ASF Audits marketing director Ben Atkins said the firm further bolstered the education part of the business with the appointment of Shelley Banton as head of education in 2020. Ms Banton first joined ASF Audits back in 2017 as executive general manager, technical services. 

The firm now offers webinars and technical seminars for clients and publishes technical articles regularly as well. 

“That relationship between our auditors and the SMSF professionals we work with is incredibly important. We have a big focus on supporting our client's success," said Mr Atkins.

“We want to ensure that our clients have the right tools and knowledge in order to be able to achieve the best outcomes for their SMSF clients.”

Supporting the growth and development of its staff and creating a collaborative work environment is another factor that ASF audits attributes to its success.

The firm has developed an extensive graduate program that offers training to both graduates and undergraduates in structured programs and on-the-job learning. 

It continues to strive to be an employer of choice by creating a supportive and flexible workplace that understands the importance of work-life balance.

The other key focus for the auditing firm has been on technology, said Mr Atkins. Taking advantage of some of the developments with technology over the years has meant more accurate data for its auditors and faster turnaround times for clients.

ASF Audits first began moving away from work papers back in 2012 with the development of one-click audit technology. This was initially rolled out through Class but is also now available through BGL.

One-click audit allows software users to submit a request from their software administration platform directly to ASF audits. It enables ASF Audits to quickly access all necessary data and allows clients to view the status of the audit and see any action that needs to be undertaken.

Over the next year or two, the firm will look to make further developments with electronic signatures and legal verification through its software and work on further improving the accuracy of the data it receives at audit. 

Commenting on the firm’s latest win this year, ASF Audits managing director Richard Smith said the award was a testimony to the strength, unity and professionalism of the ASF audits team.

“We are dedicated to bringing differentiated solutions to the market by driving innovation and concentrating on customer-facing solutions,” said Mr Smith. 

“Developing intelligent solutions such as one-click audit technology ensures continued success for our clients and team. Connecting with client software from our audit dashboard provides a streamlined experience that commences with just one click.”