Audits

Atlanta area and Georgia manufacturing companies are facing some familiar and many new business challenges. These often include finding and retaining qualified employees, knowledge transfer, intense competition from offshore providers, tariff concerns and even the integration of artificial intelligence and machine learning. While the challenges persist, the overall outlook for industry companies appears to be positive. According to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) Manufacturing Outlook Survey (Second Quarter 2019), four out of five manufacturers indicated a positive outlook for their business in 2019. This was reinforced by the fact that inventory and production levels are expected to increase while exports are also expected to grow. One pressing concern is the impact of tariff uncertainties industry-wide.

Atlanta business owners have several responsibilities to focus on, from directing the management team to supporting employees and maintaining focus on the strategic objectives and growth goals of the organization. It’s clear to see time is precious, and when not used properly, it can be a precious resource that is wasted. That’s why a difficult relationship with the company’s financial statement auditor can be so challenging. A relationship that is characterized by poor communication, missed deadlines and an inflexible approach may be signs that a change is needed. While there are certainly challenges in every relationship, business owners need to candidly evaluate their relationship to determine if a change is needed.