What is an SMSF auditor and what do they do?

Self-managed super fund (SMSF) trustees are required to appoint an ATO-approved SMSF auditor no later than 45 days before lodging their SMSF annual return. An SMSF auditor is a professional who assesses your fund’s compliance with superannuation law and examines your fund’s financial statements.

SMSF auditor eligible requirements
Your SMSF auditor must be:

• Independent. SMSF auditors cannot audit a fund that they hold financial interest in, or have a close personal or business relationship with the SMSF members or trustees.
• Registered with ASIC (Australian Securities & Investments Commission) and holds an SMSF auditor number for you to provide on your annual return.

What will your SMSF auditor do?
An SMSF auditor provides you with an independent opinion on the existing assets in your SMSF and whether or not your fund complies with the rules outlined in the Superannuation Industry (Supervision) Act 1993.

When preparing for an audit, an SMSF auditor will issue a Terms of Engagement Letter to the trustee(s) of the fund, which includes the roles and responsibilities for parties involved in the audit as well as the range of the audit. In the case that your SMSF auditor’s primary contact is your accountant, your accountant will be issued a separate Terms of Engagement Letter.

By clearly outlining each parties’ capabilities, a Terms of Engagement Letter helps you, your accountant and your auditor to avoid any misunderstandings and also protects audit evidence provided by your auditor from unintended alterations. In turn, SMSF auditors who fail to follow standards or take shortcuts can be sued or imposed penalties by the Court.

The Terms of Engagement Letter also acts as a contract to keep parties accountable during compliance breaches and prevents cases of ‘opinion shopping’ where trustees look to other auditors for unqualified opinions. Trustees may end up being audited by the ATO in the event that they breach the Terms of Engagement Letter and ‘opinion shop’, as it comprises auditor independence.

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Strategic Planning for Business Resilience: The Importance of Disaster Management, Crisis, and Continuity Plans

Posted on April 29, 2024 by admin

Strategic planning for businesses ensures resilience and continuity in adversity.

While businesses often focus on growth and expansion, preparing for potential disruptions and emergencies that could threaten operations is equally essential.

This is where disaster management, crisis, and continuity plans come into play. 

• Disaster Management Plans

Disasters can strike without warning, ranging from natural calamities like floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes to human-made incidents such as cyberattacks, data breaches, or supply chain disruptions.

Disaster management plans outline strategies and protocols for responding to and recovering from such events swiftly and effectively. These plans typically include measures for ensuring employee safety, protecting critical assets and infrastructure, and minimising downtime.

By having a comprehensive disaster management plan, businesses can mitigate the impact of disasters and expedite the recovery process.

• Crisis Management Plans

While disasters are often external events beyond a business’s control, crises can arise from internal factors such as leadership failures, product recalls, or reputational issues.

Crisis management plans are designed to address these unexpected challenges and mitigate their impact on the organisation’s reputation, brand equity, and bottom line. These plans outline communication strategies, escalation procedures, and decision-making frameworks for managing crises promptly and transparently. By proactively addressing crises and demonstrating resilience, businesses can preserve stakeholder trust and emerge stronger from adversity.

• Business Continuity Plans

Business continuity plans focus on maintaining essential functions and operations during and after disruptive events to ensure minimal disruption to business operations.

These plans identify critical processes, resources, dependencies, and alternative strategies for sustaining operations during a crisis or disaster.

Business continuity plans encompass remote work arrangements, data backup and recovery procedures, and alternative supply chain routes.

By prioritising continuity and preparedness, businesses can reduce downtime, protect revenue streams, and uphold their commitments to customers and stakeholders.

Benefits of Comprehensive Planning

• Risk Mitigation: By anticipating potential threats and developing proactive strategies, businesses can mitigate the impact of disruptions and minimise associated risks.
• Resilience and Adaptability: Comprehensive planning fosters organisational resilience, enabling businesses to adapt and respond effectively to changing circumstances and emerging challenges.
• Stakeholder Confidence: Demonstrating preparedness and responsiveness instils confidence in customers, employees, investors, and other stakeholders, strengthening relationships and fostering loyalty.
• Regulatory Compliance: Many industries have regulatory requirements mandating development and implementation of disaster management, crisis, and continuity plans. Compliance with these standards is essential for avoiding penalties and legal liabilities.
• Competitive Advantage: Businesses prioritising resilience and preparedness gain a competitive edge by differentiating themselves as reliable partners and service providers.

Disaster management, crisis, and continuity plans are integral components of strategic planning for businesses seeking to enhance resilience and ensure continuity in the face of adversity.

By investing in comprehensive planning, businesses can mitigate risks, maintain essential operations, and safeguard their reputation and bottom line.

In today’s volatile and uncertain business environment, proactive preparedness is not just a best practice but a strategic imperative for long-term success and sustainability. Need assistance with strategic planning as we approach the end of the financial year? Speak to one of our trusted business advisors.

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