How we work

Finance teams ask the same practical questions: how long will owners be tied up, when do findings arrive, and what happens after the gap map. This page answers those for our flagship readiness assessment. Other engagements borrow the same rhythm at a shorter length.

• Week 0

  Scoping call

  Confirm reporting entity, significant accounts, locations, and any prior findings. We send a document request list and propose fieldwork dates.

• Week 1

  Document intake

  We review existing narratives, risk-control matrices, org charts, and chart of accounts. Gaps in the pack are flagged early so owners are not surprised mid-walkthrough.

• Weeks 2–4

  Walkthroughs

  On-site or hybrid sessions with process owners for revenue, purchasing, payroll, and close. Each session traces a live example and captures how exceptions are handled.

• Week 5

  Design evaluation

  Controls are evaluated against COSO principles and your stated frequencies. Draft findings are pressure-tested with your SOX coordinator before the formal map.

• Week 6+

  Gap map & handoff

  Management receives a ranked gap list, draft narrative updates for key cycles, and a week-by-week remediation calendar. An optional presentation for the audit committee can be scheduled.

What we need from you

• A single finance contact with authority to book process-owner time.
• Access to unedited system extracts for the walkthrough examples.
• Clarity on whether IT general controls are in or out of this year’s scope.

What we will not do

We will not ghost-write an assertion letter for management to sign unread, and we will not claim our work replaces your external auditor. Readiness prepares you; attestation remains with the firm you appoint.