Course Description

A signed engagement letter is one of the most important tools an accounting professional can have. It protects your firm from legal and financial risk, ensures compliance, and sets clear expectations around scope, services, and responsibilities.

In this session, Dawn Brolin, CPA, CFE, shares how to create stronger, more compliant engagement letters based on her experience as a firm owner. You’ll learn how to define scope clearly, communicate exclusions, and avoid common mistakes that lead to misunderstandings or scope creep.

You’ll also see how Dawn uses Ignition to automate her engagement letter process—from proposal to payment collection—helping her save time, stay compliant, and get paid faster. Whether you’re building your first letter or refining an existing process, this session will give you practical steps to better protect your firm.

Learning Objectives

• Recognize the core components of a compliant and protective engagement letter
• Identify common risks and communication gaps that lead to scope creep and payment issues
• Outline best practices to clarify scope, fees, deliverables, and exclusions in client engagements
• Evaluate how technology—specifically Ignition—can support engagement letter automation, compliance, and upfront payment collection

Prerequisites

• None

Who Should Attend

CPAs, accounting/finance professionals who work with firms.