Legal

Engagement Basics

How we work together — what's in scope, what's not, and what we each need to do.

Engagement

What an engagement letter covers

Every Meridian engagement starts with an engagement letter. This document sets out the specific scope of work, the service tier, fees, and any exclusions — so both sides know exactly what's included before work begins.

The engagement letter, together with our Terms of Business, forms the agreement between you and the firm.

What's included in each service tier

Each service has defined tiers (Starter, Growth, Scale, Enterprise for bookkeeping; standalone for tax filings). The engagement letter specifies exactly which tasks, deliverables, and response times are included at your chosen tier.

Monthly bookkeeping scope: transaction categorization, reconciliation, financial statements, and review calls
Tax return scope: preparation, filing, and associated planning conversations
Payroll scope: processing, statutory filings, and year-end reporting
Advisory scope: forecasting, reporting, and strategy conversations

What's excluded

Certain work falls outside a standard engagement. These are identified in your engagement letter before work begins, so there are no surprises:

HMRC or IRS correspondence responding to queries or investigations beyond standard filing
Work arising from material misrepresentation of facts by the client
Services not listed in the chosen service tier (e.g., advisory work on a bookkeeping-only engagement)
Third-party fees ( Companies House filing fees, software subscriptions, statutory fees)

Client responsibilities

To enable us to perform our services properly, you agree to:

Provide timely, accurate, and complete information and documentation as requested
Respond to our requests within a reasonable timeframe to meet filing deadlines
Inform us promptly of any material changes to your business, financial affairs, or personal circumstances that may affect our work
Review deliverables and raise any questions or concerns promptly after receipt

Starting an engagement

After your free consultation, we send a document checklist and engagement letter. Once signed, we connect your bank feeds and software access, complete a books review, and begin your first monthly close.

You can review the full terms in our Terms of Business, including payment terms, cancellation policy, and complaints procedure.

Talk to a partner

Whatever your tax, accounting or advisory question — let's talk.

Tell us about your business and we'll show you how Meridian can move it forward — in the US, the UK, or across borders.

Get in touch