Preparing your PBC list before the auditors arrive

A prepared-by-client (PBC) list is not busywork. It is the map that tells both sides which binders, exports, and reconciliations must exist before substantive testing begins.

Start from last year’s letter

If you were audited before, open the prior management letter and engagement appendix. Recurring requests — bank confirmations, inventory listings, related-party schedules — rarely disappear. Mark owners beside each line: AP clerk, warehouse supervisor, controller.

Export once, version clearly

Name files with the period and a version date (AR_aging_2025-12-31_v2.xlsx). Auditors waste hours when three “final” ages circulate in email threads. Keep a single shared folder with read-only access for the engagement team.

Reconcile before you upload

Trial balance to statements, subledger to control accounts, inventory perpetual to the count sheets you will use on the floor. Catching breaks yourself is cheaper than discovering them on day two of fieldwork.

Flag known soft spots early

Consignment stock, bonded warehouse goods, and significant estimates deserve a one-paragraph note in the kickoff pack. Surprises mid-fieldwork compress everyone’s calendar — including yours.