Use the Engagements tab of the Clients screen to add or modify engagements for the selected client.

To access the Engagements tab, choose Setup > Clients and click the Engagements tab.

Adding an engagement for a client

1. From the Setup menu, choose Clients.
2. In the Clients screen, click the client for which you want to add an engagement.

   Note: If you are setting up a new client, first click the Add button and complete the client information on the Main tab.

3. Click the Engagements tab.
4. Click the Edit button.
5. Click the Add button at the bottom of the Engagements tab.
6. In the ID field, select an engagement template ID from the drop-down list (required).

   Note: The templates in this list come from the Engagement Templates setup screen (Setup > Engagement Templates). If you have security permission, you can right-click in this list and use the context menu to add, edit, or delete an engagement template.

7. Enter a description for this engagement in the Description field.
8. If you want to export general ledger information to CS Professional Suite Accounting Products, enter the appropriate GL number in the GL Account field.

   Note: Currently, the general ledger export process only allows for account numbers of 11 characters or fewer.

9. If your firm assesses tax, select a Tax Area from the drop-down list.
   A tax area is a collection of assigned taxing authorities for a given geographic area. For example, the area in which a firm or client operates may have a state sales tax and a county sales tax. A tax area may also have different rates for goods and services.
10. Under Groupings, select the office, category, and assigned staff for the engagement. These groupings are useful for filtering engagement lists and for report grouping.

Rates

1. Click the Rates sub-tab of the Engagements tab.
2. Select an engagement rate for the current client from the following options.
   • No Engagement Rate: The default rate for new engagements. If you choose this option, the application will use the rate from the activity instead of the engagement.
   • Staff rate: When you click the Staff Rate option, you must also choose a staff rate from the corresponding drop-down list.
   • Fixed rate: If you click the Fixed Rate option, enter a dollar amount in the corresponding field (or click the Down arrow button and enter the number on the drop-down calculator).
3. Markup/down factor: You can enter an optional markup or markdown factor for the engagement.

   Example

   If you want to mark up the engagement 50%, enter 1.5.

Recurring Bills

If an engagement occurs on a regular basis for the client, you can set it up as a recurring bill.

1. Click the Recurring Bills sub-tab of the Engagements tab.
2. Description: Select a description for the recurring bill from the drop-down list.

   Note: Descriptions in this list are entered in Setup > Recurring Bill Descriptions. You can also right-click the list to add, edit, or delete items if you have security permission.

3. Method: The available methods for handling WIP when a recurring bill is generated are:
   • Adjustment
     Use this method to create adjustment entries for recurring bills.
   • Fixed Expenses + Time at Standard
     Engagements set up for recurring bills with the Fixed Expenses + Time at Standard method will have their expense entries billed out at the amount specified when the recurring bill was set up on the engagement, and time will be billed at its standard amount (the calculated amount of the entries in Time & Expense Entry). In order to be billed, the entries must have a date on or prior to the invoice date used when generating the recurring bill. The entries must also be assigned the engagement for which the recurring bill was set up. Available expense entries will be billed proportionately at the amount set up in Engagements setup, and time entries will be billed at their standard amounts.
   • Fixed Time & Expenses
     Engagements set up for recurring bills with the Fixed Time & Expenses method will have their entries billed out at the amount specified when the recurring bill was set up on the engagement. If the entries are for an amount greater or less than the recurring bill amount entered on the engagement, then the entries will be adjusted up or down during billing. In order to be billed, the entries must have a date on or prior to the invoice date used when generating the recurring bill. They must also be assigned the engagement for which the recurring bill was set up. The bill amount from the recurring bill should be allocated proportionately to the entries based on their amounts.
   • Fixed Time + Expenses at Standard
     Engagements set up for recurring bills with the Fixed Time + Expenses at Standard method will have their time entries billed out at the amount specified when the recurring bill was set up on the engagement, and expenses will be billed out at their standard amount (the calculated amount of the entries in Time & Expense Entry). In order to be billed, the entries must have a date on or prior to the invoice date used when generating the recurring bill. The entries must also be assigned the engagement for which the recurring bill was set up. Available time entries will be billed proportionately at the amount set up in Engagements setup, and expense entries will be billed at their standard amounts.
   • Progress

     Use this method if your firm typically generates a recurring bill for a client before the time and expenses for the work are entered. Progress bills create negative WIP, and at some point you will have to match up the progress billings to actual time and expenses entered to clear the progress bills.

     When you set up a recurring bill with the Progress method, you will be required to enter the components of the progress bill (staff, activity, and so on). During billing, you will need to select a date for the invoice. The bill amount of the recurring bill will be the amount set up for the recurring bill on the client’s engagement and may include taxes or surcharges, if applicable. The activity and staff associated with the progress bill come from the engagement setup.

   • WIP at Standard
     Engagements set up for recurring bills with the WIP at Standard method will have all their time and expense entries billed out at their standard amount (the calculated amount of the entries in Time & Expense Entry). In order to be billed, the entries must have a date on or prior to the invoice date used when generating the recurring bill. The entries must also be assigned the engagement for which the recurring bill was set up.
4. Amount: Enter the amount of the recurring bill. This field is not available when you choose WIP at Standard.
5. Staff: Select the staff associated with the recurring bill. This field is available only when you select the Progress or the Adjustment method.
6. Activity: Select the activity associated with the recurring bill. This field is available only when you select the Progress or the Adjustment method.

Surcharges

If your firm adds a surcharge for this engagement, click the Surcharges subtab of the Engagements tab and choose from the following options:

• No Surcharge: This option is the default for new engagements.
• Based on Activity: If you choose this option, the engagement uses the surcharge set up on the activity.
• Flat amount: If you select this option, enter or select a surcharge amount in the drop-down list.

Links

Click the Links tab to add links to files, websites, or documents outside of Practice CS, including documents stored in FileCabinet CS or GoFileRoom .

The links you add to a client engagement apply only to the engagement to which you add them. You can also add links to engagement templates, which apply to all new engagements generated from that template.

Custom Fields

Use the Custom Fields tab to enter additional information for the engagement in the available fields (if any). Custom fields can be checkboxes, dates, lists, numeric fields, staff lists, or text-entry fields. Custom fields for dates have a drop-down calendar. Numeric custom fields have a drop-down calculator. See Custom fields setup overview for more information on custom fields.

Modifying an engagement for a client

1. In the list of engagements, click the engagement you want to modify.
2. Click the Edit button.
3. Make the necessary changes to the engagement information, groupings, rates, recurring bills, and/or surcharges.

   Note: If you change the engagement template ID of an existing client engagement by selecting a different ID from the drop-down list, the client’s engagement ID will be changed, but the information from the template will not be copied in. Information from an engagement template is only copied into a client’s engagement for new engagements.

4. Click the Enter button to save your changes.

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