A reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify factors that enhance and inhibit employee engagement amongst professional staff working in shared services teams in an Australian regional university. With efficient and effective client service delivery expected of people working in a shared services structure, employee buy-in and the need for them to feel engaged are important. However, little is known about the employee experiences of working in a shared services team. Despite this, shared services have become popular in universities by offering cost savings while improving service quality and output. We found that professional staff responded generally positively to working in a shared services team. Moreover, they indicated positive employee engagement when their working experiences responded to specific 'rules of engagement' applicable to their shared services environment.