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Engagement Letter

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Engagement Letter for Review of Financial Statements by Accounting Firm

To:

This letter is to confirm our understanding of the terms and objectives of our engagement and the nature and limitations of the services we will provide.

We will perform the following services:

A. We will review the financial statements of as of and issue an accountant's report thereon in accordance with Statements on Standards for Accounting and Review Services issued by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. The objective of a review engagement is to express limited assurance that there are no material modifications that should be made to the financial statements in order for the statements to be in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

B. A review differs significantly from an audit of financial statements, in which the auditor provides reasonable assurance that the financial statements, taken as a whole, are free of material misstatement. A review does not contemplate obtaining an understanding of the entity’s internal control; assessing fraud risk; tests of accounting records by obtaining sufficient appropriate audit evidence through inspection, observation, confirmation, or the examination of source documents (for example, cancelled checks or bank images); and other procedures ordinarily performed in an audit. Accordingly, a review does not provide assurance that we will become aware of all significant matters that would be disclosed in an audit. Therefore, a review provides only limited assurance that there are no material modifications that should be made to the financial statements in order for the statements to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

C. Our engagement cannot be relied upon to disclose errors, fraud, or illegal acts that may exist. However, we will inform the appropriate level of management of any material errors, and of any evidence or information that comes to our attention during the performance of our review procedures, that fraud may have occurred. In addition, we will report to you any evidence or information that comes to our attention during the performance of our review procedures regarding illegal acts that may have occurred, unless they are clearly inconsequential.

D. As part of our engagement, we will also (list any non-attest services to be provided, if applicable, such as income tax preparation and bookkeeping services)

You are responsible for:

1. Making all management decisions and performing all management functions;

2. Designating an individual who possesses suitable skill, knowledge, and/or experience, preferably within senior management, to oversee the services;

3. Evaluating the adequacy and results of the services performed;

4. Accepting responsibility for the results of the services; and

5. Establishing and maintaining internal controls, including monitoring ongoing activities.

As part of our review procedures, we will require certain written representations from management about the financial statements and matters related thereto. If, for any reason, we are unable to complete our review of your financial statements, we will not issue a report on such statements as a result of this engagement.

Our fees for these services will be as follows: (describe)

We will be pleased to discuss this letter with you at any time. If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign the copy of this letter in the space provided and return it to us.

Sincerely yours,

By:

Signature of Officer

Understood and Agreed:

By:

Signature of Officer

Enter text✕

What an Engagement Letter Is and why it matters

An Engagement Letter is a written agreement that defines the scope, responsibilities, fees, and terms between a professional services provider and a client. It sets expectations for deliverables, timelines, payment arrangements, confidentiality, and limits of liability, and often specifies governing law and dispute resolution. Engagement Letters are commonly used by accountants, lawyers, consultants, and other service firms to document the starting point of an engagement and avoid misunderstandings. When properly executed and retained, an Engagement Letter becomes part of the contractual record and can support billing, audit trails, and legal enforcement.

Why include an Engagement Letter in every client engagement

An Engagement Letter clarifies responsibilities, reduces disputes, and documents fees and deliverables in writing. It creates a predictable framework for project management, billing, and confidentiality while preserving evidence of agreement under ESIGN and UETA when signed electronically.

Why include an Engagement Letter in every client engagement

Typical users and organizational roles

Professionals and organizations use Engagement Letters to set terms with clients across legal, accounting, consulting, and creative services.

  • Law firms and solo attorneys documenting scope, billing, and retention expectations.
  • Accounting firms specifying deliverables, estimated hours, fee structures, and termination terms.
  • Consultants and agencies outlining milestones, client responsibilities, and approval processes.

Clear Engagement Letters improve client onboarding, streamline approvals, and provide documentation useful for audits and dispute resolution.

Representative signers and their perspectives

Managing Partner

A managing partner signs Engagement Letters to confirm the legal scope, establish fee arrangements, and allocate responsibilities among team members. Accurate letters reduce billing disputes and provide a clear record for client matters and potential malpractice defenses.

Chief Accountant

A chief accountant uses Engagement Letters to document agreed deliverables, reporting timelines, and internal controls. Letters clarify client-provided information expectations and support compliance with audit standards and IRS recordkeeping requirements when retained.

Core components to include in an Engagement Letter

A complete Engagement Letter addresses the scope, fees, deliverables, schedule, confidentiality, and termination to create an enforceable agreement and reduce later disputes.

Scope

Describe services to be provided with measurable outputs and exclusions. Precise scope prevents scope creep and forms the basis for fee adjustments or change orders during the engagement.

Fees

Specify fee type (hourly, fixed), rates, retainer amounts, invoicing schedule, and late payment terms. Include expenses and billing approval procedures to avoid disputes over charges.

Deliverables

List tangible deliverables and acceptance criteria, delivery formats, and delivery dates. Clear deliverable definitions reduce ambiguity and support client acceptance and final invoicing.

Timeline

State start and end dates, milestones, review periods, and conditions for schedule changes. Link milestones to payment triggers where appropriate to align incentives.

Confidentiality

Include non-disclosure obligations, permitted disclosures, duration of confidentiality, and any carve-outs. Address data handling, security measures, and breach notification responsibilities.

Termination

Define termination rights, notice periods, consequences for early termination, and post-termination duties such as final invoices and return of materials.

Step-by-step: preparing and executing the Engagement Letter

Complete and execute an Engagement Letter with these straightforward steps to ensure mutual understanding and enforceability.

  • 01
    Create Draft: Prepare the letter detailing scope and fees.
  • 02
    Review Internally: Legal and finance review for compliance and pricing.
  • 03
    Send to Client: Provide for signature with disclosure and consent.
  • 04
    Execute & Store: Collect signatures and retain signed copy securely.

Configuring an online signing workflow

Configure an online workflow to populate fields, route for signatures, and enforce authentication requirements.

Field Configuration
Signature Authentication Email link; SMS or KBA optional
Field Prefill Use templates and merge fields for party data
Routing Rules Conditional routing by role or field values
Notifications Email reminders and completion receipts enabled

Typical routing and lifecycle for the Engagement Letter

Typical routing shows who prepares, approves, signs, and archives the Engagement Letter during the engagement lifecycle.

  • Prepare: Draft by account lead with scope and fees.
  • Approve: Finance or legal approves terms and pricing.
  • Sign: Parties sign electronically or on paper with witnesses.
  • Archive: Store executed copy with retention metadata.

Technical requirements for electronic completion and submission

Online signing requires compatible document formats, secure transport, and signer authentication options.

  • Formats: PDF, DOCX, HTML supported
  • Integrations: Salesforce, NetSuite, Google Workspace
  • Authentication: Email, SMS, SSO, KBA options

Security and compliance features to track

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3 in transit; AES-256 at rest
Audit Trail: Timestamped actions, IP, signer attribution
HIPAA: BAA available; protects PHI for healthcare
ESIGN/UETA: Compliant with ESIGN and UETA standards
21 CFR Part 11: Support for FDA-regulated electronic records
Access Controls: SSO, role-based permissions, two-factor options

Key deadlines and timing considerations

Key deadlines tied to Engagement Letters include signature timing, invoicing cycles, and statutory retention or filing dates.

Signature Deadline:

Agree on execution date to avoid disputes

Invoice Period:

Specify billing frequency and net payment terms

Project Milestones:

Tie payments or approvals to milestone completion dates

Contract Renewal:

State notice period for renewal or nonrenewal

Retention Start:

Effective date determines retention and statute timings

Typical eSignature vendor comparison for signing Engagement Letters

Comparison of baseline pricing and compliance features across common eSignature vendors; signNow appears first per vendor ordering rules.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day trial Varies Varies Varies Varies
Bulk Send Yes (Premium) Yes Yes Yes Yes
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes No No
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/yr Varies Varies Varies

Common mistakes to avoid when preparing an Engagement Letter

  • Vague scope descriptions that omit exclusions or acceptance criteria often result in disputes over deliverables, additional charges, and timeline extensions.
  • Incorrect party names, missing titles, or inconsistent business entity names can delay execution and create enforceability issues requiring amendments.
  • Failing to specify payment terms or invoicing intervals leads to late payments, collection disputes, and financial reporting complications.
  • Not including confidentiality or data handling provisions for sensitive information can violate HIPAA or contract obligations in regulated industries.

Risks and potential consequences of errors

Contract Disputes: Damages, litigation costs
Payment Delays: Interest, collection expenses
Regulatory Breach: HIPAA fines possible
Enforceability Risk: Mismatched signer identity
Recordkeeping Failure: Loss of audit evidence
Notary Errors: Void or delayed filings

Frequently asked questions about Engagement Letters

Answers to frequent questions about preparing, signing, and storing Engagement Letters, including electronic signature legality and common errors.


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