Companies House Service - Overview and User Guide
Companies House Service is the UK’s official source for company registration details, filing history and basic financial disclosures. Finance and accounting teams use it to verify legal entities, validate counterparties and strengthen internal controls.
For related public register context, see Company Register Guidance .
What is Companies House Service?
Companies House Service gives access to core company information, including:
- Company status and registration details
- Filing history and confirmation statements
- Director and person with significant control (PSC) information
- Basic accounts and legal events
This data is used as a baseline for supplier onboarding, customer checks and governance reviews.
Key features for finance teams
| Feature | What it provides | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Company lookup | Name, company number, status | Confirms legal entity before onboarding |
| Filing history | Accounts and statutory submissions | Supports control and audit evidence |
| Officer/PSC data | Leadership and ownership details | Helps KYC and risk screening |
| API access | Structured data retrieval | Enables automation in ReAI workflows |
Access levels and practical usage
Most core data is available through the public service, while advanced credit analysis often requires combining Companies House data with commercial credit providers.
| Access model | Typical usage | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| Public web search | Manual checks and one-off verification | Small teams and ad hoc controls |
| API integration | Automated entity validation and monitoring | Finance teams with recurring checks |
| Combined data stack | Companies House + credit bureau data | Credit control and due diligence teams |
How to use it in ReAI workflows
- Retrieve company number and status for each new counterparty.
- Verify filing health and key governance data.
- Store snapshots as control evidence in the audit trail.
- Trigger alerts when status changes affect risk profile.
When paired with role-based access control , only authorized users can approve onboarding overrides.
Typical use cases
- Validate new customers before setting credit terms.
- Verify supplier legal identity before creating payment profiles.
- Prepare due diligence packs for acquisitions and partnerships.
- Support AML routines together with anti-money laundering procedures .
Integration with accounting controls
| Process | Companies House input | ReAI output |
|---|---|---|
| Supplier onboarding | Company status and officers | Approval workflow with evidence links |
| Customer setup | Legal identity and filing trail | Risk score and payment terms proposal |
| Continuous monitoring | Status updates and filing events | Alerts in accounting dashboard |
Best practices
- Standardize a checklist for every onboarding case.
- Keep a timestamped copy of key records used in decisions.
- Review high-risk entities quarterly.
- Combine register data with transaction behavior and bad debt indicators .
Conclusion
Companies House Service is a core data source for UK accounting controls. Used correctly, it strengthens verification quality, improves audit readiness and supports safer commercial decisions.