Preparing Your Financial Records for an IPO

Published: Mar 21, 2025
Topics: IPO
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Getting ready for an IPO is a huge milestone, but it comes with plenty of challenges—especially in financial reporting preparation. This video walks you through the key steps to make sure your company is IPO-ready. You'll learn why audit preparation and detailed documentation are crucial for smooth Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) reviews, how to upgrade financial statements to meet Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) and SEC standards, and the role of a strong management discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) in building investor confidence. Plus, we’ll break down the essential disclosures for your S-1 filing, from risk factors to financial summaries. Watch now to set your company up for IPO success!

With a wide range of services in audit, tax, advisory, and outsourcing, EisnerAmper is one of the leading providers in the industry.

Transcript

Voiceover:

Preparing for an Initial Public Offering? Going public is a major milestone, however, financial reporting comes with challenges. Let's break down what you need to know and how you can best prepare.

First, be sure to keep thorough records to streamline audits and Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) reviews. Maintain clear, organized documentation to expedite your audit and SEC compliance.

You’ll need to upgrade financials to meet Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) & SEC standards. In some cases, you may need to transition your statements from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (“AICPA”) to PCAOB standards, to help achieve all necessary disclosures.

Transparency builds investor confidence, so it’s critical to clear the management discussion and analysis (“MD&A”), with insights on liquidity, research and development, and any recent business developments. A key component to a successful filing is achieving consistency in all financial reports.

Maintain transparency with comprehensive reporting in the forepart that discloses risk factors, financial summary data, pro formas, and competition. Disclose financial risks proactively—whether that be related to liquidity, tax, related parties—to build investor trust and mitigate legal exposure.

With the right preparation, your company can go public smoothly. Need expert support? Contact us today!