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Our accounting and audit services at Brickley DeLong do more than just validate facts; they are used to help draw an outline for our clients for better, more effective financial practices in the future. Our auditors examine your operations and seek out your organization’s strengths to help you attain maximum efficiency and improved profitability.
We recognize the requirement for quality assurance that financial statements accurately embody the financial position and results of operations of your organization for your governance, stakeholders, creditors, and private investors. Because these individuals hold different levels of risk tolerance, we have available three levels of quality assurance to meet your needs: audits, reviews and compilations.
Audits – Highest Level of Assurance
An audit provides the highest level of assurance. An audit is a methodical review and objective examination of the financial statements, including the verification of specific information as determined by the auditor, or as established by general practice.
Audits of Financial Statements
An audit of financial statements provides the highest level quality assurance to our clients. This methodical, objective audit of financial statements includes an analysis of internal controls, testing of account balances, disclosures and selected transactions, and communication with third parties. After our thorough assessment, we issue an audit opinion in relation to the financial statements as to whether they are fairly stated in accordance with general accepted accounting principles.
Single Audits of Federal Awards
The federal government requires a compliance audit of school districts, local governments, nonprofit organizations and others receiving federal government grants in excess of the federal threshold. Commonly called a “single audit,” this audit is performed in conjunction with the annual audit.
To stay abreast of emerging issues, Brickley DeLong is a member of the AICPA Governmental Audit Quality Center, and members of our firm participate on committees with the State of Michigan Departments of Education and Treasury.
Audits of Employee Benefit Plans
Generally, federal requirements dictate that employee benefit plans with 100 or more participants are to have an audit as part of their responsibility to file an annual return (IRS Form 5500). It is important to have a quality audit performed on your employee benefit plan to not only protect the assets and financial integrity of the plan, but also to ensure that the necessary funds will be available to pay retirement, health and other promised benefits to your employees.
To ensure that our firm provides the highest quality of audit for you and your business, we are a member of the AICPA Employee Benefit Plan Audit Quality Center. Our membership helps our professionals meet and overcome the unique challenges in this area.
Review – Limited Quality Assurance
Less extensive than an audit, but more involved than a compilation, a review engagement is comprised of analytical procedures we apply to the financial statements and numerous inquiries we make of your organization’s management team. We determine from there if additional procedures need to be performed to evaluate matters inconsistent with our expectations of the financial statements and/or to obtain supporting information.
With a review, we do not perform a study of your organization’s internal controls, verify data with third parties, or physically inspect assets. Rather, a review report offers limited assurance in the form of reporting that there are no material modifications necessary to maintain conformity with the generally accepted accounting principles.
A review may be a good middle ground, providing the rewards of a CPA’s technical skill without the work and expense of an audit. In addition, banks may consider or require reviews performed by an independent CPA as part of a lending covenant.
Compilation – Lowest Level of Assurance
When compiling financial statements for you, we present information that is the “representation of management” and express no opinion or quality assurance on the statements provided. A compilation does not require analytical procedures or inquiries of management on our part. We instead rely on our knowledge of accounting and an understanding of you and your business, in relation to your accounting records to compile financial statements. It is important for you to understand the strengths and weaknesses in each type of report, and the specific circumstances they fit. If you have any questions about which type of report is appropriate for you and your business don’t hesitate to contact us at (231)-726-5800.
Some of the Industries We Provide Assurance Services to Include: