Audit
Your annual audit, directly with the German Public Accountant
Exceed two of three thresholds on two consecutive balance sheet dates, and your GmbH’s accounts must be audited; unaudited, they cannot be adopted. We carry out statutory and voluntary audits.
Audit opinion
SampleAnnual accounts
Section 322 HGB
- Opinions
- Basis for the opinions
- Responsibilities of management
Wirtschaftsprüfer
Do you need an audit?
Which values do you exceed on the last two balance sheet dates?
Tick per date which values you exceed.
- Probably small
- Keep an eye on it
- Probably subject to auditWithout the audit the accounts cannot be adopted (section 316(1) sent. 2 HGB).
Still open: tick per date which values you exceed.
Law, municipality, lender or buyer: whoever asks for the audit sets its form
When we audit before and after year end
- Appoint the auditorBefore the financial year ends.
- Interim auditProcesses and risks, before year end.
- Final auditAfter year end, once your accounts are prepared.
- Opinion and reportTo management and the supervisory body.
Who signs your auditor’s report
- Registered audit firm, member of the IDW (opens in a new tab)Listed with the Chamber of Public Accountants. The German Public Accountant you talk to signs.
- Specialised in energy, sustainability and valuationOur focus areas are energy, sustainability and business valuation. We value under IDW S 1, municipal utilities and grids included.
- With a Big Four backgroundYour German Public Accountant learned auditing at Big Four firms, in financial statement and sustainability audits.
“We have had very good experiences working with justReporting. The audits were very thorough, reliable, fair and efficient.”
What managing directors ask about the statutory audit
When must a GmbH have its annual accounts audited?
When it exceeds two of the three small-company thresholds on two consecutive balance sheet dates (section 267(1) and (4) HGB); then section 316(1) HGB applies.
What does the audit cost?
The fee follows the scope and effort of the audit. We state the range after the intro call; the fee is set out in writing in the engagement letter.
What happens if accounts subject to audit are not audited?
They cannot be adopted (section 316(1) sentence 2 HGB); if a stock corporation adopts them anyway, they are void (section 256(1) no. 2 AktG). The disclosure deadline keeps running; a breach can lead to an administrative fine of 2,500 to 25,000 euros (sections 325, 335 HGB).
Do we stay subject to audit if we are smaller for one year?
Yes, at first. The size-class consequences only take effect once the thresholds are exceeded or undercut on two consecutive balance sheet dates (section 267(4) HGB). A single small year does not change the audit duty.
Who may audit our annual accounts?
German Public Accountants and audit firms, for medium-sized GmbHs also sworn auditors (section 319(1) HGB). Anyone who took part in the bookkeeping or the preparation is excluded (section 319(3) sentence 1 no. 3 HGB).
What applies to grid operators and integrated utilities?
The audit also covers the separate accounts per activity; the auditor’s report states the result (section 6b(3) and (5) EnWG).
By when must the auditor be appointed?
The auditor should be elected before the end of the financial year to be audited (section 318(1) sentence 3 HGB). If none has been elected by then, the court appoints one; the legal representatives must apply (section 318(4) HGB).
How do we change our statutory auditor?
The statutory auditor is elected anew for each financial year; in a GmbH by the shareholders unless the articles provide otherwise (section 318(1) HGB). Once the audit engagement has been given, only the court can replace the auditor, for example for reasons in the auditor’s person (section 318(3) HGB). The previous auditor reports to the new one on written request (section 320(4) HGB).
Intro call, 25 minutes
Audited in step with your closing
Tell us the date and size. In the intro call we say whether and how an audit is needed.
- Describe occasion and deadline
- Clarify what your occasion requires
- Learn scope, timeline and fee range
Helpful: your balance sheet date, the last two annual accounts and your headcount; for a change of auditor, also the last long-form audit report.
You always speak directly with a German Public Accountant.No cost, no obligation, via Microsoft Teams.
Prefer email or phone?
A reply to every e-mail within 48 hours on working days. If it is urgent, say so and we will answer as soon as we can.
Beyond the annual accounts
- Business valuation
If what is needed is a value, not the accounts, say for a sale.
- VSME reports
If the bank asks for sustainability data alongside the accounts.
- Electricity cost relief
If your company pays reduced levies on electricity.