THE ARI ADVANTAGE
The quality of an audit is measured by more than the money recovered and the time required to do so. Achieving clients’ objectives, while validating the business’ internal processes, is how ARI provides value beyond the bottom-line numbers.
Guaranteed to Go Above and Beyond, Guided by Principle
Consistently providing customized audit services that realize client goals while maximizing client recovery is only the beginning. ARI’s distinctive and risk-free approach to auditing guarantees a higher level of service without a higher cost. This is The ARI ADVANTAGE.
Risk-Free Engagement Structure
An ARI performed audit offers more benefits than the competition, many of which becoming available before the first claim is even generated. In addition to the thorough review of your accounts, The ARI ADVANTAGE guarantees that the whole engagement is secure, transparent, and available at no out-of-pocket cost to you.
Contingency Fee-Basis
Cost structure is one aspect of The ARI ADVANTAGE that differentiates ARI from the competition. Unlike many firms that price their services on a flat fee, per-job basis, ARI requests a small percentage of the money recovered. The advantage of a contingency fee cost structure is threefold:
- First, the client avoids paying an out-of-pocket cost for the audit because the audit is funded exclusively from the amount recovered. In other words, a valid claim must first deduct from a vendor and those funds be received by the client before ARI’s fee is calculated.
- Second, the client avoids “overpaying” for the audit. A fixed fee audit may cost more than the amount it recovers whereas a contingency fee structure remains proportionate to the recovery.
- Third, the auditing firm is incentivized to maximize client recovery because its compensation is directly tied to the client’s return. The more thorough and accurate the audit, the more both parties benefit.
Secure and Transparent
The ARI ADVANTAGE further guarantees that each audit is performed as securely and as transparently as possible. Contracts, NDAs, and other confidentiality agreements are used to identify and protect the interests of the parties. Each transfer of sensitive information is encrypted and the use/storage of said material follows our strict data protection protocols.
Transparency throughout the audit procedure is also critical to a friction-free audit. ARI communicates continuously with clients during the review to make certain both parties remain up to date on the audit’s status. This bidirectional flow of information frees the client from spending time investigating the audit, allowing those efforts to be redirected towards improving business operations. Frequent updates also allow ARI to refine client expectations and proactively address issues uncovered during the review.
Custom Built Audits, Performed Precisely
Although GAAP and SOX provide some general framework for performing an AP audit, most audits amount to a boilerplate review because they do not consider the specific characteristics of the business. The advantage of an audit designed by ARI is that each of our reviews are custom built to account for the unique size and shape of your business and are performed in-depth with a personalized, concierge level of service.
Flexible, Focused Review
ARI is unhindered by a lack of standardization – in fact, we thrive on it. The flexibility inherent to an AP review allows for focus on each client’s individual objectives and desired scope of the proposed audit, enabling us to better serve each client’s individual needs. From planning to execution and from tool selection and calibration to analysis, ARI’s entire process is driven by client directives. Unhampered by such standardization, we are capable of digging deeper into the data and providing the maximum opportunity for client recovery.
We Dig Deeper into the Data
Unlike most audit firms, ARI does not stop its review once 80% of the easily recoverable dollars are identified – we keep digging until there is no money left to find. ARI’s multi-pass review process, conducted with state-of-the-art tools, enables us to handle even the most complex transactional data.
Beginning with a global approach and then drilling down into the data vendor by vendor allows ARI to create valid claims that are correct “to the penny.” Our first-pass through the data maximizes the speed and volume of the initial recovery by focusing on common accounts payable trouble spots. The second-pass data manipulation drills deeper and searches for additional errors based on additional client directives and any trends identified during the first pass. The third-pass relies on the insights we developed during the previous passes to confirm no additional claims remain unidentified. The advantage of ARI’s multi-pass review process is the confidence that you are not leaving any money on the table.
No matter how large or diverse your data may be, ARI can handle it. Our suite of proprietary software enables us to spend less time arranging the data into a workable form and more time on recovering dollars for your organization. We will work directly with your IT department to facilitate the least intrusive and most efficient manner to get your data ready for review. Our data experts have vast experience working with various data sources and can work with your data in nearly every format – from email to Excel, Access to text, and PDF to SQL to name a few. More impressively, our experts are well versed in handling all kinds of outputs from different Enterprise Resource Planning (“ERP”) platforms, such as:
Multi-Pass Claim Identification Process
Beginning with a global approach and then drilling down into the data vendor by vendor allows ARI to create valid claims that are correct “to the penny.” Our first-pass through the data maximizes the speed and volume of the initial recovery by focusing on common accounts payable trouble spots. The second-pass data manipulation drills deeper and searches for additional errors based on additional client directives and any trends identified during the first pass. The third-pass relies on the insights we developed during the previous passes to confirm no additional claims remain unidentified. The advantage of ARI’s multi-pass review process is the confidence that you are not leaving any money on the table.
Unintimidated by Complex Data
No matter how large or diverse your data may be, ARI can handle it. Our suite of proprietary software enables us to spend less time arranging the data into a workable form and more time on recovering dollars for your organization. We will work directly with your IT department to facilitate the least intrusive and most efficient manner to get your data ready for review. Our data experts have vast experience working with various data sources and can work with your data in nearly every format – from email to Excel, Access to text, and PDF to SQL to name a few. More impressively, our experts are well versed in handling all kinds of outputs from different Enterprise Resource Planning (“ERP”) platforms, such as:
- Oracle
- Access
- Mainframe
- Prompt
- SAP
- Lawson
- Peoplesoft
- Other proprietary or internal systems
Personalized Services, Elevated Experience
In the competitive marketplace, ARI’s superior level of personalized service sets us apart from typical, big-box audit operations. Instead of assigning a single auditor to your company, ARI assigns a team of our professionals to manage all aspects of your audit, covering everything from claim monitoring to vendor correspondence and all the steps between. And, since our team will be armed with the entirety of ARI’s vast resources, your company can expect an audit that is performed in the least obtrusive manner possible.
One of the top advantages of conducting an AP audit through ARI is our personalized, service-oriented approach. Because a poorly handled audit can be an uncomfortable experience for both sides, ARI’s custom-built audits rely on time tested procedures and client preferences to minimize the potential friction caused by unexpected debits. To begin, ARI will perform a thorough assessment of your business to build an understanding of your operational activity. Throughout each successive client meeting, we will continue to update and refine our practices so that our review feels like a natural extension of your business’ regular activities. To support our “same day service” mentality, several auditors lead by an experienced project manager will be assigned to fulfill any request that your organization may have pertaining to the audit in real-time. Armed with all the tools and resources ARI has to offer, the ARI ADVANTAGE guarantees your auditing team is equipped to tackle all tasks inherent to a thorough AP review.
An AP audit that recovers significant amounts of lost profit can still result in failure if it jeopardizes the relationships underpinning the business. Through years of experience, we have changed our primary focus from maximizing client recovery to minimizing client-vendor friction that may result from unexpected AP claims. By ensuring our staff members are trained in clear communication techniques and are always available to assist our clients, most of the common trouble spots are easily avoided. Still, should any issues pertaining to claim validity or vendor dissatisfaction arise, the ARI ADVANTAGE provides a transparent, standardized, and timely dispute resolution procedure. Regardless of the claim dispute/investigation’s outcome, ARI will always respect the client’s wishes when voiding or repaying a contested claim – under the ARI ADVANTAGE, the client is always right. While one role of an expert auditor is to protect the client’s interests – financial, relational, or otherwise – the other part is performing the audit in a manner that does not consume the client’s valuable resources. Through the years, ARI has amassed all the tools and built the partnerships required for our team to provide top level service and support. Moreover, ARI’s auditors are trained to work individually or as part of a team so that they may easily blend into your operation without requiring your staff to perform additional tasks. No matter the size of your operation or the nature of the review, ARI’s experts will treat your company with the personalized care and attention you deserve.
Your Auditing Concierge
One of the top advantages of conducting an AP audit through ARI is our personalized, service-oriented approach. Because a poorly handled audit can be an uncomfortable experience for both sides, ARI’s custom-built audits rely on time tested procedures and client preferences to minimize the potential friction caused by unexpected debits. To begin, ARI will perform a thorough assessment of your business to build an understanding of your operational activity. Throughout each successive client meeting, we will continue to update and refine our practices so that our review feels like a natural extension of your business’ regular activities. To support our “same day service” mentality, several auditors lead by an experienced project manager will be assigned to fulfill any request that your organization may have pertaining to the audit in real-time. Armed with all the tools and resources ARI has to offer, the ARI ADVANTAGE guarantees your auditing team is equipped to tackle all tasks inherent to a thorough AP review.
Responsive and Resource Efficient
An AP audit that recovers significant amounts of lost profit can still result in failure if it jeopardizes the relationships underpinning the business. Through years of experience, we have changed our primary focus from maximizing client recovery to minimizing client-vendor friction that may result from unexpected AP claims. By ensuring our staff members are trained in clear communication techniques and are always available to assist our clients, most of the common trouble spots are easily avoided. Still, should any issues pertaining to claim validity or vendor dissatisfaction arise, the ARI ADVANTAGE provides a transparent, standardized, and timely dispute resolution procedure. Regardless of the claim dispute/investigation’s outcome, ARI will always respect the client’s wishes when voiding or repaying a contested claim – under the ARI ADVANTAGE, the client is always right. While one role of an expert auditor is to protect the client’s interests – financial, relational, or otherwise – the other part is performing the audit in a manner that does not consume the client’s valuable resources. Through the years, ARI has amassed all the tools and built the partnerships required for our team to provide top level service and support. Moreover, ARI’s auditors are trained to work individually or as part of a team so that they may easily blend into your operation without requiring your staff to perform additional tasks. No matter the size of your operation or the nature of the review, ARI’s experts will treat your company with the personalized care and attention you deserve.
More Than a Numbers Game
ARI Converts Data Into Information, Information Into Knowledge, And Knowledge Into Insight. Insight Leads To Improvement.
We approach auditing differently because we can see beyond what the numbers on a page can reveal. We can see what values drive your business; understand what makes your organization tick. This understanding, supported by quantifiable metrics, enables us to help you refine how your processes support your business. In a word, The ARI ADVANTAGE provides insight.
Insights Lead to Process Improvements
The advantages of insight cannot be overstated, stretching beyond current process improvement and into the realm of future planning. With our multi-pass review process, ARI is not only able to recover a higher percentage of lost profit, but also can quickly identify trends in the data through repeat analysis. By following these trends, we can predict how future changes may impact your current payment processing systems, allowing you to prepare your company for future transactions. This approach is highly advantageous to larger companies because it includes verification of your current systems, allowing you to make any changes that would improve confidence in said systems going forward. In other words, and ARI AP audit frees up your company’s focus from fixing past mistakes to making proactive decisions on how to avoid repeating the same mistakes in the future.
Boosting Your Bottom Line
At the end of the day, ARI’s goal is to provide your company with the least intrusive audit possible that maximizes the opportunity to reclaim misspent profit. In full recognition of client preferences, our multi-pass audits continue to look further and dig deeper into your data until we are satisfied there is no money left on the table and that each claim is correct to the penny. Whether a comprehensive review of your AP transactions or a highly specific review of certain purchasing activity, ARI is the only firm dedicated to maximizing your bottom line with the benefits of the ARI ADVANTAGE.