Privacy Policy

Last Updated: September 13, 2022

Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. (“PKF Texas,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) takes privacy seriously and is dedicated to protecting your personal information (also referred to as “personal data”, “personally identifiable information” or “PII”). As such, we are committed to the appropriate protection and use of personal information that you provide or has been collected via this website (www.pkftexas.com) or email. This policy does not apply to employee information or the information we may collect from you offline. We collect personal information that you provide so that we can offer information and/or services to you. Please review this Privacy Policy in full to learn more about the personal information we collect, process, use, and share, why and how we do so, and how we protect such personal information. By using this site, you agree to the terms of this Privacy Policy. As discussed further, below, you may consent (“opt-in”) to receive our email communications – such as newsletters, blogs, events, timely alerts, or other promotional emails. Without penalty, you may also withdraw that consent (“opt out”) and may request that your personal information be corrected or deleted.

 

1. Collection and Use of Personal Information

  • 1.1 The Personal Information We Collect and Process

Generally, we collect and use personal information for internal purposes in furtherance of our business, such as to enhance the services and information we provide to you. To do so, we largely collect personal information about you that you choose to provide, such as through subscribing to communications or services from us or by filling out a contact request form on our website. For example, we may collect your contact information, such as your name, address, fax number, telephone number, email address, your professional title, and your company name. Where additional, optional information is requested, you will be notified at that time. When you submit personal information to us, we will use this information in the manner outlined in this Privacy Policy. Your personal information is not used for other purposes, unless we obtain your permission, or unless otherwise required or permitted by law or professional standards. For example, if you register on our website or subscribe to certain services and provide information about your preferences, we will use the information you provide to personalize your user experience. In some cases, where you have registered for certain services, we will store your email address temporarily until we receive confirmation of the information you provided via an email (i.e. where we send an email to the email address provided as part of your registration to confirm a subscription request).We process personal information in accordance with applicable laws, directives, and professional standards. When we process your personal information, it will be for one or more of the following reasons.

  • To further our legitimate interests in running our business, so long as it does not outweigh your privacy interests. For example, we may process your personal information to:
    • Offer information and/or services when you visit our website;
    • Guard against fraud or criminal activity and to safeguard our IT systems;
    • Personalize your online experience and improve the performance of our website;
    • Conduct and analyze our marketing activities;
    • To meet our corporate and professional obligations;
    • To exercise our fundamental rights under applicable laws and directives, including our freedom to conduct a business and right to property;
  • To process certain of your personal information for a specific reason that we request and obtain your specific permission for. You may withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us at jlemanski@pkftexas.com; or
  • To comply with a legal obligation, such as performing obligations under a contract, keeping records for tax purposes or when we are legally required to provide information to a government body or law enforcement agency;
  • 1.2 Automatic Collection of Personal Information

We also collect personal information by via “cookies,” and related technologies, as outlined in our Cookie Policy, which is incorporated into this Privacy Policy by reference.
We also may collect your IP address, which is a unique number assigned to your Internet-connected computer or device that can be recognized by other computers, networks, and servers. We may collect your IP address for IT security and system diagnostic purposes. We may also use IP addresses in aggregate form to conduct analyses on website trends and performance.

  •   1.2.1 Google Analytics

Our website uses Google Analytics, a web analytics service provided by Google, which uses cookies and similar technologies to collect information about use of this website. Google Analytics collects information from users such as age, gender, interests, demographics, how often they visit our website, what pages they visit, and what other websites they have used before coming to our website. We use the information we get from Google Analytics to analyze traffic, remarket our products and services to users, improve our marketing, advertising, and to improve our website. We may enable Google Analytics advertising features such as Remarketing with Google Analytics, Google Display Network Impression Reporting, and Google Analytics Demographics and Interest Reporting.

You can learn about Google’s practices by going to www.google.com/policies/privacy/partners/, and opt-out of them by downloading the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on, available at https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

2. Sharing and Transfer of Personal Information

We do not share personal information with third parties, except as necessary for our legitimate professional and business needs, as provided in Section 3, below, or to fulfill a request or inquiry from your (in which case we will obtain your consent to share specific information at the time such a request is made), and/or as required or permitted by law or professional standards. We will not transfer the personal information you provide to any third parties for their own direct marketing use. We also do not rent or sell your personal information.

 

3. Others Who May Receive or Have Access to Your Data

We may disclose your personal information to our third party service providers, agents, subcontractors, and other organizations for legitimate professional and business needs, such as third parties that provide services to us or directly to you on our behalf. Such third parties may include:

  • IT service providers (such data and cloud hosting providers);
  • advertising agencies;
  • administrative and document management services;
  • finance/tax authorities;
  • governmental bodies (as necessary to comply with applicable laws and regulations)

When we use third party service providers, we only disclose to them any personal information that is necessary for them to provide their service and we have an agreement in place that requires them to keep your information secure, confidential, and not to use it other than in accordance with our specific instructions.

 

4. Where We Store Information

Our website is generally operated in the United States. If you are located outside of the United States, please be aware that any information you provide to us may be transferred to the United States. Please also be aware that by using our website and giving us your information, you consent to such transfer. You also understand that the U.S. may not provide the same level of protections as the laws of your country.

 

5. Controlling and Accessing Your Data

As indicated above, the personal information that you provide PKF Texas is generally voluntary; you are not required to submit any personal information to us. However, we may request that you provide certain personal information in order for you to receive communications from us, such as about our services and events. We will also ask for your permission for certain uses of your personal information, which you can agree to or decline. If you opt-in for particular services or communications, such as an e-newsletter or blog, you will be able to unsubscribe at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link in the footer of the email or following the instructions included in each communication. If you decide to unsubscribe from a service or communication, we will try to remove your information promptly, although we may require additional information before we can process your request. As further described in our Cookie Policy, you can consent to or decline certain cookies and related technologies by following the instructions in our Cookie Policy and the pop up related to cookies when you first access our site. “If PKF Texas processes your personal information, you have the following rights:

  • You have the right to access and correct that data. This is sometimes called a “Subject Access Request.” If we agree that we are required to provide personal information to you, we will provide it to you free of charge. Before providing personal information to you, we may ask for proof of identity and sufficient information about your interactions with us that we can locate your personal information. If the information we hold about you is incorrect, you are entitled to ask us to correct any inaccuracies in the personal information.
  • You have the right to object to us processing your personal information if we are not entitled to use it anymore.
  • You may have the right to have your information deleted, have its processing restricted in certain circumstances, and/or to obtain copies of information we hold about you in electronic form.

You can make a request or exercise these rights by contacting PKF Texas jlemanski@pkftexas.com and we will make all reasonable and practical efforts to comply with your request, so long as it is consistent with applicable law and professional standards. To do so, we may need additional information from you or for you to take appropriate steps to verify your identity.

 

6. Security and Data Retention

We value your privacy and security. We take appropriate measures to protect your personal data from unauthorized access, such as by using third party providers/services that encrypt data-at-rest and in-transit using industry-standard encryption protocols. However, the Internet is not 100% secure, and despite our best efforts, security cannot be guaranteed against all threats. We also make reasonable efforts to retain personal information only for so long as the information is needed for our legitimate business needs (e.g., professional, marketing, or analytic purposes) or to comply with legal, regulatory, and professional standards or until an individual requests that the information be deleted in accordance with this policy.

 

7. Website Links

Any link (including a hyperlink, button or referral device of any kind) used on this website is provided for your use and convenience. The appearance of a link on the website does not constitute an endorsement, recommendation or certification by PKF Texas nor should the presence of a link in any way be construed as a suggestion that any third-party website has any relationship with us. We do not endorse the content on any third-party websites. We are not responsible for the content of linked third party websites or third-party advertisements, and do not make any representations regarding their content or accuracy. We do not knowingly link to websites that may infringe on valid and existing trademarks, service marks, copyrights or patents. The use of third-party websites linked on this website is at your own risk and subject to the terms and conditions of use and any applicable privacy policies for such websites. PKF Texas does not endorse any product that may be advertised on the website. Links to PKF Texas’ website must be by prior written approval of Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C. No other links into the website are permitted. To obtain written permission, contact us at jlemanski@pkftexas.com. Unless prior written permission from PKF Texas has been obtained, third parties (i) are not permitted to advertise in any way that suggests that we have any relationship or affiliation with a third party website or that we endorse, sponsor or recommend the information, products or services on such website, (ii) cannot use any of our names, logos, designs, slogans, product trademarks or service marks in any advertising, publicity, promotion, or in any other commercial matter, and (iii) cannot use any of our names, logos, designs, slogans, product trademarks or service marks, or any other words or codes identifying the website, in any “metatag” or other information used by search engines or other information location tools to identify and select websites.

 

8. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time, at our discretion. When we make changes to this Privacy Policy, we will revise the “Last updated” date at the top of this Privacy Policy. We will communicate any changes to the processing of personal data as described in this Privacy Policy that affect you through an appropriate channel, in accordance with how we typically communicate with you.

 

9. Questions / Concerns

PKF Texas is committed to protecting the online privacy of your personal information. If you have questions or comments about how we handle your personal information, please contact us at jlemanski@pkftexas.com. You may also use this address to communicate any concerns you may have regarding compliance with our Privacy Policy Statement.

Privacy Statement for California Residents

Last Updated: November 2, 2021

California residents have certain privacy rights, subject to certain limitations, as specified under California law, including the California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018 (“CCPA”).

This privacy statement for California residents supplements the information contained in our main Privacy Policy and applies solely to California residents from whom we have collected personal information, as set forth below.

For purposes of this privacy statement:

  • “personal information” means information that identifies, relates to, describes, is reasonably capable of being associated with, or could reasonably be linked, directly or indirectly, with a particular California “consumer” or “household.” It does not include publicly available information or information that has been de-identified.
  • “consumer” means a natural person (i.e. individual) who is a California resident.
    • In our role as a provider of services and information to our corporate clients, we may collect, process, and disclose certain personal information of individual consumers associated with such clients, as set forth in our main Privacy Policy and this privacy statement.
  • “household” means a person or group of people who: (i) reside at the same address, (ii) share a common device or the same service provided by a business, and (iii) are identified by the business as sharing the same group account or unique identifier.

This privacy notice does not apply to California residents in their capacity as PKF job applicants, current and former employees, PKF contractors, and persons we interact with in their capacity of representing another business. We may provide a separate privacy statement in connection with those interactions, in accordance with any applicable laws, and ant such separate privacy statement will apply to our processing, use, and disclosure of such personal information.

If you have any questions about the information provided in this privacy statement, our main Privacy Policy, or our privacy practices, please contact us as set forth below or in our main Privacy Policy.

 

Information We May Collect and Disclose

As explained in our main Privacy Policy:

  • We generally collect and use personal information for internal purposes in furtherance of our business, such as to enhance the services and information we provide to you. To do so, we largely collect personal information about you that you choose to provide, such as through subscribing to communications or services from us or by filling out a contact request form on our website.
  • We may disclose your personal information to our third party service providers, agents, subcontractors, and other organizations for legitimate professional and business needs, such as third parties that provide services to us or directly to you on our behalf. Such third parties may include:
    • IT service providers (such data and cloud hosting providers);
    • advertising agencies;
    • administrative and document management services;
    • finance/tax authorities;
    • governmental bodies (as necessary to comply with applicable laws and regulations)
  • When we use third party service providers, we only disclose to them any personal information that is necessary for them to provide their services and we have an agreement in place that requires them to keep your information secure, confidential, and not to use it other than in accordance with our specific instructions.
  • We do not otherwise share personal information with third parties, except as necessary for our legitimate professional and business needs or to fulfill a request or inquiry from your (in which case we will obtain your consent to share specific information at the time such a request is made), and/or as required or permitted by law or professional standards.

We may provide a separate privacy statement in connection with certain services or information that we provide to our clients. If applicable, such separate privacy statement will apply to our processing of personal information in the performance of those services.

Given the range of the services and information we provide to our clients, we may have collected and/or disclosed the following categories of personal information within the last twelve (12) months:

Categories of Personal Information

Such Personal Information May Include, But is Not Limited To

Identifiers

Real name, alias, postal address, unique personal identifier, online identifier, Internet Protocol (“IP”) address, email address, account name, social security number, driver’s license number, or passport number.

Protected classification characteristics under California or federal law

Sex, marital status, familial status, race, or gender.

Professional or employment-related information

Professional licenses or designations.

Geolocation data

GPS data, locational information based upon your IP address, cell network data, or other similar locational data.

Commercial information

Products or services purchased, obtained, or considered, or other purchasing or consuming histories or tendencies.

Biometric information

An individual’s physiological, biological or behavioral characteristics that can be used singly or in combination with each other or with other identifying data to establish individual identity, such as, but not limited to, facial images or voice recordings.

Internet or other similar network activity

Browsing history, search history, and information regarding your interaction with an Internet website, application, or advertisement.

Inferences drawn from other personal information

 

Creating a profile about a consumer reflecting the consumer’s preferences, characteristics, psychological trends, preferences, predispositions, behavior, attitudes, intelligence, abilities, or aptitudes.

Other personal information not listed above and described in the California Customer Records Act, California Civil Code Section 1798.80(e)

Signature, physical characteristics or description, insurance policy number, bank account number, credit card number, debit card number, or any other financial, medical or health insurance information.

 

Sale of Personal Information

We do not believe that we “sell” your personal information in accordance with the CCPA’s definition of that term. However, we do use uses cookies and similar technologies, including “third-party cookies” (e.g., Google Analytics) and offer you choices about our use of such technologies as set forth in our Cookie Policy.

 

Your California Privacy Rights

You may be entitled by applicable laws to exercise the following rights with respect to your personal information:

  • Right to Know. You have the right to request what applicable personal information we collect, use, disclose and/or sell.
  • Right to Delete. You have the right to request that we delete the personal information that we have collected about you, subject to certain exclusions and exceptions, as explained in our main Privacy Policy.
  • Right to Opt-out of the Sale of Personal Information. You have the right to request to be opted-out from the sale of your personal information. However, as described above in “Sale of Personal Information,” we do not sell personal information.
  • Right to Non-discrimination. You have the right not to receive discriminatory treatment by us for the exercise of the privacy rights described above.

To exercise any of your rights or for questions on this privacy statement, please contact us by:

We will respond to authorized and verified requests as soon as practicable and as required by law, including any reason for denying or restricting a request. Please note that, where we have received your personal information through our corporate business clients or where we are otherwise operating as a service provider, we may refer you to the business with whom you have a direct relationship in order to implement your request, pursuant to applicable law.

The above rights are also subject to various exclusions and exceptions under applicable laws, and under certain circumstances, as further detailed in our main Privacy Policy, we may be unable to implement your request.