In the fast-paced environment of AIM-listed companies, the pressure on finance teams is undeniable. As the demands pile up, strict deadlines, detailed audit requirements, and an ever-growing workload, every second of your time becomes increasingly precious.
If you’re leading a finance team in this space, you probably know this struggle all too well. Balancing rapid growth with regulatory compliance and investor expectations. Juggling tight cash flow management, volatile share prices, and complex financial reporting, all while navigating the pressures of attracting investment and ensuring long-term sustainability.
But here’s a question worth considering: are you getting the level of audit service that truly supports your team’s unique needs?
The Reality of Time Pressures
Picture this: your team is on the brink of a crucial deadline, month-end reporting, tax filing, or preparing for an audit.
The clock is ticking, and every misstep costs valuable time.
Yet, many AIM-listed companies find that the accounting firms they’re partnered with aren’t adapting to these pressures. While these firms sometimes bring a wealth of experience, their one-size-fits-all approach can often fall short for smaller, specialised finance teams. Is this approach designed with your team in mind?
Juggling It All
For CFOs in AIM-listed businesses, we understand the demands extend far beyond just finance. You’re not just balancing numbers, you’re overseeing operations, managing day-to-day business challenges, and steering the broader company strategy.
In smaller finance teams, the CFO often wears many hats, juggling operational and financial responsibilities simultaneously. This adds even more complexity when it comes to managing an audit alongside these other tasks.
In this environment, time is your most valuable resource. So, why settle for an audit process that doesn’t respect the realities of your multifaceted role?
Why a Tailored Approach Matters
Every finance team is different, especially in the AIM market. Your structure, your workload, and the specific challenges you face vary from company to company. So why is your audit being handled like everyone else’s?
At Cooper Parry, we’ve come to understand that no two teams are the same. Audits shouldn’t just be a box to tick off, they should enhance your process, not disrupt it. By customising our audits to fit around your workflow, we ensure that deadlines are met without compromising the quality or burdening your already stretched team.
Whether you’re rushing to meet a tight deadline and need more hands-on deck, or you’re seeking a more nuanced, steady approach to minimise interruptions, a flexible audit process should work for you, not the other way around.
Stress Less, Achieve More
Consider the difference: a flexible audit process that adapts to your team’s pace versus an audit that forces you to scramble, adjust, and sacrifice focus. The former leads to better results, lower stress, and a more efficient use of time.
Think about it, what would it mean for your team if your auditor truly understood the ebb and flow of your workload? What if they could accommodate non-working days, key internal deadlines, or other significant milestones that dictate your operations?
Our goal is to partner with you, offering tailored support that reduces last-minute surprises, keeps your team productive, and ensures smoother outcomes.
And when we say we adapt to your needs, we mean it.
Whether it’s working around your operational pressures or stepping in to handle the audit efficiently so you can stay focused on running the business, we ensure that the audit process works for you, not against you.
The Bigger Question: Are You Receiving What You Deserve?
When was the last time you paused to consider whether the audit service you’re paying for is delivering real value? Are you just getting the basics, or is your current provider truly adding value to your processes?
At Cooper Parry, we’ve been climbing the AIM advisors league table because more and more companies are realising that their current service falls short. When we sit down with CFOs and finance teams, we don’t just talk about compliance, we talk about how to do better. We discuss the frustrations you face and offer solutions that prevent problems before they even arise.
Auditing isn’t just about the numbers. It’s about giving your team room to breathe, saving time, and building a process that aligns with your exact needs. When done right, it’s transformative.
Are You Ready for a Better Approach?
Here’s the thing: many AIM-listed companies are starting to reconsider their audit relationships. They’re coming to us after realising that they aren’t receiving the level of attention, customisation, and value they deserve from their current provider. If this sounds familiar, maybe it’s time to ask yourself if there’s a better way forward.
Our approach is simple: we adapt to your needs, whether you require a fast-tracked process or a more gradual, detail-oriented audit. In doing so, we can help you save time, reduce stress, and ultimately improve the quality of your audit. But more than that, we strive to create a partnership that adds value beyond the audit itself.
In a world where your time is one of your most valuable assets, it’s worth reflecting on whether you’re getting the audit service that respects that, and whether it truly understands the many roles you juggle as an AIM-listed CFO.
So, if you’re fed up with paying for a service that’s not right for you, let’s chat about how we can make it work better.
