Audit - Highest Level of Assurance
An audit provides the highest level of assurance. An audit is a methodical review and objective examination of the financial statements, including the verification of specific information as determined by the auditor or as established by general practice.
Our philosophy is to provide comprehensive services that empowers or clients. Our apporach to an audit is to look at the activities and operations of our clients and not merely the books and records. We try to look beyond the accounting entries to the underlying business reasons for the recorded transactions. We believe that this approach broadens our understanding of the client's activities and operations. In turn, this will enable us to provide suggestions that increase efficiencies and promote innovations for the organization.
We believe that the basis of a successful professional relationship is the establishment of mutual respect and confidence between the client and the accountant. Forthright communication permits early identification and resolution of accounting, reporting and other issues, thereby enabling us to deal with them in a timely basis. We will work closely with management in performing the consulting engagement; in developing constructive recommendations for improvements in internal accounting controls, accounting procedures, and administrative efficiency; and in developing financial statement presentation. We believe this type of relationship will provide you with expert advise regarding those areas of interest, or particular concern to you, and enable you to maximize the benefit of our relationship.
Compliance
We are proud to have completed our California State mandated peer review with a report of pass with no comments. This is the highest report available.
An Audit allows you to...
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Satisfy stakeholders such as employees, customers, suppliers and pressure groups, as well as the investing community, as to the credibility of published information.
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Facilitate the payment of corporate tax, goods and services tax, and other taxes on-time and accurately, thereby avoiding interest, penalties, and investigations.
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Comply with banking covenants.
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Help deter and detect material fraud and error.
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Facilitate the purchase and sale of businesses.
Here's what you get...
You get the highest level of assurance because we go outside your company to obtain more information. Typically, we'll have written communication with:
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Your customers, to check outstanding receivable balances,
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Your banks, to confirm cash or debt balances and terms,
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Your vendors, to verify outstanding payable balances, and
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Your attorneys, for information on pending or threatened legal action.
We also perform physical inspections by observing your inventory counting methods and perform test counts. We document and test each operating cycle, including sales and cash receipts, expenses and cash disbursements, and payroll. Our audit papers include a detailed work program to document the examinations and testing performed, as well as the client's supporting work papers.
Audits Not Just for the Big Guys
All public companies are required to have an annual audit, but some nonpublic entities must undergo an annual audit as well. These include local governments, not-for-profit agencies and other organizations receiving government grants.
Moreover, some financial institutions require audits of nonpublic companies based on the financing amount and/or the bank's assessment of the company's risk. Also, companies with absentee ownership (such as those owned by investment firms, or individuals who no longer run the business) may order audits as checks of their management teams.
Review - Limited Assurance
Less extensive than an audit, but more involved than a compilation, a review engagement consists primarily of analytical procedures we apply to the financial statements, and various inquiries we make of your company's management team. If the financial statements or supporting information appear inconsistent or otherwise questionable, we may need to perform additional procedures.
A review doesn't require us to study and evaluate your company's internal controls or verify data with third parties or physically inspect assets. Rather, a review report expresses limited assurance in the form of the statement: "We are not aware of any material modifications" for the financial statements to be in conformity with the Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Reviewed financial statements must include all required footnotes and other disclosures.
Why might a business request a review engagement? It can be a good middle ground, providing the advantages of a CPA's technical expertise without the work and expense of an audit.
Compilation - Lowest Level of Assurance
In compiling financial statements for a client, we present information that is the "representation of management" and expresses no opinion or assurance on the statements. Compilations don't require inquiries of management or analytical procedures. Instead, we rely on our knowledge of accounting principles and a general understanding of your business.
Banks often require compilations from an independent CPA as part of their lending covenants.
Which Report Should You Use?
Each type of financial statement report may suit specific circumstances, depending on requirements from your client's bank or other parties, as well as meet budgetary needs.
Understanding each report's unique strengths and weaknesses can help you choose the most appropriate one. Please call if you have questions about which type of report is right for you.
