PENSIONS AUDIT

Our award-winning specialist Pensions Audit team works with pension trustees, administrators and advisers, delivering hassle-free, pragmatic audits

Get In Touch

A PASSION FOR PENSIONS AUDIT

As a pension trustee, administrator or adviser, whether your scheme has 13 members or 13,000, you need to make sure everything is running smoothly so you can sign off your accounts within seven months of the scheme’s year-end.

That means you need a hassle-free pensions audit; delivered by a tight-knit team of industry experts who can drive the process, tailor it to your specific needs and advise you on any key risk areas, such as unauthorised investment transactions, fictitious pensions and incorrect benefit payments.

As the Pensions Age Awards’ ‘Pensions Accountancy Firm of the Year’ for 2020, 2021 and 2024, we cut the mustard.

Because even with the tighter turnarounds, the most schemes we’ve ever worked on, and all the other challenges the last few years have thrown at us, we’ve still never missed a deadline. And when we asked our clients, “How are we doing?”, they scored us 4.8 / 5.

BUT ONE THING’S GOT US PUZZLED

Pension scheme audits are a niche area. They require specific training and a strong understanding of the sector and the terminology. And that’s why we can’t understand why so many accountancy firms don’t have a team dedicated to them.

Our specialist pensions audit team are one of the four UK accountancy firms on the Pension Protection Fund’s (PPF) Audit Services Panel.

That means we’ve got the technical knowledge to flex our approach to your specific needs, with proactive advice that will keep you ahead of the curve on legislative changes, guaranteeing compliance and future-proofing as the regulator gets tougher.

In September 2023, we were also awarded the PPF’s prestigious Trustmark. One of the industry’s biggest signifiers of excellence, it recognises specialist knowledge, collaborative working with the PPF, and a commitment to delivering the highest standards of service.

A PAINLESS PROCESS. STEP BY STEP

We’ll be getting in touch with you regularly. We form partnerships with our clients and their advisers. And we’re different because one of our guarantees is continuity. At least one person from your previous year’s audit team will work with you in subsequent years. You won’t be asked the same question twice and we’ll always be working closely together to create a seamless service.

Step 1

Before the pensions audit kicks off, we’ll outline our fee, discuss a timetable that works for you, and make sure you’re aware of all your deadlines in advance. We get everybody’s buy-in, including administrators and investment advisers, and keep everyone on the same page throughout the whole process.

Step 2

During the pensions audit, we’ll keep you updated on our progress and let you know straight away about any issues we’ve identified. This includes outlining any risk areas and advising you on control measures and other ways to improve your management process going forward. We’ll talk you through the draft accounts, answer any questions, and work with you to make sure the trustee report reflects the scheme’s yearly activities.

Step 3

After the pensions audit, we’ll make sure you’re kept in the loop about any pension legislation changes, and we’ll always be on hand to answer any queries you may have. Feedback is massively important to us. So, we’ll send you an advocacy questionnaire to ask how we’re doing and what we can do differently.

WELL-RENOWNED 

We’ve been recognised as industry leaders by our peers, pension schemes, trustee panels and the Government for our consistent outstanding contribution to the pensions market. 

We’ve also built some fantastic relationships with administrator firms along the way, and we work closely with them throughout the year.  

That includes discussing ongoing schemes through regular catch-ups, flagging any issues, making sure timetables are in place and audits are progressing smoothly, and creating efficiencies that save you costs and time, while staying compliant. 

Ultimately, we keep each other accountable for delivery. Everyone’s on the same page, working towards the same goals. And it’s our clients who reap the rewards. 

Fern Farnsworth
Pensions Audit Director
Get in touch

Get in touch with Fern Farnsworth

“We’ve recently completed our first audit with Cooper Parry. From the day we appointed them to audit end, Helen and her team have been excellent. They do what they say, on time, with incredible attention to detail, and they’re nice folks too. They communicated right through the process, and we felt valued and informed. The team finished everything early and certainly under-promised and over-delivered. We’re delighted we selected Cooper Parry. A real breath of fresh air.”

Carlsberg

“The whole team have continued the excellent work reported at mid-year. You consistently deliver on time and are flexible in your approach with both the PPF, Trustees and Administrators.”

Pension Protection Fund

“As a first year audit, it went as smoothly as we could have possibly hoped. CP were the standout choice for our new auditors due to the speed of response and their less “formal approach” to the tender document and our initial call. It caught our eye and made us feel that CP was a firm with good people to work with, which has proven to be the case. The level of client service has been really good and certainly a large improvement from our previous auditors. The audit was seamless and I look forward to the audits in the coming years as we continue to build a strong relationship.”

University of Southampton Pension & Assurance Scheme

“Very approachable and friendly team. They adopt a robust and pragmatic approach to pension scheme audits.”

The Park Lane Hotel Retirement Fund

View All

CP EVENTS

1 minute read

FROM SEED TO SCALE: SUPERCHARGE YOUR START UP WITH EIS 🚀

  • Tuesday 8th July
  • 1-2pm
  • Online
Read More

1 minute read

SCALING STATESIDE PART 3: HOW TO RAISE FUNDING IN THE U.S.

  • Wednesday 9th July
  • 1-2pm
  • Online
Read More

1 minute read

FRS 102: Mastering The New Changes

  • Wednesday 9th July
  • 14.00pm - 15.00pm
  • Online
Read More

1 minute read

FOUNDERS’ SOCIAL: SUMMER SESSION

  • Wednesday 9th July
  • 6-9pm
  • Odyssey Bar & Lounge, Hoxton Square
Read More

1 minute read

THE MANCHESTER BUSINESS CLUB

  • Thursday 10th July
  • 9.30am
  • Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce
Read More
View All Events

LATEST NEWS

View All News

REVIEWS

CHERILYN, JUNE 25

“The account were turned around quickly, and we were kept up to date with the progress of the audit”

EDWARD, MAY 25

“Just very easy to deal with, all very relaxing to be honest!”

NATALIE, MAY 25

“Stephanie Blacksmith progresses the audit with ease and efficiency. She’s also very personable and accommodating.”

CHRIS, MAY 25

“Efficient and painless.”

BRADLEY, MARCH 25

“Communication is really important to us and this is an area that the team we work with at Cooper Parry does really well, specifically around conversations about key issues raised which were raised, discussed and resolved in a timely manner. The audit service received has been really smooth over first two years of working with Cooper Parry and I am confident that this will continue in the future.”

NICK, MARCH 25

“Reached a pragmatic approach with regards to delay in producing next set of accounts.”

JEN, MARCH 25

“Very supportive and helpful with our queries.”

HEIKE, FEB 25

“Communication is great, queries are responded to very quickly, staff very friendly and helpful.”

MATT, FEB 25

“Audit went smoothly. Some lack of communication around the change of personnel performing the audit. Timescale tight would like more flexibility next year.”

STUART, JAN 25

“Having switched audit services from one of the big 4 in early 2023, the experience has been a breathe of fresh air. CP have been very clear in their guidance on going concern, a massive bonus given the financial challenges faced by our sponsor and the mixed messaging provided by the previous auditors. They have also helped us recover a backlog of accounts with professionalism and a minimum of fuss especially given the complexity of our pension scheme and the amount of activity during the periods in question. The team have been easy to communicate with and always clear in what they require. There has always been a collective sense of team work to achieve the shared objectives within the agreed timetables.”

View All Reviews