Philipsburg, Sint Maarten – Prudential Tax Services, a leading financial advisory firm in Philipsburg, proudly announces the exclusive introduction of the Financial Statements Integrity Audit (FSIA) to Sint Maarten. This new audit approach moves beyond traditional financial statement reviews and CPA-based audits by examining the integrity, governance, and truth behind the numbers.
Unlike conventional audits that focus solely on whether figures comply with accounting rules, the FSIA assesses whether those figures represent ethical conduct, lawful actions, and sound decision-making processes. The FSIA is not a replacement, it’s a leap forward. The Financial Statements Integrity Audit (FSIA) doesn’t aim to substitute or discredit traditional CPA or RA financial audits. Instead, it builds on them and goes far beyond their limits.
In other words, the FSIA doesn’t compete with financial audits, it complements and surpasses them by addressing what traditional audits often overlook: intent, behavior, and integrity. It’s a leap forward because it reflects modern accountability needs in areas like public trust, governance, and legal defense, where surface-level accuracy is not enough.
“Financial audits can tell you if the numbers add up. But the FSIA tells you whether they were built on integrity,” says Terence Jandroep, an internationally certified ISO 9001 Lead Auditor, ISO 28000 Auditor who serves as Prudential’s foreign audit partner. “It is about examining the story behind the statements, what was omitted, who decided what, and whether those decisions were fair, legal, and ethical.”
Why FSIA Is a Deeper, Smarter Choice
The FSIA is built on risk-based, forensic, and ISO-aligned methodologies. Rather than reviewing numbers alone, it investigates:
- Whether governance and procurement processes were respected
- If financial decisions aligned with internal policy and legal frameworks
- Whether key facts or relationships were omitted, concealed, or misrepresented
- Patterns of behavior that point to red flags or integrity gaps
“While financial audits often scratch the surface by checking that records are complete and compliant, the FSIA targets what truly matters, how decisions were made and whether the truth was preserved,” says Natasha Manuela from Prudential Tax Services.
An Economically Viable Solution with More Value
The FSIA delivers more insight without excessive cost. Its efficiency lies in its precision: it targets high-risk areas instead of broadly sampling financial records. That means less time reviewing routine data and more effort spent uncovering what truly needs to be known.
“This audit saves money by going straight to the source of risk,” Natasha Manuela explains. “It’s designed to support transparency in a meaningful and cost-conscious way, especially for public institutions, non-profits, and legal professionals working under tight budgets.”
While traditional CPA or RA financial audits in Sint Maarten can range significantly in cost, often from XCG 10,000 to over XCG 50,000 depending on the size and complexity of the organization, the Financial Statements Integrity Audit (FSIA) provides a deeper, risk-targeted alternative at a significantly lower (approx. 40%) and more predictable cost. Because the FSIA focuses directly on red flags, decision trails, and integrity concerns rather than broadly testing all figures, it avoids unnecessary procedures and inflated billable hours.
This makes it especially cost-effective for public institutions, nonprofits, and legal professionals who need clarity and credibility without excessive audit fees. Despite its lower cost, the FSIA delivers greater value by uncovering not just whether finances comply with rules, but whether they were built on truth.
Who Needs an FSIA?
The FSIA is especially valuable when:
- Public or donor-funded money must be accounted for beyond basic compliance
- Allegations of fraud, conflict of interest, or mismanagement arise
- Boards or legal teams require reliable third-party assessments for court or oversight
- Institutions want to protect reputations and restore stakeholder trust
Prudential’s leadership in launching the FSIA in Sint Maarten marks a shift in how accountability is viewed in the region. With growing public demand for transparency and growing complexity in financial operations, organizations can no longer rely solely on surface-level audit reports.
A New Era for Sint Maarten
“Institutions across Sint Maarten are ready for a higher standard. We are honored to bring the FSIA to the island as the exclusive provider, in partnership with the region’s most experienced integrity auditor,” says Prudential management. “Together, we are helping organizations prove not just that they followed rules, but that they acted with truth.”
