Copying the database presented a few problems so I list them here in case anyone is interested.

When you create the database to import into also add a new user with the data found in

<frontaccounting root>/config_db.php

.
Without this you can't login and you won't be told why.

Upload file size is limited in my local php.ini, so find and edit these lines in php/php.ini.

memory_limit = -1
upload_max_filesize = -1 
post_max_size = -1 
Also on a local site execution time may need increasing, so find and edit phpMyAdmin/libraries/config.default.php.
$cfg['ExecTimeLimit'] = 600;

This gives you 600 seconds.

Thanks for your help.

In cPanel there may be a option to change version by using either:-

MultiPHP Manager
Or
Select PHP Version

and if these options do not appear in cPanel open a ticket.

Your IP 'Just Host' has numerous articles in their help center... https://my.justhost.com/hosting/help/se … search=php

I propose to copy the website to my localhost which runs PHP 5.6.3 and MySQL 5. I am quite happy to operate locally at least to the end of the financial year.
Do you foresee any problems, maybe  with passwords, permissions etc?
I will then install the latest version of FA on the real web server and seed it with the final balance sheet data.

Thanks again for your very quick reply.
Jonathan