Audit that stands up to banks, boards and the FTA
Credible, well-prepared financial statements build trust with regulators, lenders and investors. Cayfren prepares your books for audit, manages the process end to end, and coordinates a separately appointed, registered auditor where a statutory audit is required in the UAE.
What the auditor receives
The file is built before fieldwork begins, so the engagement moves quickly.
- Financial statements closed to a review-ready state
- Reconciliations and supporting schedules completed in advance
- A single point of contact with the appointed auditor
- Coordination managed through to sign-off
Assurance your bank, board and the FTA can rely on
An audit is only as strong as the records behind it. Weak documentation, open reconciliations and statements that do not tie back to the ledger turn a straightforward engagement into a slow, expensive one. Careful preparation keeps it straightforward.
Cayfren works on your side of the table. We close the books to a clean, review-ready state, build the supporting schedules an auditor will ask for, and act as the single point of contact between your team and the auditor. Where the law or your licence requires an independent statutory audit, the opinion comes from a separately appointed, registered auditor. We coordinate that engagement and manage it through to sign-off.
- Financial statements prepared under IFRS, ready for review
- Reconciliations, schedules and audit evidence organised in advance
- One team across setup, tax, accounting and audit, so nothing falls between advisors
Our audit and assurance services
From full statutory audit support to targeted assurance on a single area, we scope each engagement to what your licence, lenders and stakeholders actually need.
Statutory audit support
End-to-end preparation and management of your annual external audit, including coordination with an approved, registered auditor where a statutory audit is required.
Internal audit
Independent review of your controls, processes and risk exposure, with practical recommendations to tighten cash handling, approvals, procurement and reporting.
Agreed-upon procedures
Fact-finding engagements where a lender, investor or head office asks for specific checks on defined balances or transactions, reported without a formal audit opinion.
Review engagements
Limited-assurance reviews of financial statements, a lighter, faster alternative to a full audit when that level of comfort is enough for your stakeholders.
Audit readiness & statements
We close your year, prepare IFRS financial statements and build the full evidence file, so the audit itself moves quickly and without surprises.
Auditor coordination & liaison
We manage every request, question and query from the auditor on your behalf, so your team keeps running the business while the engagement completes.
Why audited financials matter in the UAE
In the UAE, an audit is rarely just a compliance box. It is often the document behind a licence renewal, a credit facility or an investment. Getting it right, on time, protects the business in several places at once.
- Free zone requirements: many UAE free zones require audited financial statements to be filed each year to renew your trade licence
- Banks and financing: lenders typically ask for audited accounts before approving or reviewing credit facilities
- Investors and shareholders: due diligence, valuations and M&A rely on numbers an independent auditor has assured
- Corporate Tax: audited financial statements support a Qualifying Free Zone Person position and help substantiate taxable income to the FTA
- Group reporting: parent companies and head offices often mandate an audit for consolidation and governance
- Confidence and control: an audit surfaces weaknesses early, before they become costly problems
When audited statements are asked for
The same set of accounts is put to work in several places at once.
- Free zone trade licence renewal
- A bank credit facility or annual review
- Investor due diligence and valuation
- Group consolidation and head-office reporting
Assurance that connects to the rest of your compliance
Because we also handle your accounting, VAT and Corporate Tax, the numbers an auditor sees are the same numbers you file with the FTA. No reconciliations between advisors, no version drift.
How an audit engagement runs with Cayfren
A clear, four-stage process that keeps you informed and keeps the audit on schedule, whether it is your first year or your fifth.
Scope & auditor selection
We confirm what your licence and stakeholders require, agree the scope, and where a statutory audit is needed, help select and appoint an approved, registered auditor.
Audit readiness
We close the year, prepare IFRS financial statements and build the supporting schedules and evidence, resolving open items before the auditor arrives.
Fieldwork & coordination
We manage the auditor's requests and questions end to end, provide documentation promptly and keep the engagement moving toward sign-off.
Sign-off & follow-through
The registered auditor issues the opinion. We finalise the audited statements, help you file where required, and turn any findings into a practical action plan for the year ahead.
What you can expect from working with us
Audit-ready ahead of deadlines
Because the file is prepared during the year, the audit runs to a predictable schedule rather than a year-end rush.
On time for renewals
Audited statements ready ahead of free zone and licence deadlines, so renewals and filings are never held up.
One source of truth
Your audited numbers match your VAT and Corporate Tax filings, because the same team maintains all of them.
Independence preserved
We prepare and coordinate; the separately appointed auditor forms an independent opinion, which keeps the assurance credible.
Findings turned into action
We translate audit and internal-audit findings into clear steps that strengthen controls for next year.
Records that evidence themselves
Your books run on Accounts-AI, software we build and run ourselves, so the underlying records are clean, current and easy to evidence.
Audit questions, answered
Does my UAE company need a statutory audit?
It depends on where you are established and what your stakeholders require. Many free zones require audited financial statements to renew a trade licence, and banks, investors and head offices often insist on them too. We assess your specific licence and situation, tell you whether a statutory audit is required, and scope the right engagement. Requirements can change, so we always confirm against current free zone and FTA guidance.
Is Cayfren the auditor, or do you appoint one?
Where an independent statutory audit is required, the audit opinion must come from a separately appointed, registered auditor. Cayfren coordinates with such auditors and manages the engagement for you, from preparing the financial statements and evidence file to handling the auditor's requests through to sign-off. This keeps the auditor's independence intact while giving you a single, accountable point of contact.
What is the difference between an audit and a review engagement?
An audit provides reasonable assurance and results in a formal opinion on whether the financial statements are fairly presented. A review engagement provides limited assurance and is lighter and faster. If your lender, investor or licence only needs review-level comfort, a review can save time and cost. We help you choose the level of assurance that actually meets your needs.
How does the audit connect to Corporate Tax and VAT?
Closely. Audited financial statements help substantiate your taxable income to the FTA and support a Qualifying Free Zone Person position where relevant. Because we also handle your VAT and Corporate Tax, the figures an auditor reviews are the same figures you file, which removes reconciliation gaps between advisors. UAE Corporate Tax applies at 9% on taxable income above AED 375,000, with 0% up to that threshold, so a clean audit trail matters for your return.
When should we start preparing for our audit?
The earlier the better. If we maintain your books through the year, you are effectively audit-ready at all times. If you are coming to us with a backlog or a first audit, we recommend starting well before your licence renewal or filing deadline so there is time to clean up records and prepare the evidence file without pressure.
Can you help with internal audit even if we are not due a statutory audit?
Yes. Internal audit and agreed-upon procedures are independent of any statutory requirement. They are useful when you want assurance over a specific process, a defined balance, or your controls generally, for example ahead of raising finance, onboarding an investor, or tightening cash and approval processes.
Get audit-ready with confidence
Book a consultation and we will tell you whether an audit is required, what it involves, and exactly how we will prepare you. Or email info@cayfren.com.