They are always willing to help and feel more like an extension of your team rather than a vendor
Client: Multi-Location, Global, Long-term Client
How it Started
After years of working with national accounting firms, (a standard move for a global organization of their size), one of our current clients wanted to find a different approach. They didn’t just want an auditor anymore—they wanted a business partner to guide them through every step of the reporting and readiness process. A business partner who would develop a personalized and practical procedure to ensure a successful audit. Though they wanted more personal attention than the Big 4 could offer, it was also important that their provider still had the resources to understand and simplify the complex accounting requirements of international operations. That’s where we came in.
A Practical Approach
From the beginning, we committed to co-developing a procedure that worked for the client. We know from experience that the first question international organizations have when it comes to an audit is how to cohesively and painlessly organize the disparate reporting requirements of each location. With that in mind, we sat down with them and discussed the best methods to approach each of their international sites, one by one. Rather than insisting on a reperformance of financial statements reported under IFRS accounting standards, we rolled the work already completed at several of their locations into our audit process. And, based on our experience with other companies, we provided advice on best practices at each location that would ultimately create efficiencies in our overall audit process.
Throughout our relationship, we’ve viewed this client as our partner. We’ve guided them through the intricacies of new accounting pronouncements, lease arrangements, complex transactions and revenue recognition. Whenever a complex issue has come up, they’ve relied on us to provide guidance and support; they know we both have the resources to handle these issues and that, as our partners, they have access to all of them.
How it's Going
Our client is ambitious. After ten years with us, they’ve seen how much an audit process can improve with careful attention. Over the years, we’ve shortened the time between their year-end and audit close to an impressive 60 days. And we’re not done yet. Their new goal for the coming years is a 45-day close. They know we’ll help them get there the way we’ve always done. Our feedback remains consistent each year with insights on ways to improve. We continue to partner with them through transactional and accounting matters to outline the most efficient and effective ways to reach their goals.
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Contact an Audit & Tax Advisor Today
They are always willing to help and feel more like an extension of your team rather than a vendor
We have always been impressed by the team’s expertise, knowledge and understanding of the higher education industry. They have a personal, proactive approach to guide us through the many complexities and challenges we face on a regular basis.
We’ve had an amazing SD team. My experience has been that they have a partnership approach and are focused on education and identifying areas for continuous improvement.
Their timeliness is exceptional. I have enjoyed working with the same staff over the years. Keeping the same staff, is important to me.
They act as if they are part of our team which is greatly appreciated.
The engagement of the SD team in our business is welcoming. This is both on the audit and tax side. I really like how the Partner-In-Charge of both sides and I work together to make sure we achieve the desired outcomes from our respective teams in the time frames agreed upon.
We always receive prompt responses and valued advice.
Not only is their professional and experience so valuable to our organization, their availability throughout the engagement and any time throughout the entire year is terrific and that line of communication is very helpful and adds value to their services.
We have worked with the same team for many years, which I consider a strength. We have also been able to draw from expertise across the firm around specialized needs in the past few years.
As an entrepreneur that has started and sold multiple businesses, my Schneider Downs team have provided the highest quality expertise when filing personal and corporate tax returns and when I sold my businesses. Their guidance saved me hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax savings, while ensuring compliance with Federal and State laws. They listened to my concerns and answered my questions in a timely manner, providing options and recommendations that ultimately made these very complex transactions simple and understandable. This team proved to be indispensable partners to me, my leadership team, and my family, and I highly recommend Schneider Downs to any business owners, small or large.
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.