http://www.demacmedia.com/magento-commerce/magento-tutorials/mini-tutorialremoving-customer-account-navigation-links-via-layout-xml/

Acme_Module.xml

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<config>
	<modules>
		<Acme_Module>
			<active>true</active>
			<codePool>local</codePool>
		</Acme_Module>
	</modules>
</config>

config.xml

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<config>
	<modules>
		<Acme_Module>
		<version>0.0.1</version>
		</Acme_Module>
	</modules>
	<global>
		<blocks>
			<customer>
				<rewrite>
					<account_navigation>Acme_Module_Block_Account_Navigation</account_navigation>
				</rewrite>
			</customer>
		</blocks>
	</global>
</config>

local.xml

<customer_account>
	<reference name="customer_account_navigation">
		<action method="removeLinkByName">
			<name>recurring_profiles</name>	
		</action>
	</reference>
</customer_account>

Navigation.php

<?php

class Demac_Customer_Block_Account_Navigation
	extends Mage_Customer_Block_Account_Navigation
{
	public function removeLinkByName($name)
	{
		unset($this->_links[$name]);
		return $this;
	}
}

recurring_profile.xml

<customer_account>
	<reference name="customer_account_navigation" >
		<action method="addLink" translate="label">
			<name>recurring_profiles</name>
			<path>sales/recurring_profile/</path>
			<label>Recurring Profiles</label>		
		</action>
	</reference>
</customer_account>