Authorized Signer Update for Organizational Clients 

Authorized signers on an organizational brokerage account play a critical governance and  security role. These individuals are permitted to act on behalf of the organization for  account-related activities such as money movements and administrative requests.  Keeping this list accurate is essential for compliance, risk management, and operational  continuity. Organizations typically update authorized signers for one or more of the  following reasons: 

1. Leadership or Staff Changes – When officers, directors, trustees, or finance personnel  leave or change roles, their authority should be removed promptly to prevent unauthorized  access. 

2. Governance and Compliance Requirements – Nonprofits, trusts, and corporations are  often required by bylaws, board resolutions, or auditors to maintain current signer  authorizations aligned with formal leadership roles. 

3. Risk Management and Fraud Prevention – Former employees or volunteers retaining  account authority is a common source of financial risk. Regular updates reduce exposure  to fraud or operational errors. 

4. Role Reassignment or Segregation of Duties – Organizations may add or remove  signers to better align with internal controls. 

5. Emergency or Temporary Authority Changes – In some cases, temporary signers are  added due to illness, extended leave, or crisis management and later removed. 

Who Can Be an Authorized Signer 

Authorized signers are typically individuals formally empowered by the organization, such  as: 

• Officers (e.g., Treasurer, CFO, President) 
• Trustees or board members 
•  Finance managers or controllers 
• External professionals (limited authority, if approved) 

Best practices for ongoing account management include reviewing authorized signers annually or after leadership changes and removing authority immediately when a signer  departs. Cornerstone Management recommends two to three authorized signers for  paperwork efficiency. 

For questions pertaining to the Authorized Signer Update process or to submit an update  request, call our office at (770) 449-7799 to speak with a member of our Operations team. 

Sheree Mapp
Investment Operations Manager 

Elizabeth Caughman
Senior Investment Operations Associate