Audits - Reviews - Compilations

Stockholders, creditors, private investors, and funding sources often need assurance that the financial statements accurately represent the true financial position of a company.

Your stockholders, creditors, private investors, and funding sources have different levels of risk tolerance, so we provide three levels of assurance to meet your needs.


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 work includes a review of internal controls, testing of selected transactions, and communication with third parties. Based on our findings, we issue a report on whether the financial statements are fairly stated and free of material misstatements.

An Audit allows you to...

  • Satisfy stakeholders such as employees, customers, suppliers and funding sources, as well as the investing community, as to the credibility of published information.
     
  • Facilitate the payment of corporate tax, goods and services tax, and other taxes on-time and accurately, thereby avoiding interest, penalties, and investigations.
     
  • Comply with banking covenants.
     
  • Help deter and detect material fraud and error.
     
  • 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:

  • Your customers, to check outstanding receivable balances,
  • Your banks, to confirm cash or debt balances and terms, and
  • Your attorneys, for information on pending or threatened legal action.

We also perform physical inspections by observing your inventory counting methods and performing test counts. We document and develop an understanding of each operating cycle, including sales and cash receipts, expenses and cash disbursements, and payroll. Our audit evidence includes a detailed work program to document the examinations and testing performed, as well as the supporting work papers.

Audits Not Just for Public Entities

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  bank or other parties, as well as meet budgetary needs.

Get In Touch

At Excel Accounting & Tax LLC, we've been serving the accounting needs statewide. If you need help managing any aspect of your home or business's finances, we want to hear from you.

Please call us or fill out this form and let us know how we can be of service. We will happily offer you a FREE initial consultation to determine how we can best serve you.

Thank you for visiting. We look forward to working together!

Synergy Accounting & Tax LLC

848 Dodge Ave 338
Evanston, IL 60202
T: 847-350-7278
E: synergyacttax@gmail.com

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