Our services
Statutory audits
Statutory audits serve the public interest by protecting shareholders, executives, employees, and other stakeholders. They ensure the truthful presentation of financial statements in compliance with regulations. A statutory auditor’s mandate typically lasts six years (or three years for voluntary appointments).As members of a regulated profession bound by strict ethical standards, auditors are required to adhere to these guidelines when conducting statutory audits. We are registered with the National Association of Statutory Auditors and are regularly overseen by the High Authority of Audit (H2A).
We conduct statutory audits to certify annual financial statements and consolidated or combined accounts (under French standards or IFRS, international accounting standards) for all types of entities. Our services also include specialized opinion engagements (certifications, internal control reviews, or reviews of specific accounting treatments). We have a dedicated department that specializes in non-profit organizations.
Outsourced Financial Management
The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), effective from January 2024 for major European companies, mandates the publication of sustainability information in management reports. This directive replaces the Non-Financial Reporting Directive (NFRD), which currently requires listed companies and certain others exceeding specific thresholds to prepare a Non-Financial Performance Statement.
The CSRD requires companies to produce comprehensive sustainability reports detailing environmental, social, and governance policies, with stricter standards than the NFRD. These reports must be audited by a qualified statutory auditor.
Saint-Germain Audit is authorized to certify sustainability information. These audits are also subject to oversight by the H2A.
Other Statutory Auditor Engagements
Certain exceptional business transactions require the involvement of a statutory auditor in France.
– Contribution and Merger Audits
The statutory auditor acts as an independent expert during capital transactions, appointed by shareholders or a judicial authority. The auditor ensures fairness, prevents overvaluation of contributions, and evaluates shareholder benefits while maintaining strict independence.
– Special Benefits Audits
The statutory auditor acts as an independent expert for capital transactions, appointed by shareholders or a judicial authority. The auditor ensures fairness, prevents overvaluation of contributions, and assesses shareholder benefits, all while adhering to strict independence rules
– Commissariat à la transformation
The commissaire à la transformation in France intervenes to assess and certify the fairness of operations when a company changes legal form – for example, from a SARL to a SA. He ensures that the rights of shareholders and third parties are respected, and that there is no overvaluation of contributions.
– Other services provided by the “ad hoc” statutory auditor
In a number of cases, such as capital transactions or securities issues (warrants, BSPCEs, etc.), the involvement of a statutory auditor may be mandatory.
– Audit of audiovisual production costs
To obtain final approval from the CNC (Conseil national de la comptabilité) or to obtain an audiovisual tax credit, the production costs of an audiovisual work must be certified by an auditor.