Audit and Tax Services Built for Higher Education
Your auditor should know higher education before they walk in the door, not learn it on your time. Our audit and tax services are designed exclusively for postsecondary institutions of all types.
Financial Statement Audits
Your financial statements are more than a year-end requirement; they’re the foundation of your institution’s standing with accreditors, lenders, and the Department of Education. Unlike firms that hand off your audit to a generalist staff accountant, we stay engaged year-round. We project your Composite Score before your fiscal year closes, flag issues while you still have time to act, and make sure the numbers you report reflect an accurate picture of your institution’s health.
Title IV Compliance Audits
Title IV compliance audits require more than just applying audit procedures. They require an understanding of how financial aid offices operate. Our team brings both audit expertise and firsthand knowledge of financial aid operations, allowing us to approach testing with a practical understanding of how institutions manage Title IV programs. We use that perspective to evaluate risk and assess controls within the proper regulatory and operational context, producing audit reports that are aligned with Department of Education expectations.
Single Audits
Nonprofits are required to undergo a single audit under Uniform Guidance, which includes auditing financial statements and significant federal clusters that typically involve Title IV.
We help you by:
- Accurately reporting functional expenses
- Understanding the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA)
- Delivering Title IV expertise to provide comfort that your school is ready for a Program Review
Tax Services
Filing taxes for a postsecondary institution isn’t like filing for any other type of organization. Whether you’re a for-profit school focused on minimizing tax liability or a nonprofit filing an informational return and making sure you’re checking every compliance box, we understand the specific tax landscape your institution operates in. Working with a single firm that already knows your financials saves time and eliminates the inefficiency of getting a new team up to speed each year.
401(k) Plan Audits
If your institution’s retirement plan meets the threshold for an annual audit, you need a firm that can get it done efficiently and accurately without surprises. We conduct 401(k) plan audits with the same planned, timeline-driven approach we bring to every engagement.
What to expect:
- Clear communication throughout the process
- Thorough testing of plan transactions and participant data
- Timely report issuance with no last-minute scrambles
The Institutions and Investors We Work With
Every client we work with is navigating real regulatory pressure, whether it’s the strict scrutiny that comes with being a for-profit school, the unique risks facing nonprofit institutions with stretched financial aid teams, or the compliance complexity that comes with acquiring or investing in a postsecondary institution for the first time. We built our practice entirely around higher education because this industry demands a specialist.
Audit and Tax Services FAQs
It varies by institution, but a common frustration in the industry is a long gap between fieldwork completion and the final report, with the delay sometimes stretching for months. We’ve made it a priority to close that gap. Our goal is to issue all reports well before the June 30 deadline for December 31 year-end institutions so you’re not left waiting and wondering.
Most postsecondary institutions that participate in Title IV programs are required to have both. We handle both in a coordinated way, which reduces the burden on your team and ensures consistent reporting.
Yes. Many of our clients work with us for audit and tax services together. Having one firm that already understands your institution’s financial picture makes the process significantly more efficient.
Yes. While audit requirements and reporting standards differ between the two, we work with both institution types and understand the regulatory nuances that apply to each.
The earlier, the better. Transitioning audit firms mid-cycle can create timeline pressure. Reaching out at least a few months before your year-end gives us enough time to plan, onboard properly and still meet your reporting deadlines.
Let’s Talk About Your Compliance Needs
Connect with our team to discuss how we can support your institution’s compliance and financial health.
Higher Ed Compliance Insights
