Reviews and CPD training

Most of our work involves in-house consultancy for mid-tier firms, providing a range of services including audit and compliance reviews and training.

Audit file and compliance reviews

We provide file reviews and compliance services to over 100 UK audit firms, combining a rigorous application of relevant standards with a pragmatic, friendly approach. See below for an overview of the different types of review services we offer:

  • Our team will review the audit files of a fully completed audit assignment. We will consider how the file demonstrates compliance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) and will provide practical recommendations on areas that could be improved, highlight instances of good practice and comment on audit efficiency where relevant.

    Book your review here

  • Hot file reviews are similar to the cold file reviews but are completed prior to signing the audit report. They may be necessary as a result of a regulatory visit, an independence issue, a high risk client, or merely to improve quality. This review will highlight matters to be addressed before the audit report is issued.

    Book your review here

  • Whole-firm reviews are an evaluation of your firm's compliance with audit regulations. Our team will review your office procedures including acceptance and reappointment, independence, fit and proper, skills and competence, consultations and PII.

  • We also perform specialist reviews on areas of individual compliance, such as money laundering procedures, probate, DPB investment business and ICAEW client money regulation.

Apex reviewers are NOT regulators. Instead, we work with you to improve the overall quality and efficiency of your work so that your audit files are not only compliant but are easier for RIs to review (say goodbye to reams of paper), and deliver better recoveries.

We typically hold a face to face debrief (of up to an hour) with the audit team to provide an overview of the files reviewed, highlight the areas which are completed effectively and those areas that need more consideration. This is the perfect opportunity for you to get specific guidance on the ‘how’ rather than just the ‘what’ of auditing.

Our most popular reviews can be booked directly here.

CPD training

We provide CPD courses either in-person or virtually via Zoom, on a range of auditing and financial reporting topics, to many of our clients. We tailor course content to clients’ needs and ensure the sessions are engaging and supported by high-quality training materials. Unless otherwise agreed, all CPD courses (whether on Zoom or in-person) allow delegates to dial-in remotely and are recorded for future reference.

See below for example titles / topics:

  • Quarterly/Six Monthly Audit Update
    Ethical Standard for Auditors
    Maintaining Audit Quality on a Budget

  • Quarterly/Six Monthly Accounting Update
    IFRS Update
    Small and Micro-Entity Accounting Refresher

  • FCA Annual Update (including statutory and CASS audits)
    SRA Update / Refresher
    Charities Update

In-house programmes and pricing

We understand that a ‘one size fits all’ approach doesn’t work for our clients - so rather than sell you a ‘standard’ programme, we’re very happy to tailor a bespoke programme of training and reviews to suit your needs.

As a guide, our CPD courses start at just £1,280* for a three-hour course, which includes a high-quality slide pack and a recording of the course.
Our review services start at £1,280* per day but can vary considerably due to the complex and varied nature of review engagements.
Talk to us about your requirements and we’ll be happy to quote for a specific combination of file and compliance reviews.

We don’t charge on a subscription basis for in-house programmes. Instead, we invoice after each course or review service. This means you don’t pay in advance for our services.

* All prices are shown net of reasonable travel costs (where relevant) and VAT.

Frequently-asked questions

Here are some of the most common questions from firms on our in-house services:

  • Most courses include a slide pack only, but for some update courses brief notes are provided. Workshops will include case study materials and, where relevant, solutions to exercises.

  • We generally don’t offer one-off file reviews, since our aim is to help firms transform their audit quality over the medium term. However, we understand that demand for file reviews (e.g. at a regulator’s request or direction) is extremely high and that many long-standing reviewers have recently retired. If you urgently need a review, feel free to ask us. With current service levels, we’re unlikely to be able to offer reviews with less than 6-8 weeks’ lead time.

    To perform compliance services for your firm for the first time, we need to undertake client due diligence procedures in accordance with The Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017. Most accountants should be very familiar with this requirement! We will then regularly renew these procedures as needed.

  • Whilst we still review some paper-based files, most firms record audit work digitally using Word and Excel as well as PDF copies of documents. We have a document exchange system which allows more secure transfer of audit file documents and Apex reports. We do not use email for this purpose unless you specifically ask us to do so.

  • Yes - we have considerable experience with several paperless audit systems including MyWorkPapers, CaseWare and Croner-i Audit Automation.

    For cloud-based methodologies, we simply need login access rights and can then review your files remotely. For other systems, we will either need to arrange remote access (either using dedicated software such as TeamViewer or by controlling your screen in a meeting application such as Microsoft Teams) or will review in-person (in which case, we ask you to load the file onto a spare laptop for review).

An integrated approach to audit quality

Whilst we offer training and reviews as separate services, our recommended approach for audit firms is to combine reviews with targeted, follow-up training and coaching. This ‘virtuous circle’ reinforces best practice, corrects observed deficiencies and generates measurable improvements in audit quality and efficiency.

Let’s work together.

Interested in Apex’s services? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can't wait to hear from you!