Robust accounting positions for reliable financial statements
Complex accounting matters call for clear, technically robust decisions—and often require convincing discussions with the auditor.
Our Advisory team helps you assess complex matters under HGB and IFRS, establish consistent accounting policies and defend well-founded positions in discussions with your auditor. This helps reduce uncertainty, speed up the resolution of open questions and strengthen the quality of your financial statements over the long term.
Expertise that strengthens your financial reporting
Our extensive knowledge of HGB and IFRS helps establish robust positions, even on complex accounting matters.
Clear decision-making frameworks and well-documented reasoning reduce uncertainty and speed up discussions.
We support you across Germany with practical, solutions-focused advice—whether you are working with internal committees or discussing matters with your auditor.
Our services at a glance
Complex accounting matters require thorough analysis and clearly documented positions. We help you assess challenging issues with confidence and establish a robust basis for decision-making.
- Technical assessments and expert reports on complex HGB and IFRS matters
- An IFRS Advisory Desk as a central point of contact for complex accounting questions
Consistent guidance and independent quality reviews provide the basis for reliable group financial statements. We develop practical accounting policies and review draft financial statements to identify potential weaknesses.
- Development, updating and quality assurance of group accounting policies under HGB and IFRS
- Review of draft IFRS financial statements, focusing on consistency, completeness and audit readiness
Early, structured coordination with the auditor helps resolve open questions efficiently and avoid delays. We provide technical support for these discussions, coordinate the relevant stakeholders and help you present your positions convincingly.
- Facilitation and technical support in discussions with auditors
- Coordination with external auditors during annual and interim reporting
Clear group accounting policies support confidence, efficiency and reliability in the financial close—particularly as new IFRS requirements such as IFRS 18 come into effect. We help companies prepare and develop tailored, practical group accounting policies that clearly reflect HGB and IFRS requirements, enable consistent accounting decisions across the group and effectively support day-to-day closing processes.
From reviewing existing policies and structuring practical accounting guidance to integrating new standards and coordinating with auditors, we help companies improve transparency, reduce areas of interpretation and prepare effectively for discussions with their auditors.
Our services include:
- Reviewing existing group accounting policies, accounting manuals, reporting instructions and relevant closing processes
- Identifying areas that need updating, clarification or simplification, particularly in light of new or amended IFRS requirements
- Developing or revising group-wide guidance on recognition, measurement, presentation, disclosures, consolidation and reporting packages
- Incorporating company-specific transactions, chart-of-account logic, reporting requirements and interfaces with Tax, Controlling and consolidation systems
- Developing practical examples, accounting entries, decision trees, checklists and guidance
- Coordinating policies with Group Accounting, local Finance teams, Controlling, Tax, Treasury and other relevant functions
- Supporting the communication, implementation and training of new or updated policies
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Frequently asked questions about accounting policies
External support is particularly useful when accounting questions are not clear-cut, involve significant judgement or affect key metrics, covenants, investor communications or the audit.
Typical situations include:
- Acquisitions, restructurings or new business models
- Complex contracts, financial instruments, leases or revenue matters
- Changes to existing accounting standards
- Disagreements between management, the Finance team and the auditor
- An urgent need for robust technical documentation
Getting support early helps reduce accounting risks and provides a clear, well-documented basis for decisions.
A technical assessment or expert report is particularly useful when there are several possible accounting treatments or when applying the accounting standards requires in-depth analysis.
Examples include questions relating to:
- Revenue recognition and contract combinations
- Leases, financial instruments or deferred taxes
- Impairment, provisions and business combinations
- Accounting for intangible assets
- Group accounting, consolidation and transition to IFRS
A well-reasoned technical assessment provides a robust basis for decision-making and supports discussions with internal committees and external auditors.
Group accounting policies ensure that all group entities apply consistent accounting and measurement principles. They provide clear guidance on recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosures, forming the basis for consistent, comparable and audit-ready group financial statements.
For international groups, companies using different local accounting frameworks or groups with complex matters, these policies help structure judgement, standardise reporting packages and make coordination with management, subsidiaries and auditors more efficient.
Group accounting policies should be reviewed regularly and updated when technical, organisational or regulatory requirements change. This is particularly important when new standards become applicable, business models change or new subsidiaries join the group.
Reasons to update the policies may include:
- New or amended IFRS or HGB requirements
- Acquisitions, disposals or restructurings
- New material transactions or contract models
- Findings from the external audit, Internal Audit or enforcement proceedings
- Inconsistent application of accounting principles across the group
Up-to-date policies help companies prepare financial statements more efficiently and ensure consistent reporting across the group.
Accounting policies provide consistent guidance on recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosures. This reduces judgement in day-to-day application and supports consistent implementation across the group.
A good policy includes more than technical requirements. It also provides practical guidance, examples, assigned responsibilities and documentation requirements. This makes the work of local Finance teams easier and improves the audit trail for the auditor.
Accounting policies are especially useful for recurring complex topics such as leases, revenue recognition, provisions, deferred taxes, impairment tests and consolidation matters.
Disputed accounting matters should be documented so that a technically qualified third party can understand the underlying facts, the accounting requirements applied and the decision reached.
Robust documentation typically includes:
- A description of the matter and relevant contractual terms
- The applicable HGB or IFRS requirements
- An analysis of possible accounting treatments
- The rationale for the treatment selected
- Significant judgements and estimates
- A summary of discussions with management and the auditor
Clear documentation reduces follow-up questions and strengthens the financial statements as a basis for both audit and decision-making.