Understanding Roles and Permissions
A complete guide to the seven association roles — what each can do and when to assign them.
Zenith AMS uses a role-based permission system. Every member of an association is assigned a role that determines what they can see and do — both in the member portal and in the admin panel.
The seven default roles
| Role | Admin Panel Access | Key capabilities |
|---|---|---|
| Administrator | Full access | Everything — manage members, finances, elections, settings, and all admin functions |
| Manager | Yes | Manage members, assign roles, update association settings |
| Account Officer | Yes | Create financial items, assign dues, approve payments, manage expenses |
| Editor | Yes | Create and edit events, posts, notices, and gallery content |
| Contributor | Yes | Create (but not delete) events, posts, and notices |
| Viewer | Yes (read-only) | View members, events, finances, and reports — cannot edit anything |
| Member | No | Access the member portal only — view dues, events, notices, and manage their own profile |
Assigning and changing roles
Roles are assigned per association. A user can have different roles in different associations they belong to. To change a member's role, go to Members in the admin panel, find the member, and edit their association role.
Custom roles
You can create custom roles if the default set doesn't match your organization's structure. Custom roles let you select exactly which permissions to grant. Navigate to Roles in the admin panel and click Add Role to configure one.
Related articles
Managing Roles and Custom Permissions
How to create custom roles and assign granular permissions to admin users.
Managing Members
How to add, edit, suspend, and export members in the admin panel.
Setting Up Your Association
A detailed walkthrough of configuring your association's branding, membership tiers, profile fields, and roles.