Assign engagement leads
Every file has an engagement partner (required) and, optionally, a staff accountant and a signatory. These roles drive each member's dashboard and appear on engagement letters.
The three roles
One person can hold all three roles for a given client, which is common in small firms. On larger files, the roles are split up.
Since August 2026, Ledger refuses to save a client record without an engagement partner. Records created before then that have none appear in the “To assign” pile of the admin dashboard (covered below), and the field becomes required the next time the record is edited.
Three places to assign
Ledger lets you assign leads from three entry points: use whichever one is closest at hand.
When you create the client
In the “New client” form, the Responsible staff section comes right after the contact information. Pick at least the partner: otherwise the form stops you when you save.
From the client card, in one click
On an existing client's card, the header shows clickable chips with the initials and the name. One click opens a small dialog to change the partner or the accountant, faster than opening the full form.
When nobody is assigned, the chip turns amber and reads “Partner in charge to assign”. Click it to fix this in 5 seconds.
From the dashboard's “To assign” pile (admin)
If you are an Owner or the Primary owner, your dashboard shows an amber “To assign N” chip in the filter bar. Click it to see the full list of clients with no lead and work through them one after another.
A standard member does not see this filter: they only see their own files. Only the admin needs to assign people.
Check who has what
At any time, the admin can filter the dashboard by person (click the “Marie Complice 3” chip, for example) to see each member's workload. This is useful before going on vacation or to redistribute a portfolio.
For a member to see their own files, their team profile must be linked to their sign-in account. If someone complains that they see “Whole firm” instead of “My files”, open Settings › Team, click their profile and link their user account.
Frequently asked questions
Can the same person hold all three roles?
Yes. It is common in solo practices and small firms. The same name simply shows up in each field, and nothing prevents it.
Do these roles affect billing?
No. Billing is set for the whole firm, in Settings › Billing. Assigning a partner, an accountant or a signatory to a client does not change it.
What's next?
Keep setting up the file.