Audit Firms Near You in Ireland
A business audit is a structured examination of a company's books, controls and trading position, carried out by an accountant or auditor and delivered as a written report. In Ireland it is most often commissioned by owner-managers in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford who want an independent view before applying for a bank facility, bringing in an investor, or handing the business to the next generation. The work covers profit and loss, balance sheet, cash flow, debtors and creditors, payroll and VAT records, and the internal controls that sit behind them. Some audits are statutory, some are voluntary reviews requested by a lender or a board. Either way the output is a document: findings, figures, and a list of matters to address. The customer's part is to gather the records, answer the auditor's queries, and decide what to act on. Posting a task on ShamFix costs nothing today.
What shapes the price of business audit
- Business audit pricing in Ireland is usually quoted one of three ways: a fixed fee for a defined scope, an hourly rate, or a per-document rate where several sets of accounts are reviewed.
- The scope drives the number more than anything else.
- A single-year review of a small trading company costs less than a three-year comparative audit with consolidated figures.
- Turnover, transaction volume, and the number of bank accounts, VAT registrations and payroll runs all add work.
- So does the state of the records: a business using cloud bookkeeping software and reconciled bank feeds takes fewer hours than one arriving with a box of invoices.
- Travel to a premises in another county is a separate line.
- Ask what is excluded: company secretarial filings, tax returns, revenue interventions, and any work needed to fix the problems the audit finds are normally outside the audit scope and quoted separately.
- Get the basis, the assumptions and the exclusions in writing before work starts.
What a business audit involves and who is qualified to carry it out
A business audit examines financial records, processes and controls to give an independent view of how a business is performing. In Ireland, the person who carries out the work and the report they issue depend on the type of audit and the professional body they belong to.
Statutory audit
A statutory audit is a legal requirement for certain companies under the Companies Act 2014. It must be carried out by a person who is a statutory auditor, meaning they are registered with a recognised accountancy body in Ireland and hold a valid audit practising certificate. The auditor issues an independent auditor's report on the financial statements.
Internal audit
An internal audit reviews a company's risk management, governance and internal controls. It is usually performed by an employee or an external firm engaged by the company, and it results in an internal report for management. There is no single register for internal auditors, but many belong to professional bodies such as the Institute of Internal Auditors.
Forensic audit
A forensic audit investigates financial records for evidence of fraud or misconduct. It may be carried out by accountants, former law enforcement personnel or specialist firms, and the findings can be used in legal proceedings. The person or firm should be able to explain their methodology and experience in this area.
Tax audit
A tax audit checks whether a business has complied with tax laws and may be carried out by Revenue or by an independent tax adviser. An independent tax adviser often holds qualifications from the Irish Tax Institute or a recognised accountancy body. The outcome is usually a report with findings and recommendations.
Compliance audit
A compliance audit assesses whether a business meets specific regulatory or industry standards. It can be conducted internally or by an external specialist, depending on the regulations involved. The auditor issues a report detailing areas of non-compliance and suggested corrective actions.
Choosing an auditor
Ask which Irish professional body the provider belongs to and whether they hold a current practising certificate for the type of audit you need. For a business audit, relevant bodies include Chartered Accountants Ireland, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants in Ireland (CPA Ireland). You can also ask for examples of similar audits they have completed.
How long business audit takes
A straightforward voluntary review of a small company's accounts commonly takes two to four weeks from the point the records are complete. A statutory audit of a larger entity, or one with group structures, can run six to ten weeks. The single biggest cause of delay is incomplete records: missing bank statements, unreconciled control accounts, unexplained director's loans, or payroll records that do not tie to the returns. Slow answers to queries stretch a job more than the audit work itself. Seasonal pressure matters too, because January to April and the months around a company's financial year end are the busiest periods for Irish accounting firms, and a file that arrives in March may sit longer than one that arrives in July. Agree a start date and a delivery date in the engagement letter, and ask what the firm needs from you to hold that date.
What to ask before you hire
- 01Ask which professional body they are a member of, and whether the firm holds a current audit practising certificate where a statutory audit is required.
- 02Ask for a letter of engagement before any work begins: it should set out the scope, the basis of the fee, the deliverables, and who is responsible for what.
- 03Ask who will actually do the fieldwork and who signs the report, because the person you meet is not always the person who writes it.
- 04Ask what records they need and in what format, and what happens if the records turn out to be incomplete.
- 05Ask whether the fee is fixed or estimated, and what would trigger an increase.
- 06Ask how they handle confidentiality and whether they can act for you if they already act for a competitor.
- 07Ask about professional indemnity cover.
- 08Ask for the report format in advance so you know what you will receive.
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Company audits in Ireland
Many Irish limited companies need a statutory audit each year, while smaller companies may qualify for audit exemption under the Companies Act 2014 if they meet the size thresholds and file on time with the CRO. Companies can still need an audit for other reasons, such as a late annual return, a bank, investors or a grant body. Audits must be carried out by a registered auditor. Whether you run a company in Dublin, Limerick or a smaller town, post your task on ShamFix with your turnover and deadline and compare quotes from local accountancy firms.
Audit jobs you can post
- Statutory annual audit
- Audit after losing audit exemption
- Audit for a bank or lender
- Grant and funding compliance audit
- Charity and club accounts review
- Audit of group companies
- Pre-audit bookkeeping clean-up
- Internal controls review
- Stock count attendance
Business audit questions
Does my company need an audit?
It depends on your company size, type and filing history. Some small companies qualify for audit exemption, but filing the annual return late can remove it.
Who can carry out a statutory audit in Ireland?
Only a registered auditor or audit firm. Ask providers to confirm their registration.
How long does an audit take?
It depends on the size of the company and how well the records are kept. Good bookkeeping makes the audit faster.
What records will the auditor need?
Usually bank statements, sales and purchase records, payroll records, fixed asset details and loan agreements.
How much does a small business audit cost?
Fees depend on the size and complexity of the business. Post your task to compare quotes.
Business audit questions people ask
What is the difference between a statutory audit and a voluntary business audit in Ireland?
A statutory audit is a legal requirement for companies that meet the thresholds set out in Irish company law, and it follows a prescribed format. A voluntary audit is commissioned by the owner, a lender or a board and the scope is agreed between the parties. Voluntary reviews are often narrower, focused on cash flow, margins or a specific concern rather than a full legal opinion on the accounts.
What records do I need to have ready before a business audit starts?
You need the full accounting records for the period under review: nominal ledger, trial balance, bank statements for every account, sales and purchase invoices, payroll records, VAT returns, and any loan or lease agreements. Also gather minutes, contracts and correspondence on significant transactions. If your bookkeeping is on cloud software, give the auditor access rather than exporting files, because reconciled ledgers reduce the hours billed.
How is the fee for a business audit calculated?
Fees are quoted as a fixed amount for an agreed scope, an hourly rate, or a per-document rate when several sets of accounts are reviewed. The main drivers are turnover, transaction volume, the number of entities and bank accounts, and how tidy the records are. Travel and any work outside the agreed scope are usually charged separately, so ask for the exclusions in writing.
Can a business audit help me get a bank loan or attract an investor?
Yes. Lenders and investors generally want independently examined figures rather than management accounts prepared in-house. An audit report gives them a documented basis for the numbers and shows the controls behind them. It also surfaces weaknesses before a lender finds them, which gives you time to fix them. Tell the auditor at the outset that the report is for a third party, so the format suits that purpose.
What happens if the audit uncovers a serious problem in the accounts?
The auditor reports the finding and explains its effect on the figures. Depending on the issue, they may need to qualify the report or raise it with those charged with governance. Correcting the underlying records, restating figures or notifying a relevant authority is usually separate work with its own fee. Ask in advance how such matters are handled and what the firm's reporting obligations are.
How long should I expect a business audit to take from start to finish?
A small voluntary review typically takes two to four weeks once records are complete. A statutory audit of a larger or grouped company can take six to ten weeks. Delays almost always come from incomplete records or slow answers to queries rather than from the audit fieldwork itself. Busy season from January to April will stretch any timeline, so agree dates in the engagement letter.
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