Accounting and CPA insurance · Ungated planning tool
Accounting Services-Mix and Exposure Worksheet
An accounting practice's insurance discussion starts with the services it actually performs, the relative share of attest and client-funds work, remote access, data handled, engagement deliverables, and client reliance. This worksheet records those inputs and creates follow-up prompts. It does not classify professional services for a regulator, assess professional standards, recommend limits, price insurance, or conclude that any claim is covered.
Key takeaways
- Describe actual engagements and deliverables instead of relying on a firm label.
- Keep attest, tax, bookkeeping, advisory, valuation, payroll, funds, and data questions distinct.
- Percentages are planning inputs and should be reconciled to practice records.
Inventory the services actually performed
A firm may provide tax preparation, bookkeeping, controller services, compilations, reviews, audits or other attest work, advisory, valuation, forensic support, payroll, or payment processing. The engagement letter and deliverable matter more than a broad service label.
Select the service categories that reflect current work, then use the result to identify questions for the practice and insurance reviewers. The tool does not decide how professional standards or a policy classify an engagement.
Keep attest and non-attest work visible
Attest share can affect the questions a practice should organize about engagements, client reliance, documentation, peer review, and professional standards. The entered percentage is an approximation for discussion, not a severity score or underwriting conclusion.
Separate advisory and bookkeeping work from attest deliverables where the engagement, client expectations, or reliance differ. Preserve a source for the practice's percentages.
Flag client funds and sensitive data
Payroll, payment processing, trust or client-fund access, credentials, and sensitive records create control questions beyond the service name. Record whether the practice handles those exposures and document approvals, segregation, reconciliation, authentication, and incident processes through appropriate internal controls.
Do not put client names, account details, engagement documents, or credentials in this worksheet or its analytics. The tool only records the selected categories and planning percentages.
Review the mix at renewal and change
A new attest offering, acquisition, advisory service, payroll product, remote-work model, or client-funds process can change the facts. Reconcile the worksheet to revenue and engagement records, then discuss the differences with the appropriate insurance, accounting, and professional-standards reviewers.
The output identifies questions; it does not rank exposure, determine a policy's scope, or promise a quote.
Service questions to keep distinct
| Service or exposure | Record | Do not infer |
|---|---|---|
| Attest | Engagement type, deliverable, and approximate share | That a percentage establishes a limit or standard |
| Bookkeeping/advisory | Access, approvals, advice, and client reliance | That a service label determines coverage |
| Valuation/forensic | Intended use, report, and recipient | That every engagement has the same exposure |
| Payroll/funds/data | Access, controls, systems, and response | That a control description proves coverage |
Use the result as a review agenda
- Record the source document or assumption behind each answer.
- Assign unresolved questions to a person and a date.
- Compare the worksheet with the issued policy and current contracts.
Hypothetical: Hypothetical: advisory growth
A CPA firm adds fractional-controller work while continuing audits. The practice should distinguish the new deliverables, client reliance, and access controls rather than increasing one generic service percentage.
Hypothetical: Hypothetical: payroll processing
A firm begins initiating payroll payments for clients. The worksheet flags funds, access, approval, and data questions for a separate control and insurance review.
Additional questions
Does the tool classify an engagement under professional standards?
No. It records the firm's description and prompts a review of actual engagement terms and applicable standards.
Is the revenue percentage a risk score?
No. It is a planning input to reconcile with practice records and discuss with an advisor.
Can I enter client names or account information?
No. Keep client and financial details out of the worksheet and its analytics.
Sources
- National Association of Insurance Commissioners: Small Business Insurance — accessed 2026-09-13; supports Business insurance planning should reflect actual operations and policy terms..
- AICPA & CIMA: Professional Standards — accessed 2026-09-13; supports Professional standards are maintained by the professional body and should be considered with the actual engagement..
- AICPA & CIMA: Cybersecurity resources — accessed 2026-09-13; supports Accounting practices should organize cybersecurity and data-control questions appropriate to their services..
General insurance education, not legal, accounting, actuarial, professional-standards or policy-specific advice. Coverage depends on the policy form, endorsements, limits, deductibles, exclusions, jurisdiction and facts. Submission does not bind coverage or guarantee a quotation or carrier approval.