Accounting Services

The term "accounting firm" might now actually be somewhat misleading. Traditional accounting organizations have developed a number of services beyond their traditional audit and tax functions (discussed below). Indeed, the Big Four and the larger second-tier organizations have long since discarded this designation for the more comprehensive "professional services firm" appellation.

However, it should be noted that the provision of many of these services by traditional accounting firms has come under increased scrutiny for potential conflicts of interest as a result of the Enron collapse. In particular, accounting firms are increasingly under pressure to divorce their management consulting services (see "Industry Trends and Outlook" in the previous chapter) from their accounting services.

In this chapter, we break down the services commonly offered by the larger accounting firms, although the list below should not be considered an exhaustive one. Also, be aware that the number and types of services that can be offered by accounting firms can change as quickly as the overall business climate.

Audit, assurance and advisory

The most basic functions of CPA (short for Certified Public Accountant, the professional designation for accountants) firms are accounting and auditing, which consist primarily of performing independent audits of the financial statements issued by companies. A company is a client of its accounting firm - it pays the accounting firm to audit its financial statements. The accounting firm's audit signals that an independent authority attests to their validity. In addition, a number of audit-related services are offered, either as part of the audit engagement or as a separate engagement. Among those services are:

• Recommending improvements on internal controls, operating efficiencies and profitability to management


• Acquisition audits (financial analysis or "due diligence" on a company the client is considering acquiring)


• Validating financial and non-financial data for internal and external review


• Confirming that the client is in compliance with debt agreements

Taxation

The provision of tax services has developed far beyond the mundane preparation of tax returns. Generally, these services focus on the creation of strategies to minimize tax liability (reduce the amount of tax payments) and comply with local, federal and international law. Specific tax services now cover a wide range of issues:

• Accounting for taxes on financial statements


• The preparation of federal, state and local tax returns


• Advisory on multi-state and international taxation issues


• Consultation on mergers and acquisitions to minimize taxes


• Structuring operations to leverage tax opportunities


• Reviewing tax returns for compliance with tax laws


• Personal wealth and estate planning for individuals

A firm's tax practice often includes special service groups that address specific, complex tax issues. For example, some accounting firms maintain groups that monitor new tax laws, regulations, rulings, cases and other developments within the tax regulatory environment and communicate this knowledge to the rest of the firm. Often, these practices are located in Washington, D.C., and employ attorneys and engineers to advise on the tax aspects of complex transactions.

Corporate finance and risk management services

This area covers a broad range of services designed to assess and manage organizational risk from strategic, tactical and financial perspectives. These include:

• Internal controls review and transformation


• Internal audit outsourcing (i.e., handling audit functions for clients)


• Operations benchmarking and advisory services (reviewing the client's operations and comparing it to competitors)


• E-business security consulting

Financial risk management services include the quantitative assessment of the financial impacts of business risk and the creation of highly structured financing strategies composed of risk management products (e.g., options, futures, swaps) to address such risks.

Transaction services

This area employs audit and tax professionals to maximize the returns on merger, acquisition and divestiture transactions, analyzing each stage of the transaction process for both the buy-side and the sell-side to realize full value. These services may include:

• Financial and tax due diligence


• Transaction structuring


• Capital raising assistance

Business process outsourcing

CPA firms often have both the expertise and size to assume the operation of many of the non-critical functions of their clients. Firms outsource such services in order to focus resources on their core functions and to rationalize non-operating costs. The functions commonly outsourced to CPA firms include finance and accounting, enterprise resource planning systems, human resources, training and education and information technology.

Litigation consulting

The larger CPA firms offer financial, economic and statistical services to parties involved in litigation, arbitrations, mediations and other forms of dispute resolution processes. These services may include: forensic accounting and investigation; management, valuation and defense of intellectual property; analyses related to antitrust situations; securities litigation services; asset tracing and recovery services; insurance litigation and fraud detection; and computer/information technology forensics.

Environmental accounting

As businesses have increased their awareness of environmental issues, CPAs have been getting involved in everything from environmental compliance audits and systems and procedures audits to handling claims and disputes. Companies in the utilities, manufacturing and chemical production areas have increasingly turned to CPAs to set up preventative systems to ensure compliance and avoid future claims or disputes, or to provide assistance once legal implications have arisen.

Personal financial planning

CPAs provide assistance to individuals in identifying financial objectives and counseling on the risk, liquidity, management and tax characteristics of investments. These services include helping clients better manage their money through debt reduction and expense control, developing investment strategies and asset allocation plans, tax consulting, insurance analysis and planning, retirement and estate and gift tax planning.

Management consulting

Management consulting addresses an infinite array of issues related to the overall performance and direction of a firm's business. These services include systems integration, business strategy, e-commerce and technology consulting and human resources.