About us

Audit Assistant is an online (SaaS) software tool for use by accountants who carry out Audit, Review and Compilation engagements. We are a New Zealand based company initially focussed on the local market but in the process of adding content and infrastructure to service the international market.

We collaborate closely with our users in our development process. Our online delivery model and agile approach makes it possible to implement new features and fixes very quickly. 

Training and Support

We provide full in-house training for firms in New Zealand as required - contact us for more information. 

Normal support is provided from our online help-desk and is included in the monthly subscription.

Subscription Services

Costs for use are based on number of jobs in a series of charging steps, to provide accessability to all sized firms from very small (up to 15 jobs) to very large firms. Payment may be monthly, quarterly or annually. There is no fixed term contract and users may easily change service levels. All data remains the property of your firm and may downloaded in PDF format at any stage.

See sign up page for details. For larger sites please contact us to work out a price. 

The cloud delivery model is very economical. Cost works out at around $20-$30 per job per year.

All levels have the same features and allow unlimited users. To get started there is a free single job version available. This is fully featured and will be retained on upgrade. 

Software as a Service (SaaS)

SaaS means the software is maintained by us on a server and accessed by users over the internet. 

All modern browsers will run Audit Assistant so computer type, operating system or network type is not an issue. We do however recommend Google Chrome or Safari as the fastest browsers on which to run Audit Assistant at the present time.

Security on a SaaS model is normally higher than a normal office-based network or PC/Laptop. Our backups and security are handled by the professional data centre which hosts Audit Assistant (Orcon Data Centre in Auckland). We also back up daily copies of our database on an international file storage service (Amazon S3) so we are able to recover our full data on a daily basis back to when we started.

Audit Assistant may also be run in offline modewhich allows users to work on laptops at clients say where internet access is not possible. Workbooks must be set up online before checking out then they must be checked back in to update the server version

Software as a Service (SaaS) is a major trend in software. A 2008 survey noted: Innovation in the software industry is on the upswing, with Software as a Service (SaaS) being a key driver. The SaaS model is becoming mainstream and this has led to the rise of a new generation of SaaS platforms (also referred to in the industry as Platformas-a-Service – PaaS). This year’s survey of more than 850 enterprise software customers ...and the Software and Interop conferences showed increasing acceptance of subscription and on-demand models but more surprisingly, a high portion (74 percent) of enterprise customers favorably disposed to adopting SaaS platforms.

History

The original version of Audit Assistant was created by Clive McKegg in 1999 answering a need for auditors in NZ to produce efficient work-papers which are compliant with the NZ Codified Auditing Standards. This was an Excel based package which was marketed through Solution 6 to their clients.

In 2003 he updated the product and took over support and sales from Solution 6. Matt McKegg had considerable input into this new version adding many further features and eventually a Microsoft .NET   ‘front end’ which continued to use Excel for the actual work-papers but added additional functionality. Clive also began travelling doing training and demonstrations. 

With the advances in software technology and the adoption in NZ of International Auditing Standards it became obvious that it was time for a new product and approach which incorporates the features of the existing version into a much more powerful and flexible platform; hence the online version which was launched in March 2009. 

Our Team

Clive McKegg (director) has many years experience in chartered accounting, including audits of small business and non-profit organisations. 

He graduated BCom from Auckland University in 1982 and was admitted to the Institute of Chartered Accountants in 1984 working for Hutchison Hull (now Deloittes) in audit for 3 years and has since worked in a number of second tier firms and smaller firms, owning his own practice from 2003-2010. 

He has now sold his practice to concentrate on Audit Assistant. He is responsible for content, sales, development and training. 

Matt McKegg (director) has been involved in Audit Assistant since its early days and has followed his passion in software and graphic design into his own career as a software architect and programmer. 

Matt has undertaken a number of major software projects including the official Northland Community Services Directory www.2cu.co.nz. He is a specialist in web-based software plus providing graphic design. Matt's role is in development, design, support and optimisation making sure we are using the best possible tools to serve our users.

Nick Mason is backup programmer also with considerable experience in web-based software including now heading up the www.2cu.co.nz programming team and is responsible for www.instant-edit.co.nz. 

Recent Feedback

"Love the new system."

John Cockroft, Cockroft & Co Ltd, Auckland

"Been using the new system for a little while now and she's fantastic! I think the boss likes the fact that he doesn't have to sign every page! And i like the fact that my paper file is pretty much non-existent!"

Brad Quin, Plus Chartered Accountants, Whangarei

"Good work on Audit Assistant. It is really easy to use, and it sounds as though you are set to make it even more user friendly with further improvements. Good one, and thanks."

Maria Morunga, PKF Francis Aiken, Kaitaia

"Audit Assistant is running well and making life easier for us!"

Catriona Cory, Hounsell Accounting, Auckland

"...thanks for the great service and software."

Gareth Cummins, JSA Audit, Auckland

"Audit Assistant is a brilliant tool."

Manisha Rama, Auditors on London, Hamilton

"We love Audit Assistant!!"

Derily McLean, HWI, Auckland