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Audit and assurance services in Ballarat
Your audit should provide more than an opinion on your financial statements.
RSM’s Ballarat Audit & Assurance team works closely with businesses, boards, finance teams, government entities and not-for-profit organisations across regional Victoria and Australia.
We combine independent assurance and technical audit expertise with a practical understanding of your organisation, helping you strengthen financial reporting, identify risks, improve internal controls and make more informed decisions. From financial statement audits and trust account audits to grant acquittals, financial reporting and regulatory advice, our team provides clear, responsive support throughout the audit process.
Is your auditor a trusted adviser?
A quality audit should give you greater confidence in more than your financial statements.
Our Ballarat auditors take the time to understand your organisation, its risks and the environment in which you operate. This allows us to deliver an efficient, high-quality audit while identifying financial reporting issues, control weaknesses and emerging matters that deserve your attention.
Whether you require a statutory financial statement audit, independent assurance or support with a specific reporting requirement, our Ballarat team provides a practical and responsive audit experience.
- Financial statement audits
- Audit and review engagements
- Solicitor trust account audits
- Real estate trust account audits
- Grant acquittal audits
- Financial reporting and technical accounting advice
- Regulatory technical advice
- CFO advisory services
Is your auditor a trusted adviser?
A quality audit should give you greater confidence in more than your financial statements.
Whether you are preparing for an external audit or completing year-end audits, our Ballarat audit team has you covered.
Talk to our Ballarat audit team >
Client story: Murray Cod Australia
In this client testimonial, Mathew Ryan and Wendy Dillon share how RSM’s regional audit team supports Murray Cod Australia through its half-year and full-year audits, while also providing practical insights across reporting, governance and compliance.
Hear how responsive support and genuine industry understanding have helped Murray Cod Australia strengthen confidence as the business continues to grow.
Why choose RSM as your Ballarat auditor?
Experienced auditors. Local relationships. National capability.
Choosing an auditor is about more than meeting a statutory obligation. You need a team that understands your organisation, communicates clearly and delivers an audit that provides confidence to your stakeholders.
Audit expertise for Ballarat and regional Australia
Local auditors who understand regional organisations
Being based in Ballarat gives our team first-hand understanding of the organisations and industries that underpin regional Australia. We work with private businesses, government and public sector organisations, not-for-profits, family-owned enterprises and larger regional organisations across a range of industries.
HOW WE HELP
Partner-led relationships
Work directly with experienced audit professionals who take the time to understand your organisation and remain accessible throughout the engagement.
More than compliance
We look beyond the audit opinion to identify financial reporting risks, control weaknesses and emerging issues, while sharing practical observations that can help strengthen your organisation.
Deep regional experience
Our Ballarat team works with organisations throughout regional Australia and understands the opportunities and challenges faced outside the major capital cities.
Industry knowledge
Our auditors work across government, not-for-profit, manufacturing, real estate and construction, health, agribusiness and middle-market organisations.
Clear, practical communication
We explain audit findings and technical requirements in practical terms, helping management, boards and finance teams understand what matters and why.
National expertise, delivered locally
Access specialised audit, financial reporting and technical expertise from across RSM while maintaining a relationship with your local Ballarat team.
What does a trusted audit relationship look like?
An auditor who understands your organisation can provide greater value throughout the year.
A strong audit relationship starts with understanding how your organisation operates, where its key risks sit and what matters to its stakeholders.
Our Ballarat auditors work collaboratively with your finance team, management, board and audit committee to help make the audit process more efficient and provide greater visibility over financial reporting and control issues.
That means fewer surprises at year end, clearer communication throughout the audit and practical insights that can help strengthen your organisation over time.
Who needs an audit?
Audit requirements vary depending on the size, structure and regulatory obligations of your organisation.
Organisations that commonly require audit and assurance services include:
- Large proprietary and public companies
- Not-for-profit organisations and charities
- Government and public sector entities
- Australian subsidiaries of international businesses
- Organisations receiving government grants
- Businesses and professionals managing regulated trust accounts
Even where an audit is not mandatory, organisations may choose independent assurance to strengthen governance, improve financial reporting and provide greater confidence to boards, investors, lenders and other stakeholders.
FAQs about Audit and Assurance
An audit is an independent examination of an organisation’s financial statements, records and supporting evidence. The purpose is to provide assurance that the financial statements present a true and fair view and comply with relevant accounting standards and reporting requirements.
A quality audit can also identify opportunities to improve internal controls, strengthen financial reporting processes and support better governance.
A review engagement is less comprehensive than a full audit. Audits involve thorough procedures, testing, verification, and risk assessments. Reviews are more limited - they provide moderate assurance, rely more on inquiry and analytical procedures, and don’t include the same level of substantive testing. An audit gives higher assurance and involves more extensive testing of financial records, internal controls and supporting evidence, resulting in an independent audit opinion. A review involves fewer procedures and provides limited assurance over an organisation's financial statements.
A trust account audit is an independent review of how trust money is received, recorded and managed. The audit helps determine whether the trust account complies with the legislation and regulatory requirements that apply to the organisation. Learn more about RSM’s solicitor trust account audit services and real estate trust account audit services.
Working with a local audit team can provide easier access to senior team members, stronger understanding of the regional business environment and a more responsive working relationship. With RSM, this local support is backed by access to national technical specialists and RSM’s global network.
Audit preparation should ideally begin well before year end. Early planning allows your organisation and auditor to identify significant transactions, accounting issues, reporting changes and information requirements before they become year-end problems.
Good preparation includes ensuring financial records are complete and accurate, internal controls are functioning, risk areas identified (including going concern, new regulatory requirements), accounting estimates are documented, and disclosures are up-to-date. Having clarity around those items helps audits run more smoothly and outcomes to be more reliable.
Auditors can provide observations and insights arising from the audit, including findings relating to financial reporting, internal controls and risk. However, auditors must maintain their independence, so there are limits on certain non-audit services they can provide to audit clients. Your auditor should clearly explain these requirements and identify where additional support may be appropriate.
Our Services
We deliver financial statement audit services that establish the integrity and reliability of the information provided, working closely with your board, audit committee, CFO and accounting team. We identify your business’s key risks and the pivotal internal controls that will help to minimise them. Learn more.
A practising solicitor maintains a solicitor trust account to handle trust money on behalf of clients. An annual audit by an external examiner is required by law. RSM supports you and your firm ensuring all statutory timeframes are met.
Real estate agencies maintains real estate trust accounts to manage trust money on behalf of clients. Australian legislation requires these accounts to be audited at least annually. RSM can not only provide your audit but also actionable insights to help you improve your operations.
A grant acquittal audit is a key accountability requirement imposed by the funding providers. Its purpose is to provide an independent assurance opinion on whether funding has been used for the purpose for which it was intended in accordance with the grant agreement guidelines. RSM can help you ensure compliance.
Our experts provide financial reporting and auditing advice to a huge variety of entities. No matter the size of the business, a thorough grasp of current accounting and financial reporting standards is vital. RSM will help you to stay one step ahead by providing pragmatic financial reporting and advice.
We use our expertise to advise our clients on compliance with regulatory requirements. Our team are up to date with these requirements, allowing us to give advice that is accurate and pragmatic. Contact RSM for assistance with regulatory compliance and reporting.
Partnering with your CFO and finance team, RSM brings deep experience to deliver fit‑for‑purpose solutions to your most critical finance challenges. Our CFO Advisory leverages automation and modern technology to streamline processes and strengthen controls to free up your people to focus on value‑adding work instead.
RSM’s audit preparation services are designed to help you organise, reconcile, and present your financial data with clarity and confidence. We work closely with your team to ensure all key areas are addressed ahead of your external audit, reducing disruption and supporting a smooth review process.
Our services include:
- Preparation and reconciliation of significant account balances
- Prepare a detailed schedules to support financial statement disclosure (prepayments and accrued expenses)
- Gather and file supporting documentation in one accessible location for your audit team
- Prepare revenue assessments to determine current-year income versus revenue in advance for accurate reporting
- Review outstanding invoices and identify potential write-offs
- Calculate annual leave and long service leave provisions in line with accounting standards
- Engage independent valuers with appropriate instructions during revaluation years
- Track and reconcile externally managed investments
- Assist with lease-related accounting and ensure compliance with disclosure requirements
- Maintain and reconcile your asset register, including depreciation schedules
- Document additions, disposals, and transfers for the audit period
- Prepare complete financial statements, including the cash flow statement, ready for audit submission
Get more from your next audit
Looking for a Ballarat auditor who understands your organisation and provides more than a year-end compliance exercise?
Complete the form to speak with our Audit & Assurance team about your requirements and how a more proactive audit relationship can provide greater confidence, clearer communication and practical insights throughout the year.
Get more from your next audit
Looking for a Ballarat auditor who understands your organisation and provides more than a year-end compliance exercise?
Complete the form to speak with our Audit & Assurance team about your requirements and how a more proactive audit relationship can provide greater confidence, clearer communication and practical insights throughout the year.
Why RSM?
Partner-led, responsive audit support
Strong experience across Ballarat and regional Australia
Practical insights beyond the audit opinion
Deep technical expertise in financial reporting and assurance
Clear communication with management, boards and finance teams
Access to broader RSM specialists where independence requirements allow
RSM in Ballarat
Level 2,
12 Anderson Street West,
Ballarat VIC 3350
Meet your local Audit and Assurance Ballarat team
John Findlay
John Findlay is a Partner in our Audit and Assurance division, working across regional Australia.
Based in Ballarat, he holds extensive experience across both the private and public sectors and working closely with both for-profit and not-for-profit clients.
With a deep understanding of industry-specific challenges and standards, he is motivated to guide clients through the complexities of financial regulations, ensuring their reporting processes are both accurate and efficient.
Shelby Earl
Shelby Earl is a Partner in our Audit and Assurance division and although based in Ballarat has helped clients with their various audit and assurance needs across regional Australia.
With over 15 years of experience providing comprehensive advice across both the public and private sectors, Shelby spends a significant amount of time understanding her clients and their business to ensure she adds value as part of our audit processes.
Bryce Martin
Bryce is a Ballarat-based Senior Manager in our Audit and Assurance division.
With over 20 years of experience as an auditor, Bryce helped his clients meet their statutory obligations while improving long-term systems and controls.
His clients include government departments, large corporates, middle market businesses and regional SMEs.
Ideas and Insights
