Forrester Boyd & Circit: Streamlining Audit Delivery Through Transparency and Efficiency

End-to-End Visibility Across the Audit Process

Before implementing Circit, Forrester Boyd managed client information requests through a combination of email, spreadsheets, and direct communication with clients. While the process worked fairly well, coordinating responses and monitoring outstanding items across multiple channels could be time-consuming, particularly on larger audits.

For Amy Ennis, Audit Associate at Forrester Boyd, one of the biggest challenges was ensuring requests had been answered fully and consistently:

“Sometimes a client would say they’d answered everything, but there might still be information missing or further clarification needed. It could lead to additional follow-up and checking across different email threads.”

Circit has streamlined this process by bringing all PBC requests into one structured platform where information can be logged, tracked, and reviewed in real time. Both the audit team and the client have clear visibility over what has been provided, what remains outstanding, and what is currently under review. For Amy, this has been particularly valuable from a reviewer’s perspective:

“I can log in and quickly see what we’ve asked for, what we’ve received, and what we’re still waiting on. It makes it much easier to oversee audit progress and keep track of where things are, without needing to search through multiple emails or conversations.”

The same visibility has improved the firm’s bank audit confirmation process. Rather than relying solely on traditional correspondence, Circit provides a secure digital audit trail, making it easier to monitor outstanding confirmations and follow up efficiently with evidence providers.

Mutual Accountability That Works Both Ways

One of the most valued aspects of Circit at Forrester Boyd is that the platform creates accountability for both parties: auditors and clients alike. The platform's visibility into how long queries have been open, and on which side, enables honest conversations about audit progress without ambiguity.

This mutual accountability has practical consequences for the pace of audit delivery. With PBC items visible to all parties, Forrester Boyd can now clearly communicate when the audit is being held up and why. Rather than chasing clients informally, the team can point to specific outstanding items and set clear expectations.

This clarity is particularly valuable for time-sensitive engagement. Several Forrester Boyd clients now upload documents to Circit before the audit fieldwork even begins, allowing junior staff to start reviewing material in advance and reducing the overall time on site.

Consistent Client Satisfaction

For a firm that places significant value on its client relationships, the response from clients to Circit has been a welcome validation: Forrester Boyd has received consistently positive feedback from clients who use the platform.

"Clients who've been using Circit seem to really like it. They've told me that on multiple occasions, which is good to hear."

Clients appreciate the ability to see their outstanding items as a clear checklist, upload documents in bulk, and track what the audit team has reviewed. Some clients have become so accustomed to the platform that they actively request items be added to Circit during on-site visits rather than discussed verbally, a behaviour that speaks to the tool's role as a practical working layer in the audit relationship.

For clients new to the platform, the onboarding experience has also been smooth. Forrester Boyd's team created a simple help sheet to guide less technology-confident clients through the registration and upload process and in most cases, clients were navigating the system independently by the following year's audit.

From Fragmented Emails to a Structured Audit Platform

Forrester Boyd’s journey with Circit began with bank audit confirmations, as the firm looked to further modernise and streamline this area of the audit process. With an increasing number of banks moving towards digital confirmation platforms, Neal Watford, Audit Partner, led a review of the available solutions to ensure the firm remained aligned with changing industry expectations and client needs.

Following an evaluation of the market, Circit was selected as the preferred platform due to its functionality, ease of use, and alignment with the firm’s approach to delivering an efficient and secure audit experience.

The adoption of the PBC module followed, championed through conversations between the Circit customer success team and Neal. What began as a tool for larger engagements has steadily rolled out across the firm's client portfolio. Today, the vast majority of Forrester Boyd's audit jobs run through Circit, spanning bank confirmations, PBC requests, and ongoing audit correspondence.

Implementation went more smoothly than anticipated. Neal noted that the Circit team were particularly helpful during onboarding, and the platform was intuitive enough that most staff adopted it quickly.

Growing With Confidence

Forrester Boyd has expanded in recent years, including a recently opened Leeds office and centralising its audit team across the firm. Monthly staffing reviews now enable collaboration across offices, with resource deployed where it is needed most. Circit has been a practical enabler of this model: with audit information accessible to any team member regardless of location, cross-office collaboration is more fluid.

The ability to demonstrate a credible digital audit platform has also supported Forrester Boyd in competitive tender situations. As Neal notes, firms that cannot show a clear, technology-enabled client experience risk being less competitive when pitching for new work. Circit has helped Forrester Boyd make that case with confidence.

Ausblick

Amy anticipates that Forrester Boyd's use of Circit will continue to evolve in line with the firm's growth. As clients increasingly adopt cloud-based accounting software, more audit work is being conducted remotely. Platforms like Circit provide the infrastructure to make remote delivery effective without sacrificing the quality of the audit relationship.

The firm's commitment to personal client service and maintaining in-person interactions with their clients remains unchanged. Circit fits into that model by reducing friction, sharpening communication, and giving both auditors and clients a clearer view of where things stand, freeing up time and attention for the conversations that matter most.