Nexia S&A, an international force at the service of French companies
News : international
Faced with increasingly complex international operations and growing compliance challenges, French companies with subsidiaries abroad are seeking local expert support, whether for auditing, accounting or consulting services. Jean-Baptiste Hervet, statutory auditor and chartered accountant, partner at Nexia S&A and member of the Nexia global board, gives us a behind-the-scenes look at three iconic assignments that illustrate the strength of a network spanning more than 120 countries.
An integrated network, a guarantee of efficiency
Globalization has profoundly transformed the economic landscape, multiplying the challenges for French companies operating internationally. Audit, tax advice, transaction support, data management, ESG… the need for expertise has diversified, requiring a multidisciplinary and coordinated approach.
« At Nexia, we are able to support our mid-sized companies, structured SMEs, and large groups operating abroad with all of their financial issues, explains Jean-Baptiste Hervet. Our strength lies in our ability to put together unique international teams that do more than just connect people. Our resolutely operational approach and our ability to adapt enable us to adopt a tailor-made approach. When we call on partners in India or the United States, for example, we turn to trusted peers whom we know personally, with whom we have already worked and who share our methods and philosophy. »
This closeness is no accident. The Nexia S&A network regularly organizes international working sessions, conferences, and training courses, enabling teams to develop common approaches and a genuine shared culture. « We meet several times a year to discuss specific topics such as ESG, international taxation, issues related to our clients’ mergers and acquisitions and audit methodology. This close collaboration enables us to offer our clients consistent quality of service, regardless of their location », continues Jean-Baptiste Hervet.
Fraud investigation in India : when responsiveness is key
The effectiveness of this model was particularly evident during a fraud investigation in India. Alerted by the regional director for Asia to suspected fraud involving the financial director of its Indian subsidiary, the client company urgently sought the assistance of Nexia S&A.
« In less than a week, we were able to deploy a joint French-Indian team on site, says Jean-Baptiste Hervet. This exceptional responsiveness is based on our expertise in specialized data analysis tools shared across our network, combined with our ability to quickly mobilize experienced teams locally. »
The intervention, carried out surgically, combines technical expertise from France with on-the-ground presence at the client’s premises. « Adapting the composition of our teams to the situation is crucial. For this assignment, we opted for a small but highly qualified team, perfectly sized to analyze suspicious transactions in detail while conducting the necessary interviews on site ». The result : in just over two weeks, the situation was clarified, the fraud was proven, and concrete measures were taken.
United States : restoring control over financial reporting
Another emblematic intervention took place at the US subsidiary of a French company. The parent company had lost visibility on the quality of the accounts reported by its subsidiary as the closing date approached. Faced with this critical situation, the independent audit and consulting firm deployed a two-step methodology.
« The first step is a rapid diagnosis of the issues at stake, carried out by a highly experienced team. This assessment enables us to identify precisely where the problems lie and propose a concrete action plan, explains Jean-Baptiste Hervet. Our operational approach allows us to adjust the size and composition of our teams according to requirements. » This is followed by a structured intervention in several phases, mobilizing a larger Franco-American team. »
« Our goal is not simply to resolve the crisis, but to pass on the necessary skills to local teams to prevent any recurrence, he emphasizes. We first managed the urgency of the closure with a reinforced team, then set up six months of support to thoroughly restructure processes and train teams. »
International auditing : a foundation of expertise
The third assignment illustrates the network’s ability to manage complex audit assignments for international groups. For a French listed group with around ten subsidiaries abroad, Nexia S&A mobilizes its teams right from the tender stage.
« Our strength lies in our ability to immediately identify local auditors who not only have the required technical skills, but also in-depth knowledge of the client’s industry, says Jean-Baptiste Hervet. We share a common language – the common body of international auditing standards – and the same tools, which ensures consistency of approach despite the distances involved. »
This close coordination allows us to go beyond simple certification. « We are able to alert French management to local regulatory issues and provide them with a clear picture of the quality of processes in their subsidiaries. This enables groups to effectively manage their international operations, despite geographical distance. »
Through these three examples, Nexia S&A demonstrates its ability to quickly mobilize international multidisciplinary teams, adapt with agility to the specific needs of each assignment, while maintaining a consistent level of expertise and service. This is a major asset for French companies facing the challenges of internationalization.