Special audit
A special audit is an independent investigation focused on a specific subject, providing a reliable account of an individual situation or event.
What is a special audit?
A special audit differs from a statutory audit in that it focuses on a specific, pre-defined subject or period – not on the entire financial year or the financial statements. The output is a report that sets out the findings and the grounds for them.
The audit can be commissioned, for example, by the board of the company, a shareholder, a liquidator or another stakeholder with a justified need for an independent investigation. Under the Finnish Companies Act, minority shareholders can in certain situations also demand a special audit.
Typical situations
- Suspected misconduct or embezzlement
- Investigating the actions of management or the board
- Disagreement or dispute between owners
- Special audit demanded by a minority shareholder
- M&A due diligence
- Bankruptcy estate investigations
- Determining liability for damages
- Preparing a generational change
How the audit progresses
We always start by defining the scope: together with the commissioner we agree on the subject of the audit, the period and the key questions to be answered. This ensures the work focuses on what matters and that costs remain predictable.
The audit is performed independently and impartially, following good audit practice. The output is a written report in which the findings are presented clearly and with justification – in a form that can be used for decision-making or, if necessary, also in legal proceedings.
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