Audit Services

Why independent auditing matters

Whether you’re running a large private company, managing a listed entity, or leading a not-for-profit organisation, stakeholders need confidence in your financial reporting. Board members, shareholders, donors, and funding agencies want assurance from qualified independent professionals that everything is going properly and your financial statements can be trusted.

For many organisations, audit requirements are mandatory. In schools, because they’re government-funded, charities that are above $1 million in expenses, and companies meeting specific revenue and asset thresholds. But beyond compliance, audit provides strategic value through improved controls, risk management, and business insights that drive better performance.

Helping to build better business

Your financial statements should reflect your business performance while meeting all reporting requirements. Our clear and comprehensive approach provides stakeholders with confidence in your financial position and gives management a concise picture of both results and opportunities for improvement.

When we meet with potential clients, we explain our process and reassure them that we’re not here to create problems—we’re here to help build better businesses and organisations.

Take our work with schools, where we’ve become specialists managing 125 school audits and achieving 90% completion by the May deadline—significantly outperforming other audit firms.

We’ve developed systematic processes and standard operating procedures that deliver efficient audits whilst providing valuable governance advice to school boards.

In the charity sector, we take an educational approach because many smaller charities don’t have professional accountants or adequate resources. We attend AGMs and board meetings, providing presentations that help board members understand their financial responsibilities and governance requirements. This personal investment generates tremendous goodwill and referrals.

Sometimes our honest approach means telling potential clients they don’t need an audit. When charities call wanting audit services, we’ll research their situation and often suggest practical solutions that eliminate the audit requirement entirely. This might seem counterintuitive for an audit firm, but building our reputation through honest opinions has helped grow our business significantly.

Ready to experience audit as a strategic business tool rather than just compliance? Contact UHY Haines Norton today and discuss your assurance needs.

Working with you to build stronger organisations

Our audit partners are passionate about auditing. They love helping organisations improve, whether that’s schools managing public funds responsibly, charities maximising their impact, or private companies strengthening their governance frameworks.

We understand that smaller organisations don’t always have adequate resources for sophisticated systems, and that’s where we can help most.

We’ve strategically focused on the not-for-profit sector, and since then, our audit practice has built deep expertise in charity and school governance requirements.

Our approach combines technical excellence with practical guidance. We help you understand how to do things better. This includes strengthening internal controls, improving financial reporting processes, and identifying potential impacts on your financial performance.

Your audit should provide insights that help you make better strategic decisions.

We use modern audit processes and smart technology to minimise disruption to your operations whilst ensuring thorough coverage of all material areas. The goal is to provide maximum assurance value with minimum operational impact on your day-to-day activities.

Three audit specialties that build confidence

1. Listed Company Audits
   Provide comprehensive auditing for publicly traded entities across Australia and New Zealand, ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements whilst delivering strategic insights that support informed stakeholder decision-making. Read more.
2. Large Private Company Audits
   Deliver thorough examination of financial statements and internal controls for substantial private enterprises, focusing on governance strengthening and risk management improvements that enhance business performance and stakeholder confidence. Read more.
3. Not-for-Profit Organisation Audits
   Specialise in schools, charities, and community organisations, combining regulatory compliance with educational guidance that helps boards understand their responsibilities and maximise their organisational impact and effectiveness. Read more.

Curious about which audit approach would best serve your organisation’s needs?
Let’s discuss your specific requirements.

Common audit mistakes that cost time and money

Many organisations underestimate the complexity of audit preparation, leading to delays, additional costs, and disrupted operations. Poor record-keeping, inadequate internal controls, and insufficient documentation create problems that extend audit timelines and increase fees significantly.

Governance weaknesses often surface during audits, revealing gaps in board oversight, policy compliance, or financial management that could create regulatory issues or stakeholder concerns. These problems are much more expensive to fix retrospectively than to prevent through proper systems and processes.

For not-for-profit organisations, misunderstanding audit requirements can lead to unnecessary costs. Many smaller charities commission audits when simple constitutional changes could eliminate the requirement. Understanding your obligations saves money that could be better spent on your core mission.

What audit success looks like

• Accurate financial disclosure that delivers confidence.

Your stakeholders such as board members, shareholders, customers, suppliers, and financiers, can trust your financial reporting, enabling them to make confident decisions about your organisation’s future and their ongoing relationship with you.

• Minimised disruption through smart processes.‍

Modern audit approaches using smart technology and online capabilities reduce the operational impact on your team whilst ensuring thorough coverage of all material areas and comprehensive assurance outcomes.

• Strengthened controls and governance frameworks.

Your internal controls improve through our audit process, driving better financial reporting quality and giving business stakeholders confidence in your risk management and operational effectiveness across all areas.

• Enhanced business performance through insights.‍

By identifying potential weaknesses and their impacts on profits and cashflows, your audit process contributes directly to improved business performance and more informed strategic decision-making capabilities.

Your audit experience, simplified

Your audit journey starts with understanding your organisation’s specific requirements and risk profile. We’ll explain our process clearly, discuss timelines and expectations, and work with you to minimise disruption whilst ensuring comprehensive coverage of all material areas requiring examination.

Our systematic approach means you get consistent, efficient service whether you’re a large private company, listed entity, or not-for-profit organisation. We’ve developed processes that deliver quality outcomes within required timeframes, and our track record speaks for itself in terms of meeting deadlines.

Throughout the audit, we maintain open communication about findings and recommendations. You’re not waiting until the end to hear about the issues, as we discuss matters as they arise and work collaboratively to resolve any concerns or implement improvements that strengthen your organisation.

Ready to experience audit as a strategic business tool? Call us and connect to possibility.