An Engagement Letter is a legal document that defines the relationship between a professional (such as a lawyer, accountant, or consultant) and their client. It outlines the services to be provided, the terms of the agreement, and any other obligations or expectations.
In summary, both the auditing firm and the organization being audited must sign the SOC report, with the organization signing the Management Assertion and Representation and the auditor signing the independent Auditors opinion within the SOC report.
For an engagement letter to be binding, there must be agreement to the terms on both sides. The engagement letter is drafted and, in most cases, signed by the firm, therefore there is clear evidence of the agreement of the contents of the letter on the firm's side.
An engagement letter is drafted by the company rendering the service, often with the help of a lawyer. It is than presented to the client, and both parties must sign in order for it to be legally binding.
Certified Mail requires a signature upon delivery, which can be requested by the sender in order to check that the letter has been delivered to the right person.
In the interest of streamlining the content of engagement letters, a CPA firm may utilize a Terms and Conditions Addendum which includes provisions applicable to all engagements. This protocol enables engagement teams to focus their attention on determining and agreeing to the engagement specifics with the client.
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.
The final component of a formal letter is your signature. Include your full name and job title if relevant, followed by your wet signature and printed name.