Accountant document permissions: separate reading from ownership

A clear permission model helps both sides work confidently. The customer owns their account and maintains business documents. The accountant receives access to a particular file for reading, reporting, and private review. These are different responsibilities even when the accountant pays for the customer's subscription.

Before inviting a firm, identify the actions you actually need. Looking at a receipt is not the same as changing its date. Downloading an invoice PDF is not the same as editing the invoice. Keeping those differences explicit prevents accidental assumptions about what an accountant can do inside Just Invoice.

Read the permission matrix

This matrix describes the scoped accountant connection. A person might separately have their own business in Just Invoice; that does not merge the two accounts or authorize them to act as their client.

Use an explicit correction workflow

Suppose a receipt dated December 28 was uploaded with January 3 as its purchase date. The accountant records a question and asks the customer to check the original. The customer confirms the supplier date and changes the receipt metadata. The accountant then reviews the corrected file and regenerates the relevant package if needed.

This approach preserves customer responsibility for source-document changes. A note should explain what needs checking rather than silently substitute a new date or a tax decision. The accountant's private review status can help track work, but it is not a customer-approved amendment to the record.

Keep private notes within their intended audience

Receipt review notes belong to the connected firm, not to every accountant authorized for the same client. They are not visible in the customer's ordinary receipt screen. Another authorized firm should not inherit those notes simply by opening the same purchase document.

Use the private-note export when your firm's own working process needs it. If you need a customer answer, communicate through the agreed channel. Do not write sensitive information unrelated to the review just because a field is private; downloaded copies and professional retention still require responsible handling.

Check the exit boundary

Revocation stops future access through the grant. It does not erase the client's documents or copies already downloaded by the accountant. Ending sponsorship also affects paid access for the client, so discuss the billing transition before removing a sponsored connection.

For a new engagement, use the onboarding guide. For privacy questions, review the confidential sharing checklist.