Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Why Companies Need To Enlist The Services Of External Audit Firms

By Alfred Lambert


A well-known song claims money cannot buy you love, but it cannot be denied that in the business world, it is everything. Without funding, businesses cannot operate. This is why businessmen and shareholders should monitor where their money goes. They have to know their company's financial state. Hence, they get the services of external audit firms.

Most individuals think that external audit firms are responsible for documenting where the business spent every penny it has. But this is what the company's audit team does. The primary role of external audit firms is to verify if the financial records of the company are error-free. Their responsibility is to make sure that the documents are true representations of the company's financial dealings.

It goes without saying that a firm's service is invaluable as it safeguards businesses from costly errors. Misstatements on financial records can lead to government sanctions like fines and even law suits. What's more is that these errors put a cloud of doubt on the company's credibility.

In the business world where having a trusted brand is tantamount to success, mistakes in the company's financial reports can lead to its downfall. A business relies on its credibility to attract more customers. Most importantly, for a company hoping to get financial support from financial institutions, a good reputation, as reflected on its financial statements, raises the business's chances of earning that support.

Meanwhile, for businessmen and shareholders, the chosen audit firm is their ally in making sure that no misuse of funds or fraudulent activity is taking place within the company. Likewise, the audit report gives them a picture of the real state of their enterprises, at least based on their finances. The firm can also assess the existing internal controls of the business and provide recommendations on how it can be improved, including the other aspects of the business.

Truly, an audit firm's roles are important for any company which aims to be successful. Thus, businessmen have to take their time and research more about the different audit firms before choosing one. It's recommended for businesses to discuss their needs and objectives with audit firms and ask them to submit plans on how to address these needs and objectives. With this approach, businesses get to select a firm which best meets their goals.




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