Advisor permissions in client accounts

In Relay, business owners can grant advisors (e.g., accountants/bookkeepers) access to their accounts. For instructions on how to invite advisors to your Relay account, please see Inviting team members and advisors to Relay.

When an advisor is invited to join a business owner's Relay account, they will need to create their own unique login, and the functions that an advisor can perform (i.e., the advisor's permissions) can be modified and managed by the business owner within their own account.

Below is a breakdown of the five different permission levels for advisors in Relay; an advisor's permission level will be assigned to them when a business owner invites them to their account.

Super Admin

Full control

Admin + money movement and bill pay capabilities.

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Admin

Firm administrator

Manager + card management, account control, and full client and staff management.

›

Manager

Advisor manager

View access plus integration management. May be able to initiate approved bill workflows.

›

Bill Payer

Payments specialist

Views client accounts and can initiate payments. Does not manage clients, staff, cards, or firm settings.

›

Read Only

Viewer

Views client accounts, cards, transactions, and integrations. No write actions.

›

Read only

Viewer

Views client accounts, cards, transactions, and integrations. No write actions.

Member manages their account & card

Manage their own account info and card.

Basic info

• View login sessions

• Change own email, phone, address, auth settings

Individual cardholder

• View own card details and transactions

• Upload receipts for own card

• Freeze/unfreeze own card

• Categorize own expenses (memo, vendors, categories)

Issue & manage company cards

Issue and control cards assigned to team members.

Issue new cards

View all cards and details (number, cvv, nickname)

Terminate/freeze any card

Assign receipt admins for cards

Set or edit card spending limits

Set backup spending account

Create, manage, or approve spend requests based on defined policies

Manage vendor & payees

Control which vendors a user can add, edit, or delete/archive.

View list of payees

• View list of payees

Manage payees

• Add payees

• Edit payee details

• Archive payees

Review & approve bills

Control bill workflows: creating, reviewing, and approving company bills.

Manage bills

• Create bills

• Edit bill fields

• Edit payment fields

• Archive/delete bills

• Run W-9 reports

Manage approval rules

• Create/edit/delete rules

• Add/remove team members

Bill actions

• Schedule/initiate bill payments

• Approve or reject bills

Categorize & sync expenses

Review, categorize, and sync team transactions to accounting.

Edit expense fields (memos, vendors, categories)

Upload receipts

Create/edit/delete accounting categorization rules

Nudge cardholder for missing receipts

Sync or ignore expenses to accounting systems

Create & send invoices

Create and send invoices, manage customers, and update invoice settings and branding.

Invoice management

• View, download, share invoices and requests

• Create, edit, cancel, duplicate, or change status

• Create, edit, or cancel recurring invoices

Payment requests

• View, download, share payment links

• Can create, modify, and cancel payment links

Manage customers

• View customer list

• Add, edit, or delete customers

Settings & branding

• Set default payout account

• Set invoice branding

• Edit invoice business info such as address, contact email, DBA

• Create and manage tax rates

• Create and manage discount types

Manage the organization

Controls to manage team, integrations, billing, policies, and system-wide settings.

Manage team

• View team members

• Add team members

• Remove team members

• Add advisors

• Remove advisors

• Assign and change permissions

Firm portal note: The above reflects permissions when accessing a client's business account directly. Firm admins can add staff members to a client's business account — up to their own permission level — via the Relay firm portal. Staff added this way will have their access capped at the adding admin's permission level.

Manage integrations

• Configure accounting integrations (QBO, Xero, etc.)

• Edit accounting mapping

• Enable and disable accounting fields sync

• Sync or import vendors and unpaid bills

• Configure other integrations (Gusto, etc.)

• Disconnect integrations

Manage receipt policy

• Manage receipt policy

Manage business, subscription & billing

• Change business info

• Change subscription tier

• Change billing account

• Download invoices

Send, move, and track money

Control which accounts they can make payments, transfers, deposits, and view.

Create new accounts (checking or savings)

Delete accounts

Select accounts, for each account user can:

View only (view balance, transactions, account details)

• View account balance

• View transactions

• View account details

Download account info

• Download account statements

• Download account documents

Make payment (send money)

• Create ACH payment

• Create check payment

• Create wire payment

• Create international wire payment

• Schedule/edit recurring transfers/payments

Make transfers (move money)

• Transfer between internal accounts

• Transfer to/from external accounts

• Add funds

Make check deposits (mobile only)

Has access to all accounts

Manager

Integration manager

View access plus integration management. May be able to initiate approved bill workflows.

Member manages their account & card

Manage their own account info and card.

Basic info

• View login sessions

• Change own email, phone, address, auth settings

Individual cardholder

• View own card details and transactions

• Upload receipts for own card

• Freeze/unfreeze own card

• Categorize own expenses (memo, vendors, categories)

Issue & manage company cards

Issue and control cards assigned to team members.

Issue new cards

View all cards and details (number, cvv, nickname)

Terminate/freeze any card

Assign receipt admins for cards

Set or edit card spending limits

Set backup spending account

Create, manage, or approve spend requests based on defined policies

Manage vendor & payees

Control which vendors a user can add, edit, or delete/archive.

View list of payees

• View list of payees

Manage payees

• Add payees

• Edit payee details

• Archive payees

Review & approve bills

Control bill workflows: creating, reviewing, and approving company bills.

Manage bills

• Create bills

• Edit bill fields

• Edit payment fields

• Archive/delete bills

• Run W-9 reports

Manage approval rules

• Create/edit/delete rules

• Add/remove team members

Bill actions

• Schedule/initiate bill payments

• Approve or reject bills

Categorize & sync expenses

Review, categorize, and sync team transactions to accounting.

Edit expense fields (memos, vendors, categories)

Upload receipts

Create/edit/delete accounting categorization rules

Nudge cardholder for missing receipts

Sync or ignore expenses to accounting systems

Create & send invoices

Create and send invoices, manage customers, and update invoice settings and branding.

Invoice management

• View, download, share invoices and requests

• Create, edit, cancel, duplicate, or change status

• Create, edit, or cancel recurring invoices

Payment requests

• View, download, share payment links

• Can create, modify, and cancel payment links

Manage customers

• View customer list

• Add, edit, or delete customers

Settings & branding

• Set default payout account

• Set invoice branding

• Edit invoice business info such as address, contact email, DBA

• Create and manage tax rates

• Create and manage discount types

Manage the organization

Controls to manage team, integrations, billing, policies, and system-wide settings.

Manage team

• View team members

• Add team members

• Remove team members

• Add advisors

• Remove advisors

• Assign and change permissions

Firm portal note: The above reflects permissions when accessing a client's business account directly. Firm admins can add staff members to a client's business account — up to their own permission level — via the Relay firm portal. Staff added this way will have their access capped at the adding admin's permission level.

Manage integrations

• Configure accounting integrations (QBO, Xero, etc.)

• Edit accounting mapping

• Enable and disable accounting fields sync

• Sync or import vendors and unpaid bills

• Configure other integrations (Gusto, etc.)

• Disconnect integrations

Manage receipt policy

• Manage receipt policy

Manage business, subscription & billing

• Change business info

• Change subscription tier

• Change billing account

• Download invoices

Send, move, and track money

Control which accounts they can make payments, transfers, deposits, and view.

Create new accounts (checking or savings)

Delete accounts

Select accounts, for each account user can:

View only (view balance, transactions, account details)

• View account balance

• View transactions

• View account details

Download account info

• Download account statements

• Download account documents

Make payment (send money)

• Create ACH payment

• Create check payment

• Create wire payment

• Create international wire payment

• Schedule/edit recurring transfers/payments

Make transfers (move money)

• Transfer between internal accounts

• Transfer to/from external accounts

• Add funds

Make check deposits (mobile only)

Has access to all accounts

Bill Payer

Payments specialist

Views client accounts and can initiate payments. Does not manage clients, staff, cards, or firm settings.

Member manages their account & card

Manage their own account info and card.

Basic info

• View login sessions

• Change own email, phone, address, auth settings

Individual cardholder

• View own card details and transactions

• Upload receipts for own card

• Freeze/unfreeze own card

• Categorize own expenses (memo, vendors, categories)

Issue & manage company cards

Issue and control cards assigned to team members.

Issue new cards

View all cards and details (number, cvv, nickname)

Terminate/freeze any card

Assign receipt admins for cards

Set or edit card spending limits

Set backup spending account

Create, manage, or approve spend requests based on defined policies

Manage vendor & payees

Control which vendors a user can add, edit, or delete/archive.

View list of payees

• View list of payees

Manage payees

• Add payees

• Edit payee details

• Archive payees

Review & approve bills

Control bill workflows: creating, reviewing, and approving company bills.

Manage bills

• Create bills

• Edit bill fields

• Edit payment fields

• Archive/delete bills

• Run W-9 reports

Manage approval rules

• Create/edit/delete rules

• Add/remove team members

Bill actions

• Schedule/initiate bill payments

• Approve or reject bills

Categorize & sync expenses

Review, categorize, and sync team transactions to accounting.

Edit expense fields (memos, vendors, categories)

Upload receipts

Create/edit/delete accounting categorization rules

Nudge cardholder for missing receipts

Sync or ignore expenses to accounting systems

Create & send invoices

Create and send invoices, manage customers, and update invoice settings and branding.

Invoice management

• View, download, share invoices and requests

• Create, edit, cancel, duplicate, or change status

• Create, edit, or cancel recurring invoices

Payment requests

• View, download, share payment links

• Can create, modify, and cancel payment links

Manage customers

• View customer list

• Add, edit, or delete customers

Settings & branding

• Set default payout account

• Set invoice branding

• Edit invoice business info such as address, contact email, DBA

• Create and manage tax rates

• Create and manage discount types

Manage the organization

Controls to manage team, integrations, billing, policies, and system-wide settings.

Manage team

• View team members

• Add team members

• Remove team members

• Add advisors

• Remove advisors

• Assign and change permissions

Firm portal note: The above reflects permissions when accessing a client's business account directly. Firm admins can add staff members to a client's business account — up to their own permission level — via the Relay firm portal. Staff added this way will have their access capped at the adding admin's permission level.

Manage integrations

• Configure accounting integrations (QBO, Xero, etc.)

• Edit accounting mapping

• Enable and disable accounting fields sync

• Sync or import vendors and unpaid bills

• Configure other integrations (Gusto, etc.)

• Disconnect integrations

Manage receipt policy

• Manage receipt policy

Manage business, subscription & billing

• Change business info

• Change subscription tier

• Change billing account

• Download invoices

Send, move, and track money

Control which accounts they can make payments, transfers, deposits, and view.

Create new accounts (checking or savings)

Delete accounts

Select accounts, for each account user can:

View only (view balance, transactions, account details)

• View account balance

• View transactions

• View account details

Download account info

• Download account statements

• Download account documents

Make payment (send money)

• Create ACH payment

• Create check payment

• Create wire payment

• Create international wire payment

• Schedule/edit recurring transfers/payments

Make transfers (move money)

• Transfer between internal accounts

• Transfer to/from external accounts

• Add funds

Make check deposits (mobile only)

Has access to all accounts

Admin

Firm administrator

Manager + card management, account control, and full client and staff management. Cannot send payments — use Super Admin for money movement.

Member manages their account & card

Manage their own account info and card.

Basic info

• View login sessions

• Change own email, phone, address, auth settings

Individual cardholder

• View own card details and transactions

• Upload receipts for own card

• Freeze/unfreeze own card

• Categorize own expenses (memo, vendors, categories)

Issue & manage company cards

Issue and control cards assigned to team members.

Issue new cards

View all cards and details (number, cvv, nickname)

Terminate/freeze any card

Assign receipt admins for cards

Set or edit card spending limits

Set backup spending account

Create, manage, or approve spend requests based on defined policies

Manage vendor & payees

Control which vendors a user can add, edit, or delete/archive.

View list of payees

• View list of payees

Manage payees

• Add payees

• Edit payee details

• Archive payees

Review & approve bills

Control bill workflows: creating, reviewing, and approving company bills.

Manage bills

• Create bills

• Edit bill fields

• Edit payment fields

• Archive/delete bills

• Run W-9 reports

Manage approval rules

• Create/edit/delete rules

• Add/remove team members

Bill actions

• Schedule/initiate bill payments

• Approve or reject bills

Categorize & sync expenses

Review, categorize, and sync team transactions to accounting.

Edit expense fields (memos, vendors, categories)

Upload receipts

Create/edit/delete accounting categorization rules

Nudge cardholder for missing receipts

Sync or ignore expenses to accounting systems

Create & send invoices

Create and send invoices, manage customers, and update invoice settings and branding.

Invoice management

• View, download, share invoices and requests

• Create, edit, cancel, duplicate, or change status

• Create, edit, or cancel recurring invoices

Payment requests

• View, download, share payment links

• Can create, modify, and cancel payment links

Manage customers

• View customer list

• Add, edit, or delete customers

Settings & branding

• Set default payout account

• Set invoice branding

• Edit invoice business info such as address, contact email, DBA

• Create and manage tax rates

• Create and manage discount types

Manage the organization

Controls to manage team, integrations, billing, policies, and system-wide settings.

Manage team

• View team members

• Add team members

• Remove team members

• Add advisors

• Remove advisors

• Assign and change permissions

Manage integrations

• Configure accounting integrations (QBO, Xero, etc.)

• Edit accounting mapping

• Enable and disable accounting fields sync

• Sync or import vendors and unpaid bills

• Configure other integrations (Gusto, etc.)

• Disconnect integrations

Manage receipt policy

• Manage receipt policy

Manage business, subscription & billing

• Change business info

• Change subscription tier

• Change billing account

• Download invoices

Send, move, and track money

Control which accounts they can make payments, transfers, deposits, and view.

Create new accounts (checking or savings)

Delete accounts

Select accounts, for each account user can:

View only (view balance, transactions, account details)

• View account balance

• View transactions

• View account details

Download account info

• Download account statements

• Download account documents

Make payment (send money)

• Create ACH payment

• Create check payment

• Create wire payment

• Create international wire payment

• Schedule/edit recurring transfers/payments

Make transfers (move money)

• Transfer between internal accounts

• Transfer to/from external accounts

• Add funds

Make check deposits (mobile only)

Has access to all accounts

Super Admin

Full control

Admin + money movement and bill pay capabilities. Has access to all accounts.

Member manages their account & card

Manage their own account info and card.

Basic info

• View login sessions

• Change own email, phone, address, auth settings

Individual cardholder

• View own card details and transactions

• Upload receipts for own card

• Freeze/unfreeze own card

• Categorize own expenses (memo, vendors, categories)

Issue & manage company cards

Issue and control cards assigned to team members.

Issue new cards

View all cards and details (number, cvv, nickname)

Terminate/freeze any card

Assign receipt admins for cards

Set or edit card spending limits

Set backup spending account

Create, manage, or approve spend requests based on defined policies

Manage vendor & payees

Control which vendors a user can add, edit, or delete/archive.

View list of payees

• View list of payees

Manage payees

• Add payees

• Edit payee details

• Archive payees

Review & approve bills

Control bill workflows: creating, reviewing, and approving company bills.

Manage bills

• Create bills

• Edit bill fields

• Edit payment fields

• Archive/delete bills

• Run W-9 reports

Manage approval rules

• Create/edit/delete rules

• Add/remove team members

Bill actions

• Schedule/initiate bill payments

• Approve or reject bills

Categorize & sync expenses

Review, categorize, and sync team transactions to accounting.

Edit expense fields (memos, vendors, categories)

Upload receipts

Create/edit/delete accounting categorization rules

Nudge cardholder for missing receipts

Sync or ignore expenses to accounting systems

Create & send invoices

Create and send invoices, manage customers, and update invoice settings and branding.

Invoice management

• View, download, share invoices and requests

• Create, edit, cancel, duplicate, or change status

• Create, edit, or cancel recurring invoices

Payment requests

• View, download, share payment links

• Can create, modify, and cancel payment links

Manage customers

• View customer list

• Add, edit, or delete customers

Settings & branding

• Set default payout account

• Set invoice branding

• Edit invoice business info such as address, contact email, DBA

• Create and manage tax rates

• Create and manage discount types

Manage the organization

Controls to manage team, integrations, billing, policies, and system-wide settings.

Manage team

• View team members

• Add team members

• Remove team members

• Add advisors

• Remove advisors

• Assign and change permissions

Manage integrations

• Configure accounting integrations (QBO, Xero, etc.)

• Edit accounting mapping

• Enable and disable accounting fields sync

• Sync or import vendors and unpaid bills

• Configure other integrations (Gusto, etc.)

• Disconnect integrations

Manage receipt policy

• Manage receipt policy

Manage business, subscription & billing

• Change business info

• Change subscription tier

• Change billing account

• Download invoices

Send, move, and track money

Has access to all accounts — payments, transfers, deposits, and full account management.

Create new accounts (checking or savings)

Delete accounts

For each account, user can:

View only (view balance, transactions, account details)

• View account balance

• View transactions

• View account details

Download account info

• Download account statements

• Download account documents

Make payment (send money)

• Create ACH payment

• Create check payment

• Create wire payment

• Create international wire payment

• Schedule/edit recurring transfers/payments

Make transfers (move money)

• Transfer between internal accounts

• Transfer to/from external accounts

• Add funds

Make check deposits (mobile only)

Has access to all accounts

Compare Advisor Permissions

Select up to three roles below to see a direct comparison of their permissions, or use the Show all permissions button to view all roles at once.

Compare:

Super AdminAdminManagerBill PayerRead-only

Show all

✓ = permitted  ·  — = not permitted  ·  ✓ = limited * Manager and Bill Payer can only initiate payments tied to pre-approved bills. † Firm admins can add staff to a client's business account only via the firm portal, and only up to their own permission level.

Editing permission levels

For detailed instructions on how to edit a team member or advisor's permission level, please see Editing permission levels.

Assigning advisor roles through the Partner Portal

Firm Administrators can assign an advisor role when adding a client to a staff member or edit the role later from the Partner Portal. The role menu includes Relay’s default advisor roles and any custom roles available for that specific client organization. 

Custom roles are client-specific, so the available roles may differ between client accounts. After a role is assigned or updated, the staff member may need to refresh the relevant client page to see their updated permissions. 

For information about firm-level Administrator and Staff permissions, please see Accounting and bookkeeping firm member permissions .

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