EAA Compliance for UK Accountants: Why Your Website Probably Fails
We scanned 50 UK accountancy firm websites for EAA compliance. The average score was F.
If you run an accountancy practice in the UK, your website almost certainly fails basic accessibility standards. That matters now — the European Accessibility Act (EAA) has been enforceable since 28 June 2025, and UK businesses serving EU clients must comply.
The Problem: Accountants' Websites Are Among the Worst
We audited accountancy firm websites across Birmingham, London, Manchester, and Edinburgh. The results were striking:
- 72% scored F (0-39 out of 100)
- Most common failures: missing image alt text, no form labels, poor heading structure
- Average number of WCAG violations: 14 per site
- Zero firms in our sample had an accessibility statement
The irony? Accountants understand compliance better than almost any profession. You know what happens when regulations are ignored. Yet most accountancy websites were built years ago on templates that never considered accessibility.
Why This Matters to Your Practice
1. Legal Risk
The EAA requires websites to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA. If your practice serves EU-based clients — even one — you're in scope. Each EU member state sets its own penalties, but fines up to €100,000 have been reported.
2. Professional Reputation
Your website is often a client's first impression. A site that fails basic accessibility standards signals carelessness — not what you want from the firm handling their accounts.
3. Client Base
15% of the UK population has a disability. If your site isn't accessible, you're excluding potential clients who can't navigate it, read it, or use your contact forms.
Check Your Score in 30 Seconds
Our free EAA compliance checker scans your website against 17 WCAG criteria and gives you an instant accessibility score. No sign-up needed.
You'll get:
- An overall score from A (compliant) to F (critical failures)
- Every specific issue found on your site
- Which WCAG standard each issue violates
For a full report with prioritised fix recommendations and an EAA compliance matrix, our Business Compliance Package gives you everything you need to brief your web developer or agency.
The Most Common Issues We Find on Accountancy Websites
Missing Image Alt Text (WCAG 1.1.1)
Team photos, office images, logos — if they don't have alt text, screen readers skip them entirely. We found an average of 12 images without alt text per accountancy site.
Forms Without Labels (WCAG 1.3.1)
Your "Contact Us" form is probably broken for screen reader users. Input fields need proper labels — not just placeholder text that disappears when you start typing.
Poor Colour Contrast (WCAG 1.4.3)
Light grey text on white backgrounds is common in modern templates. It looks clean but fails WCAG contrast ratios, making it unreadable for people with low vision.
No Keyboard Navigation (WCAG 2.1.1)
Many users navigate entirely by keyboard. If your site requires a mouse to use the menu or submit forms, it's non-compliant.
What to Do Next
- Scan your website — takes 30 seconds, free, no signup
- Share the results with your web developer — most issues are straightforward HTML fixes
- Add an accessibility statement — the EAA requires one, and it shows good faith
- Re-test quarterly — accessibility isn't one-and-done, especially if your site content changes
The EAA is not going away. As a profession that advises clients on compliance, accountants should be leading by example — not trailing behind.
Check your compliance score now →
Published 31 March 2026. Data based on scans of UK accountancy firm websites conducted in March 2026.