8 Critical Elements of an Effective Engagement Letter CLIENT NAME. The first critical element may seem obvious—the identities of the parties involved in the engagement. SCOPE OF SERVICES. CPA FIRM RESPONSIBILITIES. CLIENT RESPONSIBILITIES. DELIVERABLES. ENGAGEMENT TIMING. TERMINATION AND WITHDRAWAL. BILLING AND FEES.
What is An Accounting Engagement Letter? Engagement letters for your accounting or CPA firm is a legal document agreement sent to your clients that describes the overall business relationship with your client, clearly defining: Services included and how they'll play out. Each other's responsibilities.
This engagement is based upon the full and active cooperation of Company Name in performing our work. We would be grateful if you would confirm in writing your agreement on the terms of our engagement as described above. We remain at your disposal to provide you with any further information that you may require.
Dear Client Name: We are thrilled you have chosen our firm to provide quarterly compilation services for your business and an annual review. This letter is to confirm our mutual understanding of the terms of our engagement to provide accounting and review services for your firm.
Why Do Accountants Need to Use Engagement Letters? Accounting Engagement Letters are crucial documents designed to kick-off the client's onboarding process, mitigate risks, avoid misunderstandings, and prevent scope creep.
Engagement letters set the terms of the agreement between two parties and include details such as the scope, fees, and responsibilities, among others. Some of the benefits of engagement letters are that they are legally binding documents, they reduce misunderstandings, and they set clear expectations.
How to write an engagement letter Write the name of the business leader. Specify the purpose of the partnership. List the duties of the client. Identify the timeline for completing the project. Include resources the client delivers. Attach a disclaimer. Validate the terms of the agreement.
An engagement letter is a written agreement that describes the business relationship to be entered into by a client and a company. The letter details the scope of the agreement, its terms, and costs. The purpose of an engagement letter is to set expectations on both sides of the agreement.
The service provider typically prepares the Letter of Engagement, be it a law firm, accounting agency, consultancy, or any professional offering services.