Auditing division

Your essential compass

This division comprises two different activities: auditing in the strict sense and accounting services.

As member of the Swiss Institute of Certified Accountants and Tax Consultants, OFISA complies with the strict requirements of the Swiss "federal ordinance on the professional qualifications of specially qualified auditors" .

OFISA offers the following main services:

Auditing :
of annual financial statements
of annual financial statements in the capacity of specially qualified auditors
of consolidated financial statements
of accounts on the occasion of a capital increase
of accounts on the occasion of a capital reduction
of pension fund accounts
of annual accounts for entities not subject to legal audits (associations, foundations, individuals)
of accounts for non-business institutions both private and public
of accounts for local authorities and other public bodies
of securities dealers status within the meaning of the Stock Exchange Law
of the status and duties of financial intermediaries within the meaning of the Federal Act on the Prevention of Money laundering

Expert opinions for judicial or out-of-court proceedings

Assistance for international audits

Business valuations and profitability assessments

Management consulting in the accounting and financial areas.

The new Swiss company law places an ever greater burden of responsibility on the auditor, enlarging the traditional formal task of auditing. He is the one outside specialist who has the most intimate knowledge of a company's financial situation.
The auditor's principal function remains that of protecting creditors and shareholders, but he is increasingly called upon to act as a management consultant.
He can relieve the head of a small-to-medium sized company of the burden of supervising company accounts, placing at the company's disposal a range of modern instruments of control to ensure that accounting and tax procedures are used to the maximum advantage. Thanks to its personalized approach, independence, and thorough knowledge of the field, OFISA is in an excellent position to provide such services.

Accouting services

Being at the helm

The specialist accountants of OFISA are at the service of clients for specific advice, or indeed are ready tc take charge of all matters involving management accounting operations.

OFISA services include :

Introduction or reorganization of accounting systems

Creation of accounting plans

Implementation of accouting principles

Keeping of accounts, either on an annual basis, or on a continuous basis with interim reporting:
financial accounts (balance, sheet, profit and loss account, cash flow)
ancillary accounts (debtors, creditors)
portfolio accounts
accounting analysis (profitability, profit centers, costing)

Preparation of year-end financial statements

Consolidation

Expert accounting support in special cases such as receiverships, liquidations, mergers or the restructuring and reorganization of a company

Assistance with budgets and tinancial planning

Salary accounts and administration :
for all or part of the staff of small-to-medium enterprises
for the managers or for specific departments of medium- to-large firms
monthly payment of salaries, seeing to the necessary paper- work including instructions for transfer of funds, salary accounts, individual statements
drawing up of quarterly or annual statements with social insurance, salary certificates, statements of earnings, etc.

Seconding of professional accountancy staff, as required by the circumstances: chief accountants, accountants, bookkeepers, etc.

OFISA's experts begin by bringing together and assimilating all data relevant to the client, looking for
the strengths and the weaknesses. The next step is, together with the client, to make an assessment of the situation prior to deciding on the best course to follow.

Tax division

Your safe haven

Competent to deal with all tax questions, whether local or international in scope, OFISA's tax division offers the following services:

Company consultants

analysis of the company structure from the taxation viewpoint
advice on how to optimize fiscal management when forming a corporation, a holding company, or when restructuring a group of companies
advice on the tax aspects of financial statements, and on the policies to adopt regarding depreciation and dividends
preparation of tax returns
advice and assistance for VAT
advice on international taxation in relation to double taxation agreements

Personal consultants
preparation of individual income tax returns, together with all relevant tax documents
checking tax assessments, negotiating with the tax authorities (objections, appeals).

Social security and pension fund consultants
analysis, review, advice concerning contributions for social security, accident insurance, etc.
advice on pension funds and retirement plans.

OFISA's tax consultants work closely with the other company divisions, to make sure that the best possible solution is found for the customer- for example in such areas as inheritance law. The tax division is supported by software (OFIFISC) developed specifically for its needs by OFISA Informatique.

OFISA's tax consultants are familiar with the fiscal systems of Switzerland and especially its French-speaking cantons, as well as with international tax laws and practices. They maintain excellent relations with the Swiss tax authorities at all levels -federal, cantonal and local. Their job is to make sure clients do not overlook any of the arrangements which make it possible to achieve the best tax position while complying fully with legal requirements.

Legal division

The mastery of the elements

When it comes to matters of law, OFISA's legal consultants have the right answers, particularly in the following areas of special interest to businessmen :

Company law (corporations, cooperatives, limited liability companies, general partnerships, limited partnerships, ordinary partnerships): constitution of companies, mergers, splits, transformations, acquisitions, increases or reductions in capital, reorganizations, wind-ups, liquidations, drawing up of statutes and of agreements between shareholders
Law on associations and foundations
Contract law: advice, assistance, participation in negotiations, drafting, research for contracts of all kinds, particularly commercial contracts in relation to business law
Employment legislation
Intellectual property law: patents, trademarks, copyright unfair competition
Legal suits and bankruptcies: receivership, legal proceedings
Swiss and international tax law
Matrimonial law: advice and assistance in the matter of marriage contracts
Family law
Inheritance law: assistance with drawing up wills, with succession planning, executor for wills, administration and liquidation of inheritances
International law in the private domain
Arbitration and legal expertise in the context of legal proceedings or for out-of-court settlements
Public administration: applications for residence permits, work permits, property acquisition regulations, naturalization procedures, etc.
Building law.

In their role as legal consultants, OFISA's lawyers make a full analysis of a client's situation to assess any problems that might arise. They alert the customer to the legal consequences of any decisions. OFISA's legal consultants are ready to analyse any contract before the client signs it, and when necessary to assist in negotiations. They can help draft and finalize agreements of all kinds. OFISA's prime concern is to avoid any need for litigation. Should a dispute arise however, and should attempts to reach an out-of-court arrangement with an adversary prove unsuccessful, OFISA's attorneys are duly licensed to practise law and have full knowledge of bar practice, even if they no longer conduct court proceedings or make pleadings. This familiarity with the law courts enables them to know exactly which qualified specialist to call upon to plead the merits of a particular case, should the matter go that far. For all kind of conflicts settled out of court, OFISA offers expert opinion and arbitration services.

Fiduciary management

All hands on deck

Fiduciary management is essentially a matter of trust and confidentiality. It covers a wide field stretching from straightforward services like representing a client at a shareholders meeting to more personalized services, of a kind which often requires the administrator to advise his client in the manner of a trusted friend, always available when needed.

This division offers the following key services :
Management and administration of Swiss and foreign companies
Domicile for companies
Trustee services
Management and administration of Swiss and foreign foundations
Consultancy for banking and for financial administration
Management and administration of private fortunes
Carrying out the duties of a secretariate and administration of fund transfers.

The services rendered within the context of fiduciary management are so diverse as almost to defy description. On the basis of a personalized relationship, the fiduciary manager places the full extent of his know-how as an all-rounder at the client's disposai. When necessary, he will call in the additional expertise and services of other OFISA divisions. The client thus has the convenience of personalized service, plus the in-depth support of a team of specialists whenever needed.

OFISA is also able to liaise between clients and their banks in ways that allow active portfolio management, or indeed with any outside specialist appropriate to the client's needs in a given set of circumstances.

The experience and loyalty of OFISA's staff, the group's financial independence, and the total availability which the fiduciary manager offers his client - these are the factors which distinguish OFISA's services, and establish the trust on which to build a successful relationship.