Audit in the US

In the United States an audit is an independent examination of financial statements, and it is not a routine requirement for a small private company. It becomes relevant when an investor, a lender, a parent company or a public body asks for it, or for certain regulated or non-profit organisations. For a foreign-owned company, the usual trigger is a group reporting requirement or a financing round, so ask the people who need the report what standard they expect before you request quotes.

Ask a firm which kinds of reports it issues (audit, review or compilation, which carry different levels of assurance), whether its professionals hold a licence in the relevant state, whether it has audited subsidiaries of foreign groups and whether it can work to your parent company’s timetable. Independence matters too: a firm that does your bookkeeping may be unable to audit the same accounts. Profiles show declared licences and sizes. For set-up questions, read the US country guide.

65 firms list audit in the United States: 61 accounting firms and 3 corporate services providers and 1 law firms. Compared with other services, more of them are medium or large (40 small, 19 medium and 6 large network). Real estate, construction, non-profits and small businesses are the sectors and client groups named most often. Local firms can be found in Miami, New York, Houston, Dallas and Las Vegas.

Firms offering audit in the US

H&CO LLP

Accounting firm · International network

Miami, Florida

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +4 more

Languages: English · Spanish · Portuguese

View profile of H&CO LLP

UR Global

Corporate services provider · International network

Miami, Florida

  • Company formation
  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • +5 more

Languages: English · Spanish · Portuguese · French …

View profile of UR Global

Grassi

Accounting firm · Medium-sized firm

New York, New York

  • Accounting and bookkeeping
  • Tax compliance
  • Audit

Languages: English · Italian

View profile of Grassi

41 more firms offering audit in the US

Frequently asked questions

Does a US private company need an audit?

Usually not by law, though investors, lenders, a parent company or a regulator may require one. Ask the party that wants the report which standard and which level of assurance it expects before you request quotes.

What is the difference between an audit and a review?

An audit gives a higher level of assurance and involves more testing. A review gives limited assurance, and a compilation gives none. Ask a firm which one satisfies the party that asked for the report.

Can my bookkeeper also audit the accounts?

Normally not, because an auditor must be independent of the books being checked. Some firms separate the teams, others decline the audit. Ask a firm how it manages the conflict.

Other services in the US

Accountants by city in the US

Setting up a company in the US: the guide and every firm

General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules, rates and fees change: check them with the official sources linked on this page or with a qualified adviser before you act.