Welcome to the FY International website.
FY International Auditing and Consulting Corp. (“FY International,” “FYI,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you provide when using our website.
This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, store, and protect personal information through our website and related digital services.
FY International Auditing and Consulting Corp. is headquartered at:
Suite 1111 – 1030 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 2Y3
Canada
This Privacy Policy applies to visitors and users of the FY International website, regardless of their country of residence, subject to applicable local privacy and data protection laws.
1. Scope of This Privacy Policy
This Privacy Policy applies to personal information collected through the FY International website, including information submitted through contact forms, newsletter or marketing subscriptions, event-related forms, and other online interactions with FY International.
FY International is headquartered in British Columbia, Canada, and its collection, use, and disclosure of personal information is governed by the Personal Information Protection Act (British Columbia) and, where applicable to activities engaged in the course of commercial activity outside British Columbia, the federal Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (“PIPEDA”). Where the processing of personal information of individuals located in the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom is subject to the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) or the UK GDPR, this Privacy Policy is also intended to address the requirements of those laws as described herein. [NEW]
It also explains our use of cookies and analytics technologies, including Google Analytics, and our use of third-party service providers such as Mailchimp.
This Privacy Policy does not apply to the privacy practices of independent member firms of FY International. Member firms may maintain their own privacy policies and are responsible for their own processing of personal information.
2. Information We Collect
Depending on how you interact with our website, we may collect the following categories of information:
Information You Provide Directly
When you contact us, subscribe to communications, register for an event, submit an inquiry, or otherwise interact with our website, we may collect information such as:
- Full name;
- Business or organization name;
- Job title or professional role;
- Email address;
- Telephone number;
- Country or location;
- Information contained in your message or inquiry;
- Event registration information; and
- Any other information you voluntarily provide.
Please do not submit confidential, sensitive, or proprietary information through a general website contact form unless specifically requested and appropriate safeguards have been provided.
Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website, certain technical information may be collected automatically, including:
- IP address;
- Browser type and version;
- Device type;
- Operating system;
- General geographic information;
- Pages visited;
- Date and time of visits;
- Referring website;
- Website interactions; and
- Other technical or usage information.
This information may be collected through cookies, analytics technologies, server logs, and similar technologies.
3. How We Use Personal Information
We may use personal information for purposes including:
- Responding to inquiries and requests;
- Communicating with individuals who contact FY International;
- Managing event registrations and participation;
- Sending newsletters, updates, announcements, and other communications where permitted;
- Managing our relationship with member firms and professional contacts;
- Understanding website usage and improving our website;
- Measuring website traffic and engagement;
- Maintaining website security and preventing misuse;
- Administering and improving our services and communications;
- Complying with applicable legal and regulatory obligations; and
- Other purposes that are communicated to you at or before the time your information is collected.
We will not use personal information for purposes that are incompatible with the purposes for which it was collected, except where permitted or required by applicable law.
4. Legal Bases for Processing
Where applicable, including where the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) applies, we may process personal information on the basis of:
- Your consent;
- The performance of a contract or steps taken at your request before entering into a contract;
- Our legitimate interests, where those interests are not overridden by your rights and interests;
- Compliance with legal obligations; or
- Another lawful basis permitted under applicable law.
Where processing is based on consent, you may withdraw your consent at any time, subject to legal or contractual restrictions and reasonable notice.
5. Contact Forms
If you submit information through a contact form on our website, we will use the information primarily to respond to your inquiry and provide the assistance or information requested.
Information submitted through our forms may be accessible to authorized FY International personnel and appropriate service providers who assist us in managing communications and website operations.
We ask users not to submit highly sensitive personal information through general contact forms.
6. Email Communications and Mailchimp
FY International may use Mailchimp to manage newsletters, email communications, subscriptions, and related communications.
If you subscribe to our communications, your name, email address, preferences, and interaction information may be processed by Mailchimp on our behalf.
Mailchimp may process personal information in jurisdictions outside your country of residence, including the United States and other international locations. Mailchimp states that it uses contractual and other safeguards for international data transfers and provides a Data Processing Addendum for applicable processing activities.
You may unsubscribe from FY International marketing communications at any time by using the unsubscribe mechanism included in our emails or by contacting us directly.
Transactional or administrative communications may still be sent where necessary.
7. Cookies and Similar Technologies
Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to provide functionality, understand website usage, improve performance, and remember user preferences.
Cookies may include:
- Strictly necessary cookies: Required for the website to function properly.
- Functional cookies: Used to remember preferences and improve functionality.
- Analytics cookies: Used to understand how visitors interact with the website.
- Other cookies or technologies: Where implemented, these may be described through our cookie consent mechanism.
Where required by applicable law, non-essential cookies will only be placed or activated after obtaining the appropriate consent.
You may manage or withdraw your cookie preferences through the cookie consent mechanism available on our website, where provided.
8. Google Analytics
FY International uses Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our website and to improve website performance and content.
Google Analytics may collect information relating to website interactions, device and browser information, approximate location, and other usage information. Google Analytics primarily uses first-party cookies for analytics purposes.
We may configure Google Analytics privacy controls and data retention settings in accordance with our legal and operational requirements.
Where required by applicable law, we will obtain consent before activating analytics cookies or similar technologies.
For additional information regarding Google’s handling of information in connection with Google Analytics, please consult Google’s applicable privacy documentation.
9. Sharing Personal Information
We may disclose personal information to:
- Authorized employees, officers, and representatives of FY International;
- Service providers that assist with website hosting, analytics, email communications, technology, security, or other business functions;
- Mailchimp and other communications providers;
- Professional advisers where reasonably necessary;
- Government authorities, courts, regulators, or law enforcement where required or permitted by law; and
- Other parties where you have provided consent or where disclosure is otherwise authorized by applicable law.
We do not sell personal information collected through our website.
10. FY International Member Firms
FY International is an international organization of independent professional firms.
Member firms are separate legal entities and may independently collect, use, and process personal information in connection with their own services and activities.
Submitting an inquiry through the FY International website does not necessarily mean that your information will be shared with a member firm. Where your inquiry relates to services that may appropriately be handled by a member firm, we may share relevant information with that firm where permitted by applicable law and, where required, with your consent.
Each member firm is responsible for complying with the privacy laws applicable to its own operations.
11. International Data Transfers
Because FY International operates internationally and uses service providers that may operate in different countries, personal information may be processed or stored outside the country in which you reside.
Where applicable law requires safeguards for international transfers of personal information, FY International will take reasonable steps to ensure that appropriate contractual, organizational, or other legally recognized safeguards are in place.
12. Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, maintain appropriate business records, resolve disputes, enforce agreements, comply with legal obligations, and protect our legitimate interests.
Retention periods may vary depending on the nature and purpose of the information.
When personal information is no longer required, we will take reasonable steps to securely delete, destroy, or anonymize it, subject to applicable legal requirements.
13. Data Security
FY International takes reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, collection, use, disclosure, alteration, loss, or destruction.
However, no method of transmitting or storing information electronically can be guaranteed to be completely secure. Accordingly, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
13A. Breach Notification
In the event of a breach of security safeguards involving personal information that creates a real risk of significant harm to an affected individual, FY International will notify the affected individual(s) and the applicable privacy regulator (including the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and/or the British Columbia Information and Privacy Commissioner, as applicable) in accordance with the requirements of applicable law. FY International will also maintain records of any such breaches as required by applicable law. Where the GDPR or UK GDPR applies, FY International will notify the applicable supervisory authority and affected individuals within the timeframes required by that law, where the breach meets the applicable notification threshold.
14. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have rights concerning your personal information, including the right to:
- Request access to personal information we hold about you;
- Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information;
- Request deletion of personal information, where legally available;
- Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent;
- Object to certain processing;
- Request restriction of certain processing;
- Request portability of certain information, where applicable;
- Opt out of marketing communications; and
- Lodge a complaint with the appropriate privacy or data protection authority.
Canadian privacy law may provide individuals with rights to access and challenge the accuracy of personal information held by an organization.
Where the GDPR applies, additional rights may be available depending on the circumstances of the processing.
To exercise a privacy right, please contact us using the information provided below.
14A. California Privacy Rights
If you are a California resident, you may have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act, as amended by the California Privacy Rights Act (collectively, “CCPA”), including the right to: [NEW SECTION]
- Know the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected about you;
- Know the categories of sources from which personal information is collected, and the purposes for which it is used;
- Request deletion of personal information we have collected from you, subject to certain exceptions;
- Correct inaccurate personal information;
- Opt out of the “sale” or “sharing” of personal information, where applicable — FY International does not sell or share personal information as those terms are defined under the CCPA;
- Limit the use of sensitive personal information, where applicable; and
- Not be discriminated against for exercising any of the above rights.
To exercise a California privacy right, please contact us using the information in Section 19 (or Section 19A, once designated). We will verify your request in accordance with applicable law before responding.
15. Children's Privacy
Our website is intended primarily for business and professional audiences and is not directed toward children.
We do not knowingly collect personal information from children through the website.
If you believe that a child has provided personal information to us, please contact us so that we can assess and, where appropriate, delete the information.
16. Third-Party Websites
Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including websites operated by member firms, professional organizations, social media platforms, technology providers, or other organizations.
FY International is not responsible for the privacy practices, content, security, or policies of third-party websites.
We encourage users to review the privacy policies of any third-party website they visit.
17. Business Contact Information
Information relating to individuals in their professional capacity may be collected and used for legitimate business communication purposes, subject to applicable law.
18. 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 services.
When we make material changes, we may provide additional notice where required by applicable law.
The “Last Updated” date at the top of this Privacy Policy indicates when it was most recently revised.
19. Contact Us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise a privacy right, or have a concern about how your personal information is handled, please contact:
FY International Auditing and Consulting Corp.
Suite 1111 – 1030 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, BC V6E 2Y3
Canada
Email: info@fyinternational.com
We will make reasonable efforts to respond to privacy inquiries within the time required by applicable law.
Where appropriate, individuals may also have the right to contact the relevant privacy or data protection authority in their jurisdiction.
19A. Privacy Officer
FY International has designated a Privacy Officer responsible for overseeing compliance with this Privacy Policy and applicable privacy laws. Questions, concerns, or requests to exercise a privacy right may be directed to the Privacy Officer at the contact information set out in Section 19 above, or to: [Privacy Officer name / title, e.g., “Privacy Officer, FY International Auditing and Consulting Corp.”], [email]. [NEW SECTION]