About us

Audit Assistant is an online software tool for use by accountants who carry out Audit, Review and Compilation engagements. We are a New Zealand based company initially focussed on the local market but in the process of adding content and infrastructure to service the international market.

We collaborate closely with our users in our development process. Our online delivery model and agile approach makes it possible to implement new features and fixes very quickly.

We also collaborate with those with particular expertise in certain areas. This includes an optional add-in of the Brookers Financial Disclosures templates and for firms contracted to audit schools adaptations of the templates provided by the OAG. Other specific templates are also in progress.

Training and Support

We provide full in-house training for firms in New Zealand as required - contact us for more information.

Normal support is provided from our online help-desk and is included in the monthly subscription.

No up-front cost

The Software as a Service/Cloud delivery model is very economical. Cost works out at around $20-$30 per job per year scaling down to as low as $5 per job per year for very large firms.

Costs for use are based on number of jobs in a series of charging steps, to provide accessibility to all sized firms from very small (up to 15 jobs) to very large firms (up to 5000 jobs). Payment may be monthly, quarterly or annually. There is no fixed term contract and users may easily change service levels. All data remains the property of your firm and may downloaded in PDF format at any stage.

See sign up page for details.

All levels have the same features and allow unlimited users. To get started there is a free single job version available. This is fully featured and will be retained on upgrade.

Software as a Service (SaaS)

SaaS means the software is maintained by us on a server and accessed by users over the internet.

All modern browsers will run Audit Assistant so computer type, operating system or network type is not an issue.

Security on a SaaS model is as high or higher than a normal office-based network or PC/Laptop. Our hosting, backups and security are handled by a professional data centre (Sitehost in Auckland). We also back up our database and all client attachments to the international file storage service Amazon S3.

Audit Assistant may also be run in offline mode. This allows users to work on laptops at clients say where internet access is not possible. Workbooks must be set up online before checking out then they must be checked back in to update the server version.

Software as a Service (SaaS) is a major trend in software. A 2008 survey noted: Innovation in the software industry is on the upswing, with Software as a Service (SaaS) being a key driver. The SaaS model is becoming mainstream and this has led to the rise of a new generation of SaaS platforms (also referred to in the industry as Platformas-a-Service – PaaS). This year’s survey of more than 850 enterprise software customers ...and the Software and Interop conferences showed increasing acceptance of subscription and on-demand models but more surprisingly, a high portion (74 percent) of enterprise customers favorably disposed to adopting SaaS platforms.

History

We created the original version of Audit Assistant in 1999 answering a need for auditors in NZ to produce efficient work-papers which are compliant with the NZ Codified Auditing Standards. This was an Excel based package.

In 2003 we updated the product. This new version added many further features and eventually a Microsoft .NET ‘front end’ which continued to use Excel for the actual work-papers but added additional functionality.

With the advances in software technology and the adoption in NZ of International Auditing Standards it became obvious that it was time for a new product and approach which incorporates the features of the existing version into a much more powerful and flexible platform; hence the online version which was launched in March 2009. This version is in continual development as new features and templates are added to expand the scope of work possible.

Our Team

Clive McKegg (director) has many years experience in chartered accounting, including audits of small business and non-profit organisations.

He graduated BCom from Auckland University in 1982 and was admitted to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in 1984 working for Hutchison Hull (now Deloittes) in audit for 3 years and has since worked in a number of second tier firms and smaller firms, owning his own practice from 2003-2010.

In March 2010 he sold his practice to concentrate on Audit Assistant. He is currently responsible for content, sales, development and training. Clive also has a graduate diploma in theology. He is based in Whangarei, NZ.

Matt McKegg (director) has been involved in Audit Assistant since its early days and has followed his passion in software and graphic design into his own career as a software architect and programmer.

Matt has undertaken a number of major software projects including the official Northland Community Services Directory www.2cu.co.nz. He is a specialist in web-based software plus providing graphic design. Matt's role is in development, design, support and optimisation making sure we are using the best possible tools to serve our users. Matt is based in Wellington, NZ.

Nick Mason is responsible for documenting and developing automated testing. He also provides backup to Matt. Nick is a  programmer also with considerable experience in web-based software including now heading up the www.2cu.co.nz programming team and is responsible for www.instant-edit.co.nz. He is also based in Whangarei, NZ.

User Feedback

"Love the new system."

John Cockroft, Cockroft & Co Ltd, Auckland

"Been using the new system for a little while now and she's fantastic! I think the boss likes the fact that he doesn't have to sign every page! And i like the fact that my paper file is pretty much non-existent!"

Brad Quin, Plus Chartered Accountants, Whangarei

"Good work on Audit Assistant. It is really easy to use, and it sounds as though you are set to make it even more user friendly with further improvements. Good one, and thanks."

Maria Morunga, PKF Francis Aiken, Kaitaia

"Audit Assistant is running well and making life easier for us!"

Catriona Cory, Hounsell Accounting, Auckland

"...thanks for the great service and software."

Gareth Cummins, JSA Audit, Auckland

"Audit Assistant is a brilliant tool."

Manisha Rama, Auditors on London, Hamilton

"We love Audit Assistant!!"

Derily McLean, HWI, Auckland

If references are required - contact us and we will put you in touch with existing users who will be able to discuss their experience of Audit Assistant with you.