Ranked by Mutual Fund Wire as one of the top CPA firms in the country serving multiple mutual fund complexes, we understand the pressures and volatility that come with operating in this arena. Our staff is 100% dedicated to the financial services industry, and we have the strongest tax knowledge of mid-sized mutual fund audit firms in the country. Our focused audit approach, coupled with timely and proactive communication, lead to an ongoing collaborative experience for our clients. We continually educate ourselves via industry forums and organizational involvement so we can provide our clients with the latest technical information on regulatory changes impacting them.

We also are sensitive to the fact that relationships make a big difference. We maintain strong ties with all members of a fund organization, including its service providers, management and Board. We also stay connected with a multitude of industry service providers, attorneys and key contacts throughout the country to help make your fund a success.

Client Profiles
Cohen Fund Audit Services serves as primary auditor for 75+ registered mutual fund families comprising more than 245 funds nationwide. Our clients range from newly-seeded funds with $100,000 in net assets to those in excess of $5 billion. But our focus is on fund families in the small to mid-size range, enhancing our expertise in the technical and operational issues that often affect these types of clients.

Our representative client types include:

• Provider-sponsored series trusts
• Multi-fund families
• Multi-class funds
• Newly established funds
• Complex investment structures:
  • Master Limited Partnership (MLP) funds
  • Controlled foreign corporation (CFC) funds
  • Fund-of-funds
  • Money-market funds
  • International and emerging markets funds
  • Large, mid, small and micro-cap equity funds
  • Long-short funds
  • Fixed income funds:
    • Muni, corporate, high-yield and illiquid bonds
  • Complex investments:
    • Derivatives, including futures, options, commodity-linked securities and swaps
    • Pass-through investments such as partnerships, QPTPs and REITs

Mutual Fund Services

• Comprehensive audit services
• Tax return preparation or review for federal, state and excise tax requirements
• Diversification and IRS compliance consulting
• Tax consultation on fund structuring, including start-ups and mergers/reorganizations
• Seed audit services for newly-established funds
• Review of annual excise dividend calculations
• Review of semi-annual and N-Q filings
• Review of post-effective amendments to registration statements
• Rule 17f-1 and 17f-2 reviews
• Rule 17Ad-13 transfer agency examinations
• Agreed-upon procedures and other attest services

Collective Investment Trust Audits
CITs are pooled investment vehicles similar to mutual funds. Certain types of CITs provide advantages such as exemptions from SEC registration and reporting. However, other complicated reporting requirements may exist. Many CITs are funded by employee benefit plans, rendering CITs subject to the regulatory requirements of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). Our firm’s industry-focused, team-based audit approach and experience—specifically with ERISA rules and compliance—provides clients with a skilled team in this niche area.