Most companies didn’t exactly choose their current audit or tax firm. Maybe it started as a local, responsive relationship. But over time, growth, a merger, or an acquisition may have shifted the dynamic. What once felt collaborative may now seem distant, difficult to manage, or simply frustrating.
If your audit process feels more like a burden than a benefit, here are six signs it might be time to consider a change.
1. The Audit Is Creating More Work
Are you answering the same questions over and over? Sending documents multiple times? Re-explaining systems your auditors should already understand? That’s inefficient—and it’s not adding value.
2. Delayed Responses Are Costing You
When answers are slow, momentum fades. Whether it’s due to turnover, dispersed teams, or overloaded staff can put your timelines at risk and create stress across your organization.
3. You Keep Seeing New Faces
If you’re constantly reintroducing your business due to staff turnover, auditors lose important context, repeat past mistakes, and make each audit feel like starting from scratch.
4. The Approach Is Reactive, Not Proactive
If your audit firm only engages during fieldwork or when issues arise, they’re not helping you stay ahead. A proactive partner keeps you prepared throughout the year, not just when it’s time to clean up.
5. You Feel Like Just Another Number
At larger firms, mid-sized clients can feel like they’re lost in the shuffle. If you have a gut feeling you’re just not important to them, it might be time to work with a team that sees your audit as a partnership, not just another job.
6. They Don’t Understand Your Market
Your auditors should know your industry and region. Without that insight, they risk asking the wrong questions or missing key issues. For example, doing business in Boston can be a lot different than Jonestown, Ohio. Understanding local regulations and market conditions isn’t optional, it’s essential.
A Better Audit Starts with the Right Partner
At LGA, we work with privately held, PE-backed, and nonprofit organizations that want more than a basic audit. Thanks to our independent structure, our teams stay consistent, our service stays personal, and our advice remains objective.
If your current audit relationship no longer meets your needs, let’s discuss what a better one could look like.
