Public Company
Weaver has the strengths and capabilities to serve organizations ranging from pre-IPO entities that need an initial audit under PCAOB standards – or assistance navigating the complexities of a public offering and SEC reporting – all the way to well-established SEC registrants with global footprints.
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Insights & Resources
With 70 years of experience, our reputation stands on providing insight and value with integrity.
Public companies face an ever-changing landscape of financial requirements, including financial statement or integrated audits, SOX compliance, adoption of new accounting standards, as well as other regulatory and reporting challenges. It takes vigilance to keep up.
Accounting & SEC Update
What do new or updated accounting standards mean for your company? What do you need to know about the latest SEC regulations, actions and trends? Will today’s trends be tomorrow’s requirements? Stay informed and join the discussion about issues that public companies face by signing up for our quarterly webinar series.
Serving a wide range of industries and companies of all sizes
Weaver’s public company practice group provides audit, tax and advisory services to public companies of all sizes from smaller reporting companies (SRCs) to large accelerated filers, and across a broad spectrum of industries. Weaver also provides a full suite of services for companies contemplating or preparing to go public, or which are otherwise looking to improve the quality and sophistication of their reporting and governance functions.
Regardless of the nature or size of your company, our knowledgeable, skilled and dedicated team can play a significant role in helping you fulfill your business plan.
Public Company Audits
A Weaver audit provides the highest level of assurance that your financial statements are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). We will customize our audit approach for your business, leveraging our extensive industry knowledge, our understanding of your operations and decades of experience. During the audit process, we will assess your organization’s internal controls, and identify and address any issues your organization may have with internal controls, business processes, and accounting and reporting practices in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards (GAAS) and the applicable requirements of the PCAOB.
Weaver’s audit clients include public companies of all sizes and stages of growth, from large accelerated filers to SRCs. Our team has deep experience in a broad array of financing transactions, SEC filings, comfort letters, consents and similar matters which your company may encounter.
When an entity requires an opinion on its internal control over financial reporting (ICFR), Weaver’s team has the technical knowledge and background to provide this service, with the necessary resources including individuals with industry, Big Four, and regulatory (such as PCAOB) experience.
Our audit services include, among others:
- Financial statement or integrated audits of existing public companies
- PCAOB and GAAS compliant audits for companies considering going public
- Audits of 401(k) and other employee benefit plans
- Carveout audits
- Rule 3-05 audits
- SOC report attest engagements
SPACs
Special Purpose Acquisition Companies, or SPACs, face issues similar to any company considering an IPO, but the timeline for compliance and transformation of the entity can be a challenge. These challenges are further complicated by the constantly evolving landscape and accounting requirements associated with many of these transactions. Whether your company is a potential SPAC target or you are a SPAC considering the value of a potential target, we support SPACs at every stage in the process by leveraging our years of experience helping companies prepare for an IPO.
Pre-IPO Services
For companies considering going public, making the right critical decisions can mean the difference between ringing the opening bell and experiencing costly delays or even failing to launch. Even newly public companies can experience challenges in the early stages of their journey. Properly preparing for external accounting scrutiny is a process that can take a year or even two or three years, which is why preparing early is a must.
Tax Compliance, Planning and Reporting
Tax compliance and planning should do more than just meet filing deadlines and help eliminate unpleasant tax surprises. We will untangle the intricacies of federal, state and international tax laws to uncover and plan for tax opportunities your public company can use to achieve its financial goals. We will consider your issues and opportunities, and develop the right tax strategies to meet your short and long-term needs.
Public companies also face complex financial reporting requirements that can challenge even the best tax departments in preparing quarterly and annual income tax provisions and disclosures in accordance with ASC 740. Weaver has a group of experienced professionals dedicated solely to assisting public companies with ASC 740 provision services. They have the knowledge and skill to provide insightful advice and support for your existing income tax accounting functions, or as a fully outsourced alternative. Our process and documentation have been developed to align with the audit procedures employed by the Big Four and other national firms.
ESG Disclosures & Compliance
Shareholders and investors have begun to expect companies to manage their impact on the environment, create a diverse workforce, ensure the integrity of their data and address governance issues like board diversity and business ethics. We support our clients in maximizing opportunities and managing risks related to ESG reporting and disclosure. Our services include providing assurance over ESG disclosure information and advising clients on their ESG reporting strategy, including benchmarking of your company’s practices and disclosures against other public companies.
Cybersecurity
Keeping your data and IT systems safe requires multiple layers of protection. Wherever you are in your cybersecurity journey, we will help you develop and maintain ongoing processes to assess risks, identify threats, deploy protections, monitor systems, and enable quick response and recovery. We assess environments, systems, and practices against a variety of technical and regulatory requirements, including PCI, NIST CSF, NIST 800-53, Red Flags, Sarbanes-Oxley, HIPAA, FDICIA and GLBA. We are well-versed in the standards and control frameworks used by leading organizations to manage compliance with these regulations.
Technical Accounting
Weaver’s scalable accounting and financial services professionals offer timely and accurate accounting and financial reporting advice and support for businesses at every stage. From managing the back office accounting function, assistance with the preparation of financial statements for an IPO, or determining the appropriate accounting treatment of complex accounting transactions our professionals will enhance your existing accounting and finance capabilities when and where you need it most, providing strategic guidance and special project assistance on a temporary or ongoing basis. Our Accounting Advisory Services are structured to scale as you grow.
Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX) 404 Compliance
With nearly two decades of SOX-related experience, we have developed a scalable and cost-effective approach designed to support compliance efforts at all stages. We can work with your business to assess SOX readiness, develop required SOX controls documentation, perform necessary controls testing, and assist with ongoing monitoring. Throughout, we maintain a focus not only on compliance but overall efficiency and effectiveness. We also regularly fine-tune and nurture SOX compliance activities to manage scope, avoid potential unforeseen difficulties and ensure long-term sustainability.
Internal Audit
Internal audit is a vital function of effective management, governance and risk mitigation. Our collaborative approach helps organizations develop and implement an internal audit strategy designed to identify and address critical risks of today and make the most of future opportunities. From Sarbanes-Oxley compliance, asset protection, compliance and IT to fraud prevention, our internal audit services can help prevent hidden risks from endangering your operations, your reputation or your bottom line.
Regulatory Compliance
We bring in-depth regulatory experience and proven best practices that ensure compliance for public companies and help company executives to make informed decisions toward achieving their business goals. Depending on your company’s needs, we can assist with interpretation and implementation of regulations governing various filing forms or researching and resolving issues through communications with the SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance (including the Office of the Chief Accountant). We help you stay abreast of SEC’s key areas of focus in recent filings and emerging SEC developments. Our other advisory and consulting services include selection assessments for ERP and BI applications, budgeting and benchmarking, and corporate restructuring and recapitalization.
Risk Advisory Services
The most successful organizations effectively balance governance, risk and compliance with daily operational needs and long-term strategic goals. Whether looking to establish a top-down approach for managing risk, navigate an increasingly complex regulatory landscape or improve operational performance, we tailor our approach, teams and reports to meet your immediate needs and support your long-term goals.
Publicly Fit
Publicly fit relates to private companies that voluntarily enhance their business operations and compliance standards to increase overall enterprise value. Our definition of publicly fit reaches well beyond those companies contemplating a public offering. Using the Weaver approach to building a publicly fit company, we begin with the end in mind, and we adapt our approach to fit your company’s specific needs and timeline.