All employees are professional.
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 on their ERISA audits, the prospect was very clear: his top priority was filing timely this year. We were determined to deliver.
Every Step of the Way
After our initial meeting, it was clear that this audit required an especially proactive approach. In general, due to the extensive third-party coordination and client onboarding tasks that come with a first-year ERISA audit, it’s tricky to make granular predictions about specific timing. However, to make sure the client felt comfortable that this year would be different than the last, 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 and continue to provide several complimentary services and general advisory services as they grow. Today, because we’ve demonstrated that 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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All employees are professional.
The people
Very responsive. Lower cost option compared to Big 4.
Competency is broad and efficiently applied. SD is a great thought partner and goes beyond keeping score to enable us with meaningful insights.
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.
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.
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.
Good continuity throughout the engagement teams showing complete understanding from Shareholder all the way down to the senior and staff level.
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.
Good people.
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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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