Audit & Assurance
Giving you the confidence to drive open and transparent growth
We consider the Audit and Assurance ‘experience’ for our clients to be as important as the technical delivery
Enabling you to meet your obligations without any headaches or that last minute rush
The key to a successful audit and assurance is knowing you can trust the financial statements, records and reports which describe the performance of your business. By taking time to understand your business and the drivers and risks you face, our professionals can challenge assumptions and provide deeper insights beyond compliance as well as giving you confidence in the accuracy of those figures.
Whilst we are committed to providing high quality audits and exceptional client service to the bulk of the marketplace, there are a number of sectors where we are considered to be one of the leading audit firms if not the leading audit firm in those sectors, namely
- International mid-market groups
- Media, specifically film and TV production
- Financial Markets, specifically Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs)
- Sustainable Energy and Renewables
- Technology
We have three strands to our audit and assurance approach which deliver high quality audits for our clients and an exceptional experience. Our training and development programmes are built around these areas with each given equal prominence.
Exceptional Client Service
Adopting a culture of collaboration and continual growth
Our entire audit team undergo quarterly training where we debrief audit assignments completed in the previous quarter from a client service and project management perspective. This allows us to share ideas and experiences, brainstorm, learn and continually improve your experience of working with us.
We also have a culture and mindset of understanding your objectives and working with you to deliver the desired outcome, whilst always being mindful of the need to be compliant and satisfy any legal and ethical obligations.
Smooth Audit Process
Actioning an efficient, reliable and tailored plan
Over time, we have developed and refined a proprietary audit process and way of working to ensure you receive an efficient audit. Consequently, this reduces the time input required by your CFO/FD, lowers cost and ensures that there are no late surprises.
Our process ensures that opportunities to present the financial statements and company in the best possible light are realised, deadlines are met, and budgets are adhered to. Whilst all of our staff are trained to religiously follow our audit process, which is underpinned by robust systems, processes and controls, we are able to flex how we work so that you will receive a bespoke audit process which optimises our work with you.
Technical Excellence
Our commitment to deliver quality and value
We only take on audit assignments where we believe that we can deliver an exceptional service. If we turn down the opportunity to be appointed as an auditor, it is not because we do not like the people or the company, it is because we think that another firm would be a better fit, be able to deliver a better service and add more value.
We invest heavily in technical training for our staff and ensure they are working with market leading data analytics and audit software which they are highly skilled in using.
Taking a proactive approach
Offering a spectrum of audit and assurance services
Statutory Audits
Voluntary Statutory Audits
Other Assurance Engagements
Grant & Royalty Audits
Financial Reporting Advice
Corporate Reporting
Meet the Team
Our audit & assurance experts
Kate Barekati
Stuart Hinds
Jessica Teague
Rob Page
How did we do?
Hear it from our Audit & Assurance clients
When I joined Portage, the company was deficient in its filings for its UK subsidiary iOx Therapeutics Limited, which was delaying the filings of UK tax returns as well. Our prior auditors were no longer able to do the work as a result of COVID and staffing limitations. I was introduced to Ecovis and Stuart Hinds by our US auditing firm. Stuart and his team quickly grasped the complex nature of the transactions and worked quickly and professionally to resolve audit issues. They were able to navigate the conversion of the iOx’s books from the consolidation to a standalone UK audit in compliance with IFRS. They met every deadline, and we were able to complete 2 years of audits in three months. We are now compliant in all respects in the UK. The professionalism, organisation and technical skills shown by Stuart and his team was exceptional and we are considering them for additional work, beyond the current audit engagement.
We had a situation where Marcum were our group PCAOB auditors based out of New York and KPMG were our UK auditors. This left us in a painful situation where all of our numbers, regardless if they were the same under different GAAP regimes, were being audited twice. As well as incurring unnecessary cost, this meant complete inefficiency from the standpoint of my team’s time.
I approached Marcum to come up with a better solution and together with Ecovis they have nailed the brief. Other than GAAP differences, all substantive work only takes place once as the UK team leverages the work of the US team. Regarding these GAAP differences and local UK reporting, where more questions are naturally needed from the UK team, I have found Ecovis’ questions very relevant and their approach sensible and pragmatic.
Ecovis were appointed the UK Groups auditors following a very tight competitive process, which Stuart lead, and have just completed the first-year engagement across sixteen entity and or branch operations. Stuart and his team, through their thoughtful communication, meticulous project management and professionalism have transformed the Groups internal attitude to the audit process and ensured timely delivery against the audit’s objectives.
The leadership team have appreciated Stuarts leadership, especially in the wake of Covid-19, and I look forward to working with Stuart, Jess and the wider Ecovis team moving forward.