Technology Audit

Tech businesses hit audit requirements suddenly: a funding round, a US parent, or growth through the size thresholds. We deliver first-year and ongoing audits that handle the sector's real judgement areas properly, coordinate with your R&D claims rather than duplicating them, and produce accounts your board and investors can rely on at the next raise.

Technology Sector Expertise

We audit SaaS and software companies, IT services and managed service providers, fintech businesses (including FCA-regulated ones, where our financial services and CASS expertise applies), marketplaces and platforms, hardware and deep-tech companies, and venture-backed scale-ups. Many clients are UK subsidiaries of US and international groups — we deliver UK statutory audits alongside group reporting packs under US GAAP or IFRS group instructions.

Revenue Recognition and Deferred Revenue

SaaS and software revenue is the sector's defining audit risk: annual contracts billed up front creating deferred revenue, multi-element arrangements bundling licences, implementation and support, usage-based pricing, and channel arrangements raising gross-versus-agent questions. We test recognition against contract terms and standing data in your billing system. Note the change ahead: FRS 102's periodic review introduces a five-step revenue model for periods beginning on or after 1 January 2026 — for SaaS businesses this demands a fresh look at performance obligations and may shift recognition timing. We assess the impact before your first affected year end.

Development Costs, Intangibles and Share Options

We audit the capitalisation of development costs under FRS 102 — eligibility criteria, cost capture from engineering time, amortisation and impairment when products pivot — plus acquired intangibles and goodwill from acquisitions. Equity is equally live: EMI and unapproved share option schemes, growth shares and convertible instruments all create share-based payment charges and disclosure requirements that catch scale-ups out. We make sure the accounting matches the cap table.

R&D Relief, Patent Box and the Audit

Most genuine tech businesses claim R&D relief under the merged scheme — a 20% expenditure credit, with enhanced support of up to a 14.5% payable credit for loss-making R&D-intensive SMEs — and profitable IP holders can elect into the Patent Box for a 10% effective corporation tax rate on qualifying profits. The audit and the claims draw on the same project and payroll data; our audit and tax teams coordinate so your engineers explain each project once, and the numbers agree everywhere they appear.

Going Concern for Pre-Profit Companies

Loss-making, venture-funded companies face a specific audit challenge: going concern rests on runway, burn rate and funding milestones rather than trading history. We assess forecasts and funding evidence realistically — term sheets, investor support, cost flexibility — and craft disclosure that satisfies auditing standards without spooking the next investor who reads the accounts.

Why Tech Companies Choose Acumon

First audits made painless: many clients come to us at the point an audit first becomes required — crossing the size thresholds (turnover above £15m, balance sheet above £7.5m or more than 50 employees, two of three, for periods beginning on or after 6 April 2025), joining a group that requires it, or facing investor demands. We run a portal-based, remote-first process that suits distributed teams, integrate with Xero, QuickBooks, NetSuite-class ERPs and modern billing systems, and quote fixed fees. EIS/SEIS-funded? We understand the structures your investors used and the assurance they expect.

What You Get With Acumon

• SaaS, software, fintech, platform and hardware companies
• Deferred revenue and multi-element arrangement testing
• FRS 102 five-step revenue model transition support for 2026
• Development cost capitalisation, intangibles and impairment
• EMI and share-based payment accounting aligned to your cap table
• Coordination with merged-scheme R&D claims and Patent Box
• Going concern support for pre-profit, venture-funded companies
• UK subsidiary audits and group packs for US and international parents

Why Acumon for Technology Audit?

• ICAEW-registered and FRC-authorised audit firm
• Audit team members previously worked on audits for Apple, Airbnb and Fujifilm
• Integrated R&D, Patent Box and EIS/SEIS advisory alongside audit
• Remote-first, portal-based delivery suited to distributed teams
• UK subsidiary audits for US and international technology groups

Get a Fixed-Fee Quote

Tell us what you need and we'll come back within one business day with a clear scope and a fixed price — no hourly-rate surprises. Call 020 8567 3451 or use the form and we'll be in touch.