Engagement

First-year audit transition

Opening-balance work and continuity testing when you change auditors — so your first Scale Data opinion rests on examined prior figures.

Desk with contracts, calculator, and reading glasses during audit transition

Why transitions need extra work

A new auditor cannot simply accept last year’s numbers. Opening balances, consistency of accounting policies, and access to prior working papers (where available) must be examined so the current-year opinion is supportable.

Included

  • Request for prior auditor cooperation under professional courtesy norms
  • Testing of opening balances for material accounts
  • Review of significant estimates carried forward
  • Coordination so year-end fieldwork is not delayed by missing priors

What you should prepare

Prior audited statements, contact details for the outgoing firm, and a summary of accounting policy changes in the last two years.

Next step

Start with a transition briefing — include your prior auditor’s name and your next year-end date.