Terms of Engagement

Sterling Advisory

Effective: March 2026

These Terms of Engagement govern the provision of credit control and accounts receivable services by Sterling Advisory to the Client. By instructing Sterling Advisory to proceed with any work, the Client agrees to these terms.

In these terms, “Sterling Advisory” refers to the sole trader business operated by Scott Barley, trading as Sterling Advisory. “Client” refers to the business or individual engaging Sterling Advisory for services.

1. Services

Sterling Advisory provides credit control and accounts receivable support on a flexible, project-by-project basis. Services may include:

  1. Invoice chasing on behalf of the Client, including telephone and email follow-up with the Client’s customers.
  2. Aged debt review and cleanup, including investigation and resolution of overdue balances.
  3. Accounts receivable project work, including system migrations, reconciliation support, and interim AR cover.

The specific scope of work will be agreed in writing (including by email) before any engagement begins.

2. Fees and Payment

Fees are structured according to the type of engagement:

  1. Invoice chasing: A percentage fee applied to amounts successfully collected, as agreed in advance. No collection, no fee.
  2. Aged debt cleanup: A fixed fee quoted and agreed before work begins.
  3. AR projects: A day rate or fixed project fee, quoted and agreed before work begins.

Invoices are issued upon completion of work or at agreed milestones. Payment is due within 14 days of the invoice date unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Sterling Advisory reserves the right to charge interest on overdue payments at a rate of 8% above the Bank of England base rate, in accordance with the Late Payment of Commercial Debts (Interest) Act 1998.

3. Client Obligations

To enable Sterling Advisory to carry out the agreed services, the Client shall:

  1. Provide timely access to all relevant information, systems, and records required to perform the work.
  2. Designate a main point of contact for the engagement.
  3. Respond to reasonable requests for information or clarification within a reasonable timeframe.
  4. Notify Sterling Advisory promptly of any disputes, complaints, or circumstances that may affect the work.

Delays caused by the Client’s failure to provide necessary information or access may affect timelines and are not the responsibility of Sterling Advisory.

4. Confidentiality

Sterling Advisory will treat all information received from the Client as confidential and will not disclose it to any third party without the Client’s prior written consent, except where required by law or regulation.

This obligation survives the termination of any engagement.

5. Data Protection

Sterling Advisory is registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office and complies with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Where Sterling Advisory processes personal data on behalf of the Client, it does so as a data processor. The Client remains the data controller. Sterling Advisory will:

  1. Process personal data only in accordance with the Client’s documented instructions.
  2. Implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal data.
  3. Notify the Client without undue delay upon becoming aware of a personal data breach.
  4. Delete or return all personal data to the Client upon termination of the engagement, unless retention is required by law.

6. Limitation of Liability

Sterling Advisory holds Professional Indemnity insurance and will perform all services with reasonable skill and care.

Sterling Advisory’s total liability in connection with any engagement shall not exceed the greater of:

  1. The total fees paid or payable under the relevant engagement; or
  2. The limit of Sterling Advisory’s Professional Indemnity insurance cover at the time of the claim.

Sterling Advisory shall not be liable for any indirect, consequential, or incidental loss, including loss of profit, revenue, data, or anticipated savings.

Nothing in these terms excludes or limits liability for fraud, death, or personal injury caused by negligence.

7. Termination

Either party may terminate an engagement by giving 7 days’ written notice (including by email) to the other party.

Upon termination:

  1. The Client shall pay for all work completed up to the date of termination.
  2. For invoice chasing engagements, the percentage fee remains payable on any amounts collected as a result of work already carried out, including where payment is received after the termination date.
  3. Sterling Advisory will return or delete all Client data in accordance with clause 5.

8. Intellectual Property

Any templates, processes, or tools developed by Sterling Advisory remain the intellectual property of Sterling Advisory, unless explicitly agreed otherwise in writing.

Reports and work product created specifically for the Client as part of an engagement become the property of the Client upon payment of the relevant fees.

9. Force Majeure

Neither party shall be liable for any failure to perform obligations where such failure results from circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, government action, pandemic, or failure of third-party systems.

10. Disputes

In the event of a dispute, both parties agree to attempt to resolve the matter through good faith negotiation before pursuing any formal proceedings.

11. Governing Law

These terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales. The courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction.

12. Amendments

These terms may be updated from time to time. The version in effect at the time an engagement is agreed shall apply to that engagement. Material changes will be communicated to active Clients in writing.

By instructing Sterling Advisory to proceed with any engagement, the Client confirms acceptance of these Terms of Engagement.

Sterling Advisory  |  scott@sterlingadvisory.uk  |  sterlingadvisory.uk