Documenting Advice and Decisions.

• Position: Tip of the Month - Brief article

An effective form of communication is to follow up client meetings or discussions with documentation and written consent to ensure that both you and the client are proceeding with the same expectations and assumptions. In some engagements CPAs should not only document the advice given, but also obtain the client's written consent to the decisions made. This can be done with an "informed consent" letter that provides advice and obtains the client's understanding and consent. Informed consent letters clarify that the CPA advises and informs, and the client decides. With this letter, it's difficult for claimants to make it appear that the CPA made the decisions.

Informed consent letters can be used to better manage risk in areas such as...