Financial statements are more than a record of past performance. Business owners can use them to support strategic decision-making, obtain financing and attract investors.
When lenders, investors and other stakeholders rely on your financial statements, credibility matters. They often want more than internally prepared statements to guide their decisions. Understanding the range of financial reporting options your accounting firm offers — and picking the right one — is essential to building stakeholder trust.
Levels of assurance
CPAs offer various services that provide different levels of “assurance.” This term refers to how much confidence stakeholders will have that your statements are reliable and conform to U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) or another financial reporting framework. Higher levels of assurance require more in-depth procedures when evaluating a company’s financial statements. The three primary options, listed from highest to lowest assurance level, are:
1. Audits. Audited financial statements provide reasonable assurance that the statements are free from material misstatement and conform to GAAP or another applicable reporting framework. Auditors conduct in-depth procedures, including evaluating internal controls, confirming information with third parties, observing inventory counts, inspecting selected assets, and testing transactions and account balances.
Public companies are required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to have their financial statements audited. In addition, many lenders require larger private companies to be audited.
2. Reviews. Reviewed financial statements provide limited assurance. In a review engagement, the accountant performs analytical and inquiry procedures to identify unusual trends, inconsistencies or potential issues in the financial statements. A review requires footnote disclosures and a statement of cash flows. However, the accountant doesn’t evaluate internal controls, perform extensive testing, confirm balances with third parties or physically inspect assets. Many growing businesses choose reviews when lenders, investors or advisory boards want more confidence in the numbers but don’t require a full audit.
3. Compilations. Compiled financial statements provide no assurance that the statements are free from material misstatement or that they conform to GAAP or another reporting framework. In a compilation engagement, an accountant organizes management’s financial information into financial statement form. Footnote disclosures and cash flow information are optional.
Prepared financial statements also provide no assurance. They’re similar to compilations, but no accountant’s report accompanies the statements. Instead, a disclaimer appears on each page indicating that no assurance has been provided. Prepared statements are typically used for internal purposes only.
Risk management considerations
Lenders and investors often influence management’s choice of financial reporting options. But you might voluntarily increase your level of assurance as part of your overall risk management strategy. For example, if you’ve implemented AI or automation tools in your accounting processes, increasing your level of assurance can provide additional confidence that your financial information is accurate and reliable.
Independent oversight of your financial reporting can also help mitigate fraud risks. The perception that an outside accountant is probing into your financial results may deter would-be fraudsters from engaging in dishonest activities. It also encourages stronger recordkeeping, documentation and compliance with established procedures.
Although audit and review procedures aren’t specifically designed to detect fraud, they can help identify irregularities caused by error or fraud. According to the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners’ Occupational Fraud 2026: Report to the Nations, audits and other monitoring activities can help organizations strengthen financial oversight.
The report found that 83% of respondents had obtained external audits and that, on average, victim-organizations with external audits experienced 33% lower fraud losses and detected fraud schemes 20% faster than those without audits. Many businesses also supplement annual audits with surprise audits, internal control reviews or other targeted procedures to address specific fraud risks.
Choose based on your current needs
The optimal level of assurance depends on a business’s size, complexity, financing needs, risk profile and stakeholder expectations. Reporting needs may also change as a business evolves. What works for a stable, owner-managed business may not work for a rapidly growing business seeking outside capital or preparing for an ownership transition.
Periodically review your level of assurance to ensure it keeps pace with your business objectives. Your accountant can help evaluate your current circumstances and determine whether it’s time for a change.
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