Audit & Assurance
More than Compliance. Your Beacon of Confidence.
Independent, Expert-Led Audits
An audit isn’t just a box-ticking exercise. It’s a critical tool for financial confidence, ensuring transparency, strengthening investor trust, and helping you make informed decisions.
But not all audits are created equal.
Big firms? You’re one of many but are worried about slow, bureaucratic processes and inflated fees.
Smaller firms? They might offer a personal touch but you’re concerned whether they might lack the technical expertise your business demands.
At Lewis Brownlee, we aim to offer the best of both worlds:
High-calibre expertise with the personal service you actually want. ✔
A risk-based, commercial approach – so we focus on what really matters. ✔
Straight-talking auditors who make the process efficient and insightful.✔
We work with ambitious businesses across Hampshire and West Sussex, delivering independent, high-quality audits that go beyond the basics.
Independent, Expert-Led Audits
An audit isn’t just a box-ticking exercise. It’s a critical tool for financial confidence, ensuring transparency, strengthening investor trust, and helping you make informed decisions.
But not all audits are created equal.
Big firms? You’re one of many but are worried about slow, bureaucratic processes and inflated fees.
Smaller firms? They might offer a personal touch but you’re concerned whether they might lack the technical expertise your business demands.
At Lewis Brownlee, we aim to offer the best of both worlds. We work with ambitious businesses across Hampshire and West Sussex, delivering independent, high-quality audits that go beyond the basics.
What Makes Us Different?
Big-Firm Expertise
We bring the same technical firepower you expect of top-tier firms – but without you needing to worry about inefficiencies, sky-high fees, or endless delays.
Senior-Led Audits
When you work with us, you get direct access to experienced auditors who understand the challenges of scaling businesses.
Insightful Process
We don’t waste your time. Our process is structured, proactive, and designed to minimise disruption while delivering real value.
Regulatory Edge
Financial reporting regulations change fast. We make sure you stay ahead, meeting all statutory and industry-specific requirements.
Invested in You
We specialise in working with ambitious businesses across Hampshire and West Sussex, ensuring your audit supports your strategic goals.
What Makes Us Different?
Big-Firm Expertise
We bring the same technical firepower you expect of top-tier firms – but without you needing to worry about inefficiencies, sky-high fees, or endless delays.
Senior-Led Audits
When you work with us, you get direct access to experienced auditors who understand the challenges of scaling businesses.
Insightful Process
We don’t waste your time. Our process is structured, proactive, and designed to minimise disruption while delivering real value.
Regulatory Edge
Financial reporting regulations change fast. We make sure you stay ahead, meeting all statutory and industry-specific requirements.
Invested in You
We specialise in working with ambitious businesses across Hampshire and West Sussex, ensuring your audit supports your strategic goals.
Is Your Business Facing These Audit Challenges?
1) Navigating Complex Compliance Requirements?
Regulations are constantly evolving, and non-compliance can lead to financial penalties and reputational damage.
✔ How We Help: Our expert auditors ensure full compliance with statutory audit requirements. So, we can give you confidence that your financials meet the latest standards.
2) Investors, Lenders & Stakeholders Need Financial Clarity?
An independent audit is a crucial tool for credibility, whether you’re securing funding, seeking investment, or preparing for M&A activity.
✔ What we do: We provide clear, independent assurance, ensuring your financials stand up to scrutiny.
3) Worried Your Audit Will Be Time-Consuming & Disruptive?
Audits shouldn’t slow you down – but with the wrong firm, they often do.
✔Our approach: Our approach is structured, efficient, and transparent, ensuring minimal disruption while keeping you fully informed.
Is Your Business Facing These Audit Challenges?
1) Navigating Complex Compliance Requirements?
Regulations are constantly evolving, and non-compliance can lead to financial penalties and reputational damage.
✔ How We Help: Our expert auditors ensure full compliance with statutory audit requirements. So, we give you confidence that your financials meet the latest standards.
2) Investors, Lenders & Stakeholders Need Financial Clarity?
An independent audit is a crucial tool for credibility, whether you’re securing funding, seeking investment, or preparing for M&A activity.
✔ What we do: We provide clear, independent assurance, ensuring your financials stand up to scrutiny.
3) Worried Your Audit Will Be Time-Consuming & Disruptive?
Audits shouldn’t slow you down – but with the wrong firm, they often do.
✔Our approach: Our approach is structured, efficient, and transparent, ensuring minimal disruption while keeping you fully informed.
Audit & Assurance Services We Offer
– SHINING A LIGHT ON COMPLIANCE, CONFIDENCE & CLARITY –
Statutory Audits
Providing independent assurance that meets regulatory and financial reporting requirements.
Charities & Not-for-Profit Audits
Supporting charities with specialist audit expertise.
Pension Scheme Audits
Ensuring pension funds meet financial and regulatory requirements.
SRA Assurance
Helping legal firms stay compliant with SRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority) Accounts Rules.
Tailored Assurance Services
Independent financial reviews for added stakeholder confidence.
Audit & Assurance Services We Offer
– SHINING A LIGHT ON COMPLIANCE, CONFIDENCE & CLARITY –
Statutory Audits
Providing independent assurance that meets regulatory and financial reporting requirements.
Charities & Not-for-Profit Audits
Supporting charities with specialist audit expertise.
Pension Scheme Audits
Ensuring pension funds meet financial and regulatory requirements.
SRA Assurance
Helping legal firms stay compliant with SRA (Solicitors Regulation Authority) Accounts Rules.
Tailored Assurance Services
Independent financial reviews for added stakeholder confidence.
Let’s Talk About Your Needs
Your audit should do more than just tick boxes – it should provide clarity. Additionally, it should also provide confidence, and value. So, if you’d like to see how our services go beyond the audit report, get in touch today!
📞 Book a free consultation today to discuss how our independent audit services can support your business.
Here’s what our clients say about our expert Audit team…
“It was a pleasure to work with Megan and her team. They were professional, efficient, and a real pleasure to deal with. I would rate their service 10 out of 10.”
Verified Business Client, Hampshire – March 2025
“Lewis Brownlee’s most important strength is their helpful and straightforward advice.”
Verified Private Client, West Sussex – August 2025
You’re Not Standard.
Neither Are We.
Our services are made to measure – no templates, no tick boxes, just targeted assurance.
You’re Not Standard.
Neither Are We.
Our services are made to measure – no templates, no tick boxes, just targeted assurance.
FAQs
A statutory audit is an independent examination of a company’s financial statements to confirm they give a true and fair view and comply with UK accounting standards. It is required where the company meets certain size or other criteria under the Companies Act 2006 and associated regulations.
From accounting periods beginning on or after 6 April 2025, a private limited company must have an audit unless it qualifies as exempt. It must not be exempt if 10 % or more of shareholders request it, if its articles require one, or if it is part of a group that requires audit under the Companies Act 2006.
For financial years beginning on or after 6 April 2025, a private company is exempt from audit if it meets at least two of the following: turnover ≤ £15 million, balance sheet total ≤ £7.5 million, and average employees ≤ 50. These thresholds reflect the increases confirmed by the UK government in 2024.
Yes. A company that qualifies for exemption can still opt for a voluntary audit. This may be advisable if the business needs audited accounts for investors, lenders, or future sale and wants the assurance and credibility an audit provides.
Even if the size thresholds are met, a company cannot claim exemption if it is excluded under sections 384 or 467 of the Companies Act 2006 – for example, certain public interest entities, banking or insurance companies, or members of ineligible groups – or if its shareholders or articles of association require an audit.
The government increased the size thresholds for defining micro, small and medium-sized companies, reducing the number of companies legally required to have an audit. The small-company turnover threshold rose from £10.2 million to £15 million, and the balance-sheet total from £5.1 million to £7.5 million.
An audit can enhance credibility with banks, investors and business partners, help identify weaknesses in internal controls, strengthen governance, and support smoother due diligence during sale or investment discussions. It also gives directors confidence in the integrity of their financial reporting.
If a company is part of a group, the group’s consolidated figures may determine whether an audit is needed. Even if an individual entity qualifies for exemption, the parent or group may still require an audit under the Companies Act 2006, meaning all subsidiaries must also be audited.
If shareholders holding at least 10 % of shares (by number or value) request an audit in writing, the company must appoint auditors. The request must be made at least one month before the end of the financial year. The audit then becomes mandatory for that financial period.
The Financial Reporting Council launched a market study into SME audit simplification. From 1 June 2025, new Audit Regulations for firms require notification to ICAEW when taking on certain high-risk audits. The size-threshold increases from 6 April 2025 also mean thousands more companies now qualify for audit exemption.