Setup - What we need each year
for your Annual solicitors accountant's report under Solicitors' Accounts Rules SAR

Setup - at the start of the annual work we need:

• Confirm the period of the report which has been agreed with the SRA.
• Confirm the due filing date or extended due filing date which has been agreed with the SRA.
• Details of all resident partners (or equivalent) and practice premises.
• Any outside business interests or involvements with clients.
• Details of the main areas of work carried on by the practice.
• A list of specimen signatures of persons authorised to sign cheques and authorise withdrawal from a client account (in accordance with Rule 23).
• A list, signed by the solicitor, of all bank and building society accounts used in the practice.
• Written confirmation whether or not controlled trusts exist.
• Copies of all bank mandates, signed by the solicitor.
• Details of arrangements with bankers for retention of clients' account paid cheques.
• Approval to the bank for disclosure of account and cheque enquiries, or confirmation that this is still in force from the prior year.
• Copy of previous year's Accountants' Report, normally from our files or from the previous accountant.
• Details of accounting systems.
• Details of any inter-client transfers during the period.
• Names of all fee-earners, cashier and administration staff.
• Knowledge of Solicitor's Accounts Rules for all fee-earners, cashier and administration staff.
• Our engagement letter for new engagements, signed by the solicitor, or updated from the prior year if necessary.
• Sight of professional indemnity insurance certificates over the Report period and up to date.