What Accountancy Insurance Brokers Limited does

Accountancy Insurance Brokers Limited, founded in 2003 by Managing Director Pat Driscoll and headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, specializes in tax audit fee insurance marketed under the registered trademark Audit Shield. The company operates exclusively in the public practice accounting channel, partnering with more than 3,000 accounting firms across Canada, Australia, and New Zealand who offer Audit Shield as a value-added service to their individual and business clients. The product insures the professional fees an accounting firm charges a client when the Canada Revenue Agency or other government revenue agency initiates an audit, enquiry, investigation, or review of a filed return, with policies underwritten by certain underwriters at Lloyd's of London. Extensions of cover include CEWS (Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy) reviews.

The company's technology layer is built around a tax audit insurance platform with digital service delivery, including a corporate website, client inquiry workflows, and the Audit Shield mobile application (available on iOS and Android) that lets clients view coverage status, generate quotes, and receive notifications. The information security management system is ISO 27001 certified, a relevant assurance given that the platform handles confidential taxpayer and accounting-firm data.

Accountancy Insurance generates revenue through recurring insurance premiums paid by accounting firms on behalf of their covered clients, typically billed annually. The go-to-market is a B2B2C channel-partner motion: accounting firms enroll clients into Audit Shield during the tax preparation cycle using a delivery method the company designed to maximize client take-up while minimizing firm time and resources. Supporting marketing channels include content marketing (a blog covering CRA audit trends and tax policy), webinars, social media, and partner referrals. The company also pursues alliances with major tax and accounting bodies across its Commonwealth markets and is a member/supporter of the Canadian Tax Foundation.

Name

Accountancy Insurance Brokers Limited

Legal name

Accountancy Insurance Brokers Limited

Website

https://accountancyinsurance.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Accountancy Insurance Brokers Limited provides tax audit fee insurance under the Audit Shield brand to public practice accounting firms in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Its B2B2C model routes coverage to end-clients through a network of more than 3,000 accounting firm partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tax Audit Insurance

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421), Agencies, Brokerages, and Other Insurance Related Activities (5242)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Reinsurance Brokerage (FSAEADAE)

Keywords

• Tax audit insurance
• Professional fee coverage
• Accounting firm services
• CRA audit coverage
• Government review insurance

Headquarters

HQ city

Toronto

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Audit Shield Insurance Premiums: Accountancy Insurance generates revenue through insurance premiums paid by accounting firms on behalf of their clients. The Audit Shield policy covers professional fees incurred as a result of an official audit, enquiry, investigation or review of a filed return instigated by Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and other relevant government revenue agencies. The policy is underwritten by certain underwriters at Lloyd's.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Accountancy Insurance Brokers Limited provides tax audit fee insurance under the Audit Shield brand, underwritten by certain underwriters at Lloyd's. The product covers professional fees incurred by accounting firms' clients during official audits, enquiries, investigations, or reviews of filed returns instigated by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and other government revenue agencies. Coverage is distributed exclusively through partnerships with public practice accounting firms, supported by the Audit Shield mobile/web application for status tracking, quote generation, and notifications.

Product overview

Accountancy Insurance Brokers Limited offers a single unified product: Audit Shield, a comprehensive tax audit insurance offering tailored specifically for Canadian accounting firms. Audit Shield covers professional fees incurred from government-initiated audits, enquiries, investigations, or reviews by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and other revenue agencies. The company also provides the Audit Shield App as a complementary digital tool that enables accounting firms to view client status, generate quotes, and receive notifications. The product is underwritten by Lloyd's and serves over 3000 accounting firms across Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Audit Shield: Comprehensive tax audit insurance covering professional fees incurred as a result of an official audit, enquiry, investigation or review of a filed return instigated by Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and other relevant government revenue agencies.

Products and services

• Audit Shield Tax audit insurance tailored specifically to the needs of Canadian accounting firms. The policy covers professional fees incurred as a result of an official audit, enquiry, investigation or review of a filed return instigated by Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) and other relevant government revenue agencies. Coverage is underwritten by certain underwriters at Lloyd's and offered to clients of accounting firm partners across Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
• Audit Shield App Mobile and web application enabling accounting firm partners and their clients to view client coverage status, generate quotes, receive notifications, and manage their Audit Shield insurance information. Available on iOS App Store and Google Play.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 3000 accounting firms partner with Accountancy Insurance across Canada, Australia, and New Zealand
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Canadian Tax FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccountancy Insurance is a member/supporter of the Canadian Tax Foundation, demonstrating commitment to the accounting and tax professional community. This association helps the company stay connected with industry developments and professional networks.
• Major Tax and Accounting BodiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAccountancy Insurance supports the accounting community via alliances with major tax and accounting bodies across the Commonwealth countries where it operates, helping maintain professional relationships and industry credibility.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• CFC Underwriting: Specialty insurance MGA underwriting complex and emerging risks for businesses across multiple lines including professional liability. Comparable as a Lloyd's-affiliated specialty underwriter that could expand into tax audit fee coverage and compete for accounting firm clients.
• CoverWallet: Digital SMB insurance broker (now part of Aon) that distributes specialty commercial insurance to small businesses online. Comparable in its technology-enabled specialty insurance distribution and focus on simplifying complex insurance products for SMB clients.

Broad incumbents

• Aon plc: Global professional services firm with a major insurance brokerage and reinsurance practice, including Aon Risk Solutions serving accounting firms. Has scale advantages and similar access to Lloyd's capacity, representing a credible threat if it chose to target tax audit fee insurance specifically.
• Markel Group: Specialty insurer and investment holding company with a professional liability and small business insurance focus. Comparable in its specialty insurance underwriting and serving professional services customers, with potential to expand into niche tax audit fee coverage.
• Hub International: Large North American insurance brokerage with a strong personal and commercial lines platform and significant presence in Canada. Comparable distribution model—working through partner networks to distribute specialty coverage—and overlap with Accountancy Insurance's accounting firm customer base.
• Marsh McLennan: World's largest insurance broker with a dedicated Professional Services practice serving accounting firms. Comparable in that it places professional liability and specialty coverages through Lloyd's and other markets for similar end customers.
• Hiscox Group: Specialty insurer with strong professional liability and small business insurance offerings, including products targeted at accountants and small professional firms. Comparable target customer base (small/mid-market professional services) and specialty underwriting focus.
• Beazley Group: Lloyd's-listed specialty insurer with a specific professional liability division serving accountants, lawyers, and consultants. Highly comparable in underwriting specialization and Lloyd's syndicate structure, with the potential to offer tax audit fee coverage as an extension of its professional lines book.
• Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Global insurance brokerage and risk management firm with deep professional services practice serving accounting firms with professional liability and specialty coverages. Significantly larger and broader than Accountancy Insurance, but addresses overlapping customer needs through specialty insurance products.

Direct peers

• BizCover: Australian online insurance broker specializing in small business insurance, operating in Australia (a key market for Accountancy Insurance). Comparable as a digitally-enabled specialty insurance broker operating in a Commonwealth market with similar B2B2C mechanics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/accountancyinsuranceCA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/accountancy-insurance

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Accountancy Insurance Brokers Limited