I have prepared an Excel spreadsheet containing nearly 500 Public
Companies,
for which I need a financial oriented researcher, who can tell me the
outside Auditing Firm on each Company. For Example:Enron had Arthur
Andersen.The Edgar Files at SEC.GOV provide enough data,but I think it
will be slow going,unless the researcher is aware of other resources.I
don't know how to price this question, but I am fair. No sense cutting
and pasting the Excel spreadsheet into
this template, as I would rather wait until one of the research staff
agrees to
the work and a price. Thank you. Gregory Warren
<gwarren@optonline.net>
know how to price this

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Request for Question Clarification by omnivorous-ga on 16 Feb 2003 06:35 PST

Gregory --

I checked online at Standard & Poors; Fortune; and Hoover's don't
track auditors, at least not in publicly-available databases.

Note too that most companies won't have released 2002 annual reports
yet, so a compiled list COULD be slightly out-of-date, though we know
that companies are normally loath to replace auditors.

The fastest way is probably to use printed Standard & Poor's reports
at the library; then check any companies not covered by S&P reports
via SEC Edgar.  In any case, it's probably about 1 minute per company
or roughly 8.33 hours -- meaning that you'd probably want to price the
question around $200.

It would be best if you could upload the question to a server. If not,
I have your e-mail and you could e-mail it to me.

Best regards,

Omnivorous-GA

Hello: 

There are three possibilities for getting the type of data you need.

1. Manually (requires a lot of work) as you have already stated in
your question.)
It can be done by Edger database online. BUT I assume that you already
know about this. SO let’s succumb to other resources.

2. Published Resource.
There is a publication by Data Financial Press known as "Who Audits
America?". It lists the name of the auditors for thousands of publicly
traded companies. The book is widely available and it can be ordered
online at http://www.amazon.com or get it directly from the publisher
by calling (650)-321-4553. Although the 2002 version costs you $154
but if you are satisfied with a little older version that is available
at much cheaper prices of $29 and $95 a List is provided for cheap
sources below this Para). ANOTHER AND MOST CONVENIENT WAY is to get
this publication from a major library. It is available in any major
public and University library. It will not cost you either. To me this
is the best alternative.
FROM AMAZON.COM (1999 edition) for $29
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/offering/list/-/9998067103/all/ref=sr_pb_a/104-9790836-6020717
FROM Addall.com (2000 edition) for $95
http://www.addall.com/New/compare.cgi?dispCurr=USD&id=35444&isbn=1125740833&location=10000&thetime=20030217092909&author=&title=&state=AK

Still if you don’t find it from the above links just type "who audits
America" in the search box of these websites.

3. Online data in excel format.
Strafforshire publications provide individuals and company an online
database of auditors for thousands of companies. ACTUALLY, the
AuditTRACK is a database which tells its user the change in auditors
of the companies (who is the outgoing auditor and who is incoming and
why) BUT you can easily use the database for your advantage by sorting
the companies by size and industry and get the latest list of auditors
and much more on audit. For example you can sort the database in excel
format by the largest companies and it will provide you with a list of
current auditor and when did it start working with the company. THIS
PRODUCT requires license for one time use or for multiple usages and
you will have to call the provider for a pricing. Information on this
product is as follows:

Strafford Pub.
http://www.straffordpub.com
AuditTrack
http://www.straffordpub.com/products/atr/index.html
FAQ on Audit Track (very useful)
http://www.straffordpub.com/products/atr/faq.pdf

Other Useful Links:

TOP 100 AUDITING FIRMS AND MORE
http://www.straffordpub.com/accounting/index.html

VARIOUS SOURCES
http://www.creditworthy.com/providers/fs.asp?ID=22

Search Strategy:

List of auditors AND "public companies"
Auditors for public companies

I hope that the answer will help you. Please clarify if you need
further information or are not satisfied with my response. Thank You.

Sincerely,
leader-ga.

Like omnivorous-ga said, looking for these records one-by-one in a
database will probably be very slow going.  Dun and Bradstreet (
www.dnb.com ) does track auditors for some companies, and you may have
some luck with them.

You may also want to check with a mailing list services company (
http://directory.google.com/Top/Business/Marketing_and_Advertising/Direct_Marketing/Mailing_Lists/
) that might be able to automate the process for you.  Good luck.

Scott
scottso-ga