Client trust accounting in America: Why now is the time to get audit-ready
In legal practice, accounting is more than numbers – it’s the language of trust, transparency and integrity.
Behind every ledger, there’s a story. Behind every reconciliation, there’s a decision. Behind every document, there’s evidence. And behind every trust account, there’s a duty – a duty to retain your clients’ confidence and safeguard your reputation.
Across the United States, that duty is receiving new scrutiny. And California made it unavoidable.
Amidst it all, it’s reassuring to know that Jayva is here to help you get your trust accounts in order – and fulfill your professional duty.
California raises the bar – and others will follow
With the launch of its mandatory Client Trust Account Protection Program (CTAPP) compliance reviews, the State Bar of California shifted the landscape. Random audits have already taken place and this heavy-handed approach is expected to spread across the country.
The message is clear:
The days of “check the box” trust accounting are over. Oversight is moving from passive attestation to active verification.
The scale of the problem is worrying. In published survey statistics, the State Bar of California reported that 83% of voluntary respondents had non-compliant trust account journals.
Even diligent law firms are struggling with trust accounting – not because of lack of care, but because requirements are detailed, technical and unforgiving.
What California has started, other State Bars are likely to adopt. That’s why forward-thinking law firms are strengthening their systems and processes.
This isn’t about passing a review – it’s about protecting your law firm
Trust and office accounts
General ledger and bookkeeping
Fiscal reports, statements and reconciliations
Interest on lawyer trust accounts
Assets, liabilities and matter balances
Revenue, expenses and audit trails
Together, they tell the narrative of your law firm’s stability, professionalism and ethical foundation.
When these systems and processes are aligned, and the data is clean:
Decision-making, reporting and forecasting improve
Risks and breaches are identified, mitigated and diminished
Compliance becomes natural rather than stressful
Client trust deepens and loyalty increases
And when they’re not? The consequences can be serious – from regulatory sanctions to reputational harm.
How Jayva supports U.S. law firms preparing for greater oversight
At Jayva, we believe robust trust accounting isn’t only about compliance – it’s about building confidence, using technology that works, devising workflows that make sense and instilling habits that keep you audit-ready at any time.
To help you prepare for this new era, we offer four specialized services:
System health check service: A thorough, expert review of your accounting set-up, workflows, trust account structure and software configuration to reduce risks and satisfy regulators.
Bookkeeper best-practice mentoring: Hands-on support for bookkeepers, administrators and managers – developing the consistency, accuracy and discipline that trust accounting requires.
Accounting software and training: Tailored training sessions to ensure your teams understand your system, use it correctly and maintain compliant recordkeeping from day to day.
Financial data tidy-up and reconciliation support: If you’re dealing with messy ledgers, incomplete reconciliations or historical issues, we untangle the complexities and restore your books to compliance.
Don’t just take our word for it. Here’s what some of our clients have to say:
“Jayva has been our hero. After we had fraud on our trust account, we then had some accounting issues that had to be reconciled. It required significant unraveling of our trust account. Jayva worked tirelessly to reconcile our accounts. Since then, they’ve been our ace in the hole ensuring that our finances are perfectly organized and managed. Jayva is very knowledgeable about the software they support and if they run into an obstacle, they know how to obtain the information to overcome it. I would highly recommend Jayva to support all of your firm’s accounting needs.” – Sheryl Seiden, Seiden Family Law
“We underestimated the complexity of integrating our practice management software with our accounting software. Even with our tech-savvy team, it became a major hurdle. Jayva stepped in and tackled the challenge head-on. Their expertise went beyond the initial integration. We realized the need for ongoing clean-up and maintenance of our books, a task we simply didn't have the time or resources for. Jayva's consulting services became an invaluable asset. Now, we have the accurate and up-to-date data we need to make informed financial decisions. Our team saves significant time by avoiding bookkeeping headaches, and any issues that do arise are swiftly resolved.” – Daniel Antonelli, Antonelli & Antonelli
The new standard for trust accounting has arrived
The reality is simple:
Trust account compliance is now essential, not optional. Audit readiness must be continuous, not occasional.
This is the moment to strengthen internal systems and processes, upskill staff, get your accounts shipshape and ensure your trust accounts reflect the same high standards as your legal work.
At Jayva, we’re ready to support that effort.
Now’s the time to act. Let’s build a foundation of trust, clarity and compliance – together.
Find out more by visiting www.jayvaglobal.com/client-trust-accounting-consultancy, downloading our ‘Client trust accounting: From zero to hero’ white paper, emailing info@jayvaglobal.com or calling +1 888 563 9342.