Good continuity throughout the engagement teams showing complete understanding from Shareholder all the way down to the senior and staff level.
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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Good continuity throughout the engagement teams showing complete understanding from Shareholder all the way down to the senior and staff level.
Good people, firm culture and reasonably priced. It’s also nice to support a locally HQ’d firm.
Friendly knowledgeable staff
Brett Cubellis is the best! He always follows up and is prompt in his response.
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.
The best thing is the partnership. Patrick and team are always responsive and great to work with. I love the open dialogue and professionalism. The team at SD is very knowledgeable and I feel they take the step further to exceed rather than just meet our expectations.
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.
I love the diversity of the personnel, each one has a unique skill set, and they all care about what’s important…”The Client!!
the ease of having questions answered- the knowledge of our day-to-day business needs and issues.
Jim Yard, Jessica Miller and team are first class in everything they do. They are a wealth of experience and knowledge and share that expertise with our Management team and Board. I have worked with numerous firms in my 25+ career and Schneider Downs is the best when it comes to communication, transparency and high-quality work product. We could not be happier with our relationship, and they are a source of strength in our overall risk management framework.
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.
Email us: [email protected]
Schneider Downs is a Top 60 independent Certified Public Accounting (CPA) firm providing accounting, tax, audit and consulting services to public and private companies, not-for-profit organizations and global companies. We also offer risk advisory, transaction advisory, digital consulting, wealth management, retirement plan solutions and investment banking services. Schneider Downs serves individuals and companies in Pennsylvania (PA), Ohio (OH), West Virginia (WV), New York (NY), Maryland (MD), metropolitan Washington (DC) and additional states in the United States with offices in Pittsburgh, PA, Columbus, OH, and McLean, VA.
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