Zaltbommel, 30 November 2011 - Further to the launch of its Audit Process Tool in September 2010, BDO, the world's fifth largest audit & accountancy network, has signed a Framework Agreement with ICT solutions provider Qurius from the Netherlands, who helped BDO to design and build the tool. The agreements reflect the entities' ability to continue working together on the BDO Audit Process Tool.
Under this Framework Agreement, three detailed agreements have been signed in relation to the software tool:
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A Service Level Agreement for Software Maintenance and Release Management
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An Additional Support Agreement for Infrastructure and 2nd Line Support
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An Agreement for On-call support
New releases for the BDO Audit Process Tool can also be planned and delivered under the above-mentioned framework agreement.
The contract relates to the BDO Audit Process Tool that has been designed and built jointly by BDO and Qurius for the audit of financial statements. The software tool is currently being rolled out to more than 20,000 partners and staff in the 135 countries where BDO has a presence and has been used by a large number of professionals already.
The BDO Audit Process Tool reduces complexity, improves efficiency and ensures a clear alignment with the IAASB's International Standards on Auditing. The technology is Microsoft-based and uses Groove, InfoPath and SharePoint, meaning that the solution is based on standard components so that new versions can be integrated seamlessly, enabling BDO partners and staff to collaborate efficiently. At the same time the tool is tailor-made to suit the specific, high quality needs of BDO and its clients' businesses. It is a flexible solution that gives BDO the ability to adapt to local regulations and changes in international auditing standards.
New technology for new ways of working
The platform fully fits with the new way of working where users can collaborate in teams of knowledge workers in any place, at any time, whether connected to their IT networks or not. The 'single customer views' give users a clear insight into the status of a client's audit process, thus reducing complexity and risk. Microsoft has been intensively cooperating with Qurius and this is the largest worldwide Groove project in operation at the moment. The APT allows the storage of audit data in a secure central place without any user intervention.
The enhanced technology of the BDO Audit Process tool means that BDO partners and staff can spend more time focusing on providing exceptional service to their clients and less on time-consuming administration and file management tasks.
BDO
Service provision within the international BDO network of independent member firms ('the BDO network') is coordinated by Brussels Worldwide Services BVBA, a limited liability company incorporated in Belgium with its statutory seat in Brussels.
Each of BDO International Limited (the governing entity of the BDO network), Brussels Worldwide Services BVBA and the member firms is a separate legal entity and has no liability for another such entity's acts or omissions. Nothing in the arrangements or rules of the BDO network shall constitute or imply an agency relationship or a partnership between BDO International Limited, Brussels Worldwide Services BVBA and/or the member firms of the BDO network.
BDO is the brand name for the BDO network and for each of the BDO member firms.
The combined fee income of all the BDO Member Firms, including the members of their exclusive alliances, was $5.67 billion in 2011. The global network provides advisory services in 135 countries, with almost 48,800 people working out of 1,118 offices worldwide.
Qurius N.V.
Qurius provides innovative IT solutions in design, architecture, infrastructure, implementation and system management of Microsoft-based business solutions. From a dozen offices and headquartered in Zaltbommel, Qurius serves clients throughout Europe - with The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany and the Czech Republic as its backbone. Qurius focuses on the midmarket and larger companies and organisations. Core in its vision are innovation, the New Way of Working and sustainability. The company aims at operating sustainably for the full hundred per cent by the end of 2014. Qurius has been listed on the Euronext Amsterdam since 1998.
Contact
Qurius NV, Albert Holtzappel, Manager Corporate Communication & Investor Relations, a.holtzappel@qurius.com; t +31 (0) 418 68 35 00, m +31 (0) 6 14 70 96 95.