ACH Compliance Audits
Organizations using the ACH system are required to have a compliance audit conducted each year by December 1 to satisfy the NACHA Operating Rules. We will conduct an audit of your financial institution's origination and receiving functions for ACH items, in accordance with NACHA Rules. We will examine your procedures and policies, and make recommendations that will strengthen your controls.

Asset/Liability Management
A volatile interest rate market has put the squeeze on many financial institutions. We can help mitigate the effects of rapid fluctuations by helping you install a sound asset/liability management program. We can also provide training to your board and staff on understanding the concepts of asset/liability management.

ATM Control (PIN) Audits
ATM transactions must be executed in the most secure manner possible. Institutions using the STAR Network must engage a qualified auditor, trained and certified by STAR, to complete a report on security compliance.

Audit
An audit of your financial statements, performed under generally accepted auditing standards, provides assurance to investors, creditors, regulators, and other interested parties that your financial statements report your financial position and results of operations in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. We supplement our audit reports with insightful recommendations to strengthen internal controls and improve administrative efficiency and profitability.

Board & Committee Training
Not every financial institution director has a background in auditing, accounting, or finance. We can help directors to better understand the financial institution operations and accounting system so that they can better serve the customers and investors. Our training sessions can be tailored to fit your specific needs.

Bookkeeping
Rowles & Company, LLP has professionals on staff with specific expertise in this function. If you cannot justify a full-time position, or it is not within your budget, let us satisfy this important control function. We routinely perform payroll, sales tax reporting, and monthly financial statement preparation. We also can install QuickBooks in your business, train your staff in its use, and monitor their use of this powerful bookkeeping tool.

Branch Feasibility Studies
We can help management evaluate the economics of a proposed branch and develop the operating plan for the first years of operation.

Business Structure
As tax laws change, so do the relative advantages and disadvantages of organizing as a partnership, corporation, S corporation, or limited liability company. We help firms weigh the factors to determine the best structure for their businesses.

Capital Management
The capital ratio is one of the truest measures of your institution's strength. The regulators measure this very carefully, and impose restrictions on your institution if your ratios are not up to standards. We can help you achieve your optimum ratios, balancing the need to provide a return to your owners against increasing capital. We can help you project your capital needs to determine your best dividend policy.

Compilations and Reviews
As your business grows and your reporting needs change, we can perform a compilation or a review of your financial statements. A review will enable us to offer the financial statement user reasonable assurance that no material modifications should be made in order for them to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. As businesses continue to grow, they frequently turn to sources of funding independent of their own management. Outside investors and creditors frequently require such assurance. Our skilled personnel are able to efficiently perform the necessary procedures which allow us to compile or review your financial statements in a timely manner.

Dual Reporting
Most engineering firms use the accrual method of accounting for financial statements and the cash method of accounting for tax reporting. Rowles & Company, LLP has considerable expertise in handling these dual reporting requirements. We have developed systems to convert cash basis general ledgers to accrual basis financial statements quickly and accurately to respond to the needs of our professional clients.

Emerging Businesses
Many development stage businesses lack the resources to hire an accountant on a full-time basis. Yet, the business developer needs projections and reports to assess the prospects of the venture. Our personnel can assist you in compiling financial projections from your data. These projections will serve as an important guide to assist you in charting the progress of your growing business.

Information System Controls
When an institution makes the decision to do its own data processing, management accepts the responsibility of documenting the system properly and establishing internal controls. Rowles & Company, LLP can help assure that the documentation and controls are adequate. This is particularly important in the area of general controls, such as your backup procedures, access to your system, and disaster recovery programs.

Information System Conversions
If you are considering an information system conversion, we can help you assess your current and future needs. From that assessment, we can assist you in evaluating which data processing system will best meet your needs.

Internal Auditing
As your institution grows, you may find that you need a stronger internal auditing function. We can tailor a program, from as little as one day a month, in which we will perform agreed-upon audit procedures. This provides you with the best value for your money until you grow to the point of hiring a full time internal auditor.

Investment Policy
Have you specified the securities that your financial institution prefers to hold? By replacing rules of thumb with a written policy to spell out term, denomination, issuer, and quality rating of your securities, you can improve your portfolio, selecting higher rewards at lower risk.

Job Cost Accounting
At Rowles & Company, LLP we have a thorough understanding of the cost accounting requirements of engineering firms. We can develop cost accounting systems tailored to management's specific needs.

Loan Policy Manual
Every examiner looks for it. Rowles & Company, LLP can provide it. In addition to satisfying regulatory policy, a comprehensive written manual is an excellent tool for training junior officers and specifying the activities of lenders on various levels.

Loan Review
Lenders never make a bad loan. But, every loan made brings with it varying levels and attributes of risk. A well-established and documented lending function, including a sound loan review system, helps management to fulfill its responsibilities. We can perform the loan review.

Market Value Advice
Potential investors assess the value of any operating business based on both objective factors, such as earnings ability and real property values, and intangibles such as goodwill, management strength, and independence. Rowles & Company, LLP can analyze all the components to arrive at a fair market value.

Organization Structure
Growth, for all its blessings, can place new strains on organizations. Rowles & Company, LLP can provide an objective analysis of a firm's internal structure to determine how well it meets the organization's present needs.

Overhead Cost Audits
Fees for many contracts are based on overhead rates determined in accordance with rules and regulations of various governmental agencies. We perform audits of the financial reports submitted to the government agencies to substantiate the rates claimed.

Partnership Agreements
At Rowles & Company, LLP we understand the intricacies of partnership structures. We work extensively with our clients and their attorneys to prepare agreements that address the many aspects of partnership, such as service quality, capital, risk sharing, and retirement.

Pension Plan Audits
A retirement plan with more than 100 participants is required to have an annual audit, in accordance with Department of Labor standards. We can perform these audits.

Performance Measurement
Keeping expenses under control is central to project management. Many professional service firms rely on our systems for budgeting jobs and keeping running records to compare budgets to actual costs.

Planning for New Business
The formation of a new enterprise involves decisions that could have significant tax implications. Should the new business be formed as a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company? What tax accounting methods and elections are available? Should the business entity own or lease its office facility? What are the licensing requirements for the business? Rowles & Company, LLP can fill you in on what options are available for your new enterprise and guide you to the most advantageous alternative.

Profit Planning
Are earning assets yielding enough? Have all other sources of available income been explored? How are expenses controlled? What would be the effect of a reduction in interest rates? Is management compensation related to institutional performance? These are questions we can help you answer.

Recapitalization Plans
Deposit growth often outpaces capital growth in an independent community bank, requiring the issuance of additional shares of stock or other types of qualifying capital. We can develop a plan to attract investors through offerings of common stock, preferred stock, capital notes, debentures, convertible securities, or a combination of these securities.

Representation Before Taxing Authorities
Should the tax implications of your affairs come under the scrutiny of the Internal Revenue Service or state taxing authorities, we are available to represent you or accompany you to meetings with them. Our involvement can help assure that you are treated fairly and that your rights are protected. We have successfully resolved many serious issues with federal and state taxing authorities without having to take matters to tax court.

Retirement Plans
Rowles & Company, LLP has the experience to help you with diverse and complicated retirement plan laws. Whether you need to discuss the various retirement plan options that will be best suited to your employees, avoiding top-heavy and other plan pitfalls, or help with filing annual information returns, we can help.

SEC Reporting
Banks and bank holding companies are subject to numerous regulatory reporting requirements. Rowles & Company has experience in periodic filings with the SEC, Federal Reserve, and FFIEC. Annually, we attend seminars to stay abreast of the ever changing reporting requirements. Whether you need staff training, want on-going independent preparation of your regulatory filings, or want someone to review the forms before they are filed, Rowles & Company can help. Our experience includes preparation of SEC quarterly and annual filings, Federal Reserve quarterly filings, quarterly call reports, and annual summary of deposit forms.

Strategic Planning
Every business must plan for the future. Your organization can't expect to continue to operate in the same way it always has and remain competitive. Are you willing to follow technology and market trends or blaze trails with new products and services? What services do your customers need and want? Are they feasible to offer; will they be profitable? Is offering services through the Internet right for your organization?

Supervisory Committee Audit Procedures
While less in scope than an audit of your financial statements, we still give you a very thorough examination. This will satisfy the NCUA's annual supervisory committee audit requirements and includes our letter of performance analysis and recommendations to strengthen internal controls and improve administrative efficiency.

Tax Analysis
Often legal issues and investment proposals include tax aspects that require expert analysis and opinion. Our partners and staff are qualified in most areas of tax practice and can dissect a problem, analyze it, and provide plain English explanations and recommendations.

Tax Planning
At Rowles & Company, LLP, tax compliance is only part of the job. Using sophisticated computerized accounting systems, we prepare tax projections for corporations and individuals. We strongly believe that important business activities demand creative advance tax planning.

Tax Return Preparation
Rowles & Company, LLP and its experienced professionals are trained to offer sound tax advice and to help you comply with complex tax laws. We work with many individuals, trusts, corporations, S corporations, partnerships, and not-for-profit organizations to meet their annual filing requirements. This includes a range of tax returns, from the simplest individual return to consolidated, multistate business returns. We can help you achieve your financial goals while minimizing your taxes.