Independent Reporting
Factual Findings Reports (ISRS 4400)
An independent Factual Findings Report, prepared under ISRS 4400, is often the specific document immigration authorities or other third parties require before they'll rely on your financial information. This is the one specialist report we prepare, nothing broader.
What is a Factual Findings Report (ISRS 4400)?
ISRS 4400 (International Standard on Related Services 4400) governs "Agreed-Upon Procedures" engagements. Rather than expressing an audit opinion or review conclusion, the accountant performs specific procedures agreed with you (and often with the third party requesting the report) and reports the factual findings from that work. The reader draws their own conclusions from what's reported. VERIFY: confirm whether ISRS 4400 (Revised) applies to your engagements and cite the correct effective date before publishing
When you're likely to need one
- Immigration and visa applications: where Home Affairs or a business/investment visa process requires independently verified financial information.
- Lender, investor, or contractual due diligence: where a third party needs independently verified figures on specific, agreed items rather than a full audit.
- Any situation requiring verified financial facts, without the scope or cost of a full audit or review.
This is one part of our broader immigration accountant services. We handle the financial documentation for investing in South Africa, but not the visa application itself.
What's involved
We agree the specific procedures to be performed with you (and, where relevant, the party requesting the report) up front, so everyone knows exactly what will and won't be covered. We then perform those procedures and report the factual findings: no opinion, no assurance conclusion, just a clear, independently verified account of what was found.
Why the accountant issuing it matters
Third parties relying on a Factual Findings Report generally expect it to come from a properly registered, professional-body-accredited accountant, not simply a bookkeeper's letter. Smart Margin is CIBA and SAIT registered, holding the CBAP (SA) designation, so reports carry the professional standing these processes require. We're based in Centurion, South Africa, and prepare these reports for clients worldwide.