Certification requirements vary depending on the jurisdiction, and generally include work experience, training, and a bachelor’s degree. Although a license isn’t required to work as a professional bookkeeper, there are nationally-recognized certifications that may help improve employment opportunities. DISCLAIMERNothing on this site shall be considered legal advice and no attorney-client relationship is established. This could include providing you with all necessary paperwork and information or letting you know of any changes that occur within the company.

• The term “reasonable assurance” implies a risk that material monetary misstatements may remain undetected and precludes our guaranteeing the accuracy and completeness of the financial statements.
• In the event of any future disagreements, both parties agree to resolve the issues through mediation.
• A clear, confident accounting engagement letter helps assure potential clients that you are capable and will do a good job.
• You should always ensure you receive a signed copy of the engagement letter before you start any kind of work for the client to avoid disputes.
• Besides the scope of services, it also includes the fee structure and the duration of the service.

On your invoice, be sure to let the client know what happens if the invoice is not paid on time. PandaDoc serves as a comprehensive solution for accountancy firms seeking user-friendly functionality and efficient document processing. Accounting is a global service, and each geographic area has its own regulations, specific structures, and other differences. After signing, each of you will keep one fully-executed copy of the letter.

What is an engagement letter?

The bookkeeping engagement letter should include a timeline for the work included along with who is responsible for meeting each milestone. As the bookkeeper, the deadlines should be contingent on receiving access to the client’s information and accounting system. For the client, the timelines should include reasonable turnaround times for the finished project once the information has been provided. Have a look at the bookkeeping engagement letter template we have created to help you to understand it in a better way. CocoSign has numerous employment templates from which you can choose the one that suits the accounting services offered by your firm. Bookkeeping engagement letters are a powerful tool for expanding your business while alleviating risks.

It outlines the expectations, services, and terms of the relationship. The bookkeeping engagement letter should be reviewed and signed by both parties before any work begins. This document serves as a binding contract and can be used in the event of any disputes.

You will need the client’s full legal name, address, and contact information. You will also need to have a predetermined set of services you will provide as a bookkeeper for your client, how much you will charge for your services and when the payments will be due. This part of the engagement letter is included to protect the client and assure them you want to maintain the confidentiality of their books and finances. Though this part does not directly benefit the bookkeeper, it’s important to state you intend to protect the client’s data.

Sources of sample engagement letters and sample terms and conditions include a CPA’s professional liability carrier, the AICPA (particularly the Tax Section), paid providers, and alliance networks. Leverage samples to help create engagement letter templates that are best for your firm, services, clients, and risk tolerance. Remember to have an attorney familiar with the laws in your jurisdiction review your templates for enforceability. While speaking about the bookkeeping engagement letters, accounting firms are widely using them in this highly competitive business niche.

Then you must include how many days’ notice the client must provide to the bookkeeper before they find themselves without a job. For renewal, simply state whether the agreement terminates automatically and when. Especially where financials are concerned, you must execute an official confidentiality agreement. This outlines the intent of the bookkeeper to maintain the confidentiality of their books and finances.

• At the conclusion of our audit, we will request certain written representations from you about the financial statements and matters related thereto.
• For example, you may need certain bookkeeping or financial records from the client by a set time of the month in order to complete your tasks on time.
• It drastically increases the chances you will be paid for your services.
• Meanwhile, CocoSign shall not be responsible for the examination or evaluation of reviews, recommendations, services, etc. posted by parties other than CocoSign itself on its platform.
• You may or may not need to include every member of your team who will be working on the engagement (although some government and quasi-government clients will want this information).

Engagement letters should include a provision for how the contract can be ended by either party. This may include clauses such as requiring 30 days notice from either party to terminate the agreement or a statement clarifying the contract can be terminated by either party without notice. The working papers for this engagement are the property of our firm and constitute confidential information and will be retained by us in accordance with our policies and procedures. If any dispute arises (between/among) the parties hereto, the parties agree first to try in good faith to settle the dispute through non-binding mediation. The parties agree that, if any dispute cannot be settled through mediation, the dispute may then be brought before a court of competent jurisdiction, but the matter will ultimately be decided by the court, sitting without a jury.

How can I efficiently implement engagement letters if I’m not using them right now? Or not using them on all engagements?

If you’re looking for simple workflow templates, which includes a bookkeeping client onboarding checklist, access our collection of 32 customizable accounting workflow templates and checklists here. This free resource includes a ton of the most popular accounting templates including monthly bookkeeping, weekly accounting analysis, client onboarding procedures, and common tax return forms. Join the thousands of other bookkeepers our collection of 32 customizable accounting workflow templates and checklists here. A proper engagement letter will outline when the client will be billed, payment terms, and even how much additional services will cost. The cost for additional services (since you won’t know what they are until you’re asked to do them) are often billed at normal hourly rates. I will return your original records to you at the end of this engagement.

You should securely store these records, along with all supporting documents, canceled checks, etc., as these items may later be needed to prove accuracy and completeness of a return. I will electronically retain copies of your records and our work papers for your engagement for seven years, after which these documents will be destroyed. If your tax return is selected for audit by the IRS or by the state tax authorities, I am available to represent you or to prepare materials in response to correspondence. However, these are additional expenses not included in my tax preparation fees and I will render additional invoices for the time and expense incurred.

When to Use an Accountant Engagement Letter

While we stand behind our professional judgment and experience, our services are governed by the professional standards of the AICPA. Our responsibility in this engagement consists of completing the quarterly compilations net cash flow formula with care and due diligence. The annual review will be completed within 6 weeks of receiving your financial information. You know that client… the one who calls every couple of days with a new accounting emergency.

Free Bookkeeping Engagement Letter Template

This document serves as the guide for your relationship, as it outlines the expectations and responsibilities of both parties during the bookkeeping process. Included is a template letter to use as a guide when you offer your services to a new client. A bookkeeping engagement letter sets the tone and scope of the bookkeeping project.

Another way to help implement engagement letters more efficiently is by using a standard terms-and-conditions addendum. This is a set of standard, firmwide terms and conditions that are updated periodically and attached as an addendum to every engagement letter issued by the firm. Standard terms and conditions apply to all engagements and give the firm and the client the benefit of a single understanding addressing the key contractual elements of the relationship. In addition to helping a firm manage its risk consistently across the firm, a standard terms-and-conditions addendum reduces the amount of language that is required to be updated for each engagement. Your accounting engagement letter should not only outline your responsibilities but the responsibilities of your client.

We are also not responsible for delays caused by delays in receiving information from your firm. It leaves a bad taste in everyone’s mouth, whether you’re the client who feels like they’re being overcharged or the bookkeeper who feels like they’re being cheated out of well-earned compensation. Should I encounter instances of unclear tax law, or of potential conflicts in the interpretation of the law, I will outline the reasonable courses of action and the risks and consequences of each. I will ultimately adopt, on your behalf, the alternative you select. This Agreement is fully and voluntarily entered into by the Parties.

This article should not be viewed as a substitute for recommendations of a retained professional. Such consultation is recommended in applying this material in any particular factual situations. Ready to find out if workflow software is the right fit for your firm? Select the potential number of users at your company below to get started with your 14-day free trial. Our work consists of recording keeping, and we do not provide any auditing or fraud detection.