Automotive Sector

Audit in automotive –
going concern – and restructuring processes

I audit automotive companies in non-obvious situations: when management faces a going concern question, when a company sale process is underway, or when immediate conversion to a liquidation statement is required.

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Audits in complex M&A processes

20+

Years of experience

48h

Conversion to liquidation statement

100%

Compliance with national and international auditing standards

Audit under going concern assumption

Liquidation statements

Company sale processes

Financial restructuring

Going concern assessment

Audit under conditions of uncertainty

Projects from the automotive sector

Selected case studies – automotive

Projects in non-standard circumstances – auditing financial statements during transactional and restructuring processes.

Audit + conversion to liquidation statement

Situation

An automotive sector company in a sale process. I conducted the first audit under the going concern assumption. During the process, the decision to sell all assets determined the need to change the basis of reporting.

Action

Two-stage project: full audit of the financial statements under the going concern assumption, and then – after the decision by the owner – rapid conversion and preparation of the statement based on asset liquidation values in accordance with NAS 14.

Result

Complete audit documentation for both statements. The buyer received a full picture of the liquidation values of assets, which enabled the transaction to close on the required deadline.

Transaction closed on time thanks to efficient conversion

Going concern assessment – OEM supplier

Situation

A Polish OEM component supplier faced a sharp drop in orders following a production halt at its main customer’s factory. Management had doubts about the ability to continue operations and whether the annual financial statements could be prepared on the standard going concern basis.

Action

Detailed 12-month liquidity analysis: cash flow forecast, assessment of available credit lines, verification of banking relationships and debt service capacity analysis. Parallel assessment of prospects for securing new orders from alternative customers.

Result

Documented going concern basis with disclosure of material uncertainty in the financial statements. The company received a modified opinion (explanatory paragraph) that allowed it to maintain banking relationships without breaching covenants.

Opinion with explanatory paragraph – banking relationships maintained

IFRS audit of an automotive subsidiary

Situation

A Polish subsidiary of an international automotive group engaged in manufacturing. IFRS reporting for group consolidation purposes, complex long-term OEM contracts, inventory valuation and inter-company transactions within the group.

Action

Audit of IFRS financial statements with particular focus on: inventory valuation at NRV, recognition of manufacturing contracts under IFRS 15, assessment of warranty provisions and correctness of related-party balances within the group.

Result

Unqualified opinion delivered within the deadline required by the group consolidation timetable. Recommendations on accounting policy for long-term contracts accepted by management.

Unqualified opinion – on group consolidation deadline

Industry challenges

Key accounting challenges in the automotive sector

Going concern assessment

Loss of contracts, changes in the supply chain or the decision to sell the company require a reliable assessment of whether the financial statements can be prepared under the going concern assumption – this is one of the most difficult decisions an auditor makes.

Conversion to a liquidation statement

When going concern is not warranted, conversion is necessary – valuation of assets at realisable values, reclassification of liabilities and a changed accounting policy.

Asset valuation in a sale process

Machinery, equipment and inventory valued in the context of an M&A transaction – historical values cease to be relevant; fair value or liquidation value becomes key.

Employee obligations and restructuring provisions

Sales and restructuring processes generate significant obligations to employees that must be correctly recognised and valued in the financial statements.

Risk of contracts with OEM manufacturers

Long-term contracts with car manufacturers – their classification, risk of non-performance and potential penalties constitute a significant area of audit risk.