Every Dext user is assigned a role with specific permissions. These permissions determine which features and settings a user can access, as well as the actions they can take in a Dext account.
Note: A user’s role is always set at the account level. If a user belongs to multiple Dext accounts, they may have different roles and permissions in each account.
What's the difference between practice and business roles?
Dext has two distinct role sets, depending on the account type:
Practice roles apply to users in an accounting or bookkeeping practice.
Business roles apply to users in business accounts.
Note: Business accounts can be:
Clients of accounting or bookkeeping practices
Businesses that pay for Dext directly
The account owner
Every Dext account - both Practice and Business - has an account owner (once at least one user has been added).
The account owner is usually the first user added to the account.
The account owner cannot be deactivated, removed, or have their privileges changed through the Dext interface.
Exception: Practice users can edit the privileges of an account owner within a client account.
If you need to remove or change the account owner, contact our support team.
Practice roles
Users in an accounting or bookkeeping practice can be assigned one of the following roles. These roles control access to the Practice account and the practice’s internal business account.
Do practice roles affect access in client accounts?
Practice roles determine a user’s access at the practice level.
All accountants and bookkeepers act as Admins in client accounts if they have access to them, regardless of their role in the practice.
This means:
Practice users have Admin-level access when working in a client’s business account.
Changing a user’s practice role does not restrict their access within the client accounts they can access.
Tip: Learn how to manage a colleague's access to clients.
Practice admin
Practice Admins have full access across the practice and the practice’s own business account. They can manage all clients, users, settings, and subscriptions.
Client admin
By default, Client Admins have access to all client accounts. They can create and manage clients, and add or manage Standard Users and other Client Admins. They might not have access to the practice-level settings.
Client Admins cannot:
Create or update users with the Practice Admin role
Suspend, enable, or remove Practice Admins
Manage the practice subscription (purchase or upgrade)
Optional permissions
Client Admins can be granted additional permissions for the practice’s own business account:
Manage the practice’s business – view all items, create expense claims, publish and manage the account settings
Access all documents – view and edit all practice users' items
Create expense claims – available only if Manage practice’s business is OFF
Publishing permissions – available only if Manage practice’s business is OFF:
Publish all items that belong to them
Publish expense claims that belong to them only
Cannot publish
Standard users (practice)
Standard users can only view the clients to which they’ve been granted access. They cannot manage practice-level settings or access the Team page. Optional permissions include adding new clients or accessing Insights.
Standard users can also be granted the same practice business permissions as Client Admins:
Manage the practice’s business
Access all documents
Create expense claims (if Manage business is OFF)
Publishing permissions (if Manage business is OFF)
Editing a practice colleague’s roles and permissions
To edit a practice colleague’s role:
Go to Team > Colleagues in the sidebar.
Select Manage next to the colleague.
Click Edit privileges.
Choose the role and permissions, then click Save.
Business roles
Users in a business account can be assigned one of the following roles. These roles apply only within that business account.
Business admin
Business Admins have full access to the account, including users, settings, all documents, and subscriptions.
User admin
User Admins can manage all documents and most account settings. They can invite, disconnect, or reallocate an accountant’s access, and create or manage Standard Users and other User Admins.
User Admins cannot:
Create, edit, or change privileges for Business Admins
Suspend, enable, or remove Business Admins
Manage subscriptions (purchase, upgrade, or cancel)
Standard users (business)
Standard users can view and edit only their own items by default. They cannot access the Users page, most lists (except Vehicles), or any account settings.
They can optionally be given additional permissions:
Access all documents – view and edit all users' items
Create expense claims – create expense claims
Publishing permissions:
Publish all items
Publish expense claims only
Cannot publish
Editing a business user’s roles and permissions
To edit a business user’s role:
Go to Users in the sidebar.
Select Manage next to the user.
Click Edit privileges.
Choose the role and permissions, then click Save.
