The short answer
Audit preparation starts with reliable accounts and accessible evidence. Confirm the entity’s actual audit requirement and deadline, appoint the appropriate auditor separately and resolve missing records before year-end. Bookkeeping support is not the same engagement as independent audit.
Which gaps create avoidable year-end work?
Unreconciled bank accounts, unexplained shareholder balances, missing supplier invoices and inconsistent asset records make it harder to understand the accounts. Review those exceptions during the year. A folder of bank statements does not explain every transaction or prove all balances are complete.
Agree the close timetable with the accountant and auditor. Identify who prepares schedules, answers questions and approves adjustments. Tax record retention is a related obligation: the FTA requires relevant Corporate Tax records for at least seven years after the period concerned. [1] An auditor’s request list may need additional material.
Does every small company need the same audit?
Confirm the applicable company-law, licensing, financing and tax requirements for the exact entity. A small turnover is not enough by itself to settle whether an audit is needed. Likewise, a tax review or management report should not be described as an independent audit opinion.
Before engaging, ask for the audit scope, applicable reporting framework, required independence and delivery date. Provide the prior-year accounts, opening balances and details of major business changes. Do not assume one provider’s bookkeeping service includes a separately licensed audit engagement.
What should be ready for the first request?
Prepare bank reconciliations, customer and supplier balances, payroll summaries, an asset schedule and supporting contracts. Flag estimates and unresolved issues honestly. Keep agreed adjustments traceable to source records. A clear exceptions list helps the team resolve issues rather than discover them through repeated email requests.
A checklist to take into your next meeting
- Confirm requirement, scope and submission deadline.
- Agree the accountant and auditor handoff.
- Reconcile balances before the close.
- Collect evidence for major transactions.
- Track questions and adjustments to resolution.
Official sources
Source pages checked 10 October 2026. Numbered references in the guide correspond to the sources below.
Your next step
Choose the support that fits this decision. Each link takes you to the relevant service page.
This guide is practical preparation, with official sources where relevant. Company-specific requirements need an assessment of your circumstances. How these guides are prepared.
