSP, the check must meet the same Companies House identity standard as verifying directly through GOV.UK One Login. ACSPs must follow that standard's document-checking procedures, using either identity verification technology or a trained person who checks the documents. The verification is not informal: Companies House records the result against your identity.

ACCA also clarifies an important point that gives directors peace of mind: your verification is tied to your Companies House record, not to your accountant. If you change accountants later, your verified status moves with you. You don't re-verify because you switch firms.

One thing the ACCA article doesn't cover: which documents from across the Arab world can be used? A current passport from any country works, including GCC and other Arab passports. A national ID, such as a Saudi national ID (هوية وطنية) or an Emirates ID, is first checked against the current Companies House evidence standard.