Audit & Assurance, in brief

Audit and assurance services provide independent verification and validation of information — audits focus on financial statements and internal controls, while assurance services extend to other aspects of an organisation such as governance, risk management and sustainability. These services help ensure accuracy, compliance and transparency, and build confidence among investors, creditors and regulators. They also help organisations comply with regulations, identify potential risks, and support better decision-making.

External Audit

External audit is an independent review of an organisation's financial statements, conducted by an auditor to provide an unbiased opinion on the accuracy and reliability of the financial data, and to confirm compliance with relevant laws and regulations. Its purpose is to provide assurance to stakeholders — shareholders, creditors and others — that the financial statements present a true and fair view of the company's financial position.

Our audit practice includes independent external audit services, where the objective is to express an opinion as to whether the financial statements give a true and fair view in all material respects, in accordance with the applicable financial reporting standards. We follow a rigorous and tested process that helps stakeholders:

  • Take business decisions based on impartial, unbiased financial reports, with assurance of legal and regulatory compliance.
  • Identify business risks and understand weaknesses in process, so that appropriate remedial measures can be taken.

Internal Audit

Internal audit is a systematic and independent examination of an organisation's operations, processes and internal controls, carried out by internal auditors to assess their effectiveness, identify areas for improvement, and ensure compliance with laws and regulations. It supports an organisation in achieving its objectives through a structured approach to risk management, control and governance.

  • Improve operational effectiveness, assess risks, safeguard assets, and confirm that applicable laws and regulations are followed.
  • Evaluate performance, helping a company assess its own effectiveness and efficiency.
  • Examine key business processes, identifying opportunities to grow and improve.
  • Provide practical suggestions for strengthening control systems.

Operational Audit

An operational audit is a comprehensive evaluation of an organisation's internal processes, systems and performance, aimed at identifying areas for improvement and enhancing efficiency. It goes beyond financial statements to assess the effectiveness of daily operations, management practices and resource utilisation. There is no legal requirement to carry out an operational audit — it is typically undertaken when management wants to assess operational effectiveness directly.

  • Assess the efficiency and effectiveness of specific processes and procedures by reviewing company policies and practices.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of management in directing operations, to support profitability and overall performance.
  • Test the effectiveness of current procedures by putting control measures in place.
  • Examine how resources are being used and identify areas for optimisation.

Forensic Audit Service

"Forensic" refers to the use of scientific procedures and methodologies in an investigation. A forensic audit is a detailed examination of an organisation's or individual's financial records, conducted to investigate potential fraud, misconduct or other irregularities, and to gather evidence for potential legal or corrective action.

  • Collect and analyse evidence to support claims of fraud, embezzlement or other financial crime, and help implement controls to prevent recurrence.
  • Identify and document fraudulent activity, financial misconduct or other irregularities.
  • Investigate financial records, transactions and systems to uncover evidence of wrongdoing.
  • Provide a detailed report with supporting documents, in line with the scope of work, including recommendations to prevent further loss.

Investigation Audit Services

An investigation audit examines suspected fraud, misconduct or irregularities within an organisation. It goes beyond a regular audit, focusing on uncovering specific issues and gathering evidence to establish the facts — an important service as business fraud has grown alongside business growth generally, often without management being aware of it.

  • Target specific areas of concern, such as suspected fraud or embezzlement, rather than assessing overall financial health.
  • Systematically collect and analyse evidence — documents, records and witness interviews — to establish the facts and identify those responsible.
  • Provide a detailed report on what happened and why, with recommendations for corrective action; the report can also support legal proceedings.

Tax Audit Services

A tax audit is an audit of books of account conducted to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Income Tax Act. The tax audit under Section 44AB aims to confirm compliance with the Income-tax Law and fulfilment of its requirements. The audit, conducted by a chartered accountant under Section 44AB, checks whether the calculation of income tax liability is correct — the resulting certification allows the Income Tax Department to place confidence in the return filed by the assessee.

  • Report observations and discrepancies noted after a systematic examination of the books of account.
  • Certify the accounts to help the Income Tax Department verify the correctness of the information in the return filed.
  • Make available information required under the Act, including allowable depreciation, and confirm compliance with its provisions.
  • File the income tax return, together with other required information, in the prescribed form.

Digital Audit

A digital audit is a comprehensive evaluation of a company's online presence and activities — website, social media, digital marketing, IT systems and cyber-security measures — assessing how well these channels align with business objectives and identifying areas for improvement.

  • Provide a roadmap for improving digital presence, including website optimisation and social media engagement.
  • Develop digital marketing channels with tactics customised to the business.
  • Identify inefficiencies in digital operations, helping to save time and resources.
  • Assess compliance with relevant regulations, and confirm that data, cyber-security and privacy practices are adequate.
  • Set reasonable KPI goals, and track performance in line with the nature of the business.

Discuss an audit requirement.

Our partners can advise on the type of audit most relevant to your organisation's current needs.

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