Our accountant Brett Cubellis.
Client: Global Marine Shipping & Transportation
Schneider Downs Service: ERISA Audit
How it Started
In 2021, Schneider Downs was contacted by a company that had missed its most recent ERISA filing date by several months, creating significant frustration with their current provider. Although Schneider Downs was not local to their area, the client reached out to us at the recommendation of their actuary. When he asked us to propose their ERISA audits, the prospect made it clear: his top priority was filing timely this year. We were determined to deliver.
Charting a New Course
After our initial meeting, we knew this audit required an especially proactive approach. Generally, due to the extensive third-party coordination and client onboarding tasks that come with a first-year ERISA audit, making granular predictions about specific timing can be tricky. However, to ensure the client felt confident they would file on time, we carefully outlined and committed to a detailed timeline of our audit plan in April.
To ensure we delivered on the promised timeline, we conducted biweekly calls with the client in June, even though fieldwork didn’t start until August. When we did begin fieldwork, which we conducted remotely, we upped the cadence of our calls and communicated regularly with the client through issuance—which occurred with time to spare.
How it's Going
Since successfully completing their ERISA audits, we’ve developed a strong partnership with the client. As they continue to grow, we are here to provide complimentary and general advisory services. Today, because we’ve demonstrated their priorities are our priorities, we’re the first to know whenever a change occurs within their organization. They know we’ll always pick up their call.
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Contact an Audit & Tax Advisor Today
Our accountant Brett Cubellis.
Great relationship with our primary POC – Jim Sayer. Excellent knowledge base and highly responsive to our business needs. SD has added real value to our taxation reporting and strategy.
Variety of services, expertise and customer service.
The people. They are very knowledgeable and quick to respond when issues arise. Jim Yard and the staff out of Pittsburg have been very helpful in the areas of IT Auditing, Mortgage Company Operations, and Wealth Management. They are very prompt in returning our calls and providing support when needed.
The people are knowledgeable and care about positively impacting our business.
I love the diversity of the personnel, each one has a unique skill set, and they all care about what’s important…”The Client!!
Very responsive. Lower cost option compared to Big 4.
The past year has been the perfect example of what I like best about Schneider Downs. In addition to our recurring annual corporate audit, tax compliance, and employee benefit plan audit / TPA services, SD&Co has provided us with cyber security consulting, breach response, lease accounting software and implementation, and estate valuation services. It is great to know that with a call to one of our primary relationship contacts, we can quickly and confidently be placed in the hands of an expert in any number of financial-related services. Communication and consistency within all SD&Co. service offerings is fantastic!!!
We treat Schneider Downs as our business advisor. Before we make big monetary decisions, one of our first phone calls is to Schneider Downs to get their opinion and council.
They are truly a full-service firm – we utilize the tax, audit, transaction, cybersecurity, 401k, and family office teams.
Working with Schneider Downs has been an absolute game-changer for our business. Their Tax and Audit teams, especially Carl Scharf, Sarah Hoagland, and Brandon Embreus, are unmatched in expertise and dedication. From day one, they took the time to understand the unique aspects of our company and developed strategies tailored to our needs. What I appreciate the most is their proactive approach; they always keep me informed of tax-saving opportunities, regulatory changes, and potential risks, so there are never any surprises. Every member of the team is approachable, patient, and incredibly knowledgeable — they make our complex world of accounting feel simple and manageable. In a world where customer service often falls short, Schneider Downs stands out with their unwavering commitment to their clients. They’re not just our accountants; they’re trusted partners who genuinely care about our success.
Schneider Downs’ engagement teams are hand-selected by our shareholders based on skill sets and experience and are available around the clock for consultation. Each attestation engagement is subject to our comprehensive quality control and risk management system, providing an independent review of audit opinions, related financial statements and significant underlying working papers, to ensure that the highest levels of professional standards are met.
To learn more, visit our dedicated Audit and Assurance page.
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Schneider Downs is a Top 60 independent Certified Public Accounting (CPA) firm providing accounting, tax, audit and business advisory services to public and private companies, not-for-profit organizations and global companies. We also offer Internal Audit; Technology Consulting; Software Solutions; Personal Financial Services; Retirement Plan Solutions and Corporate Finance Services. Schneider Downs is the 13th largest accounting firm in the Mid-Atlantic region and serves individuals and companies in Pennsylvania (PA), Ohio (OH), West Virginia (WV), New York (NY), Maryland (MD), and additional states in the United States with offices in Pittsburgh, PA, Columbus, OH, and McLean, VA.
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