Who audits Google?

Sometimes I wonder to myself who audits this company or that one. I thought I was the only one, but apparently I’m not.

I track search terms used to arrive at this site using 103bees.com. It’s a good complement to Google Analytics. One of the latest questions someone asked, and came to my site seeking the answer, was “which accounting firm audits google?”

Well, intrepid reader, wherever you are, the answer is Ernst & Young.

Google went public in 2004, and their annual reports since then are available on their Investor Relations website.

In auditing, the audit report date is the date on which fieldwork is substantially complete. I think it’s interesting to note from Google’s 2004 Annual Report, the audit report is dated January 28, 2005 for a December 31, 2004 year end. That’s a really tight deadline, and I would imagine some late nights were involved.

I’m heading into a job on Monday that is very tight deadline-wise as well, and there will be some late nights there and lots of accompanying Thai takeout eaten. The job lasts for three weeks and is essentially an early taste of busy season. Blogging may be affected.

Anyway, the 2005 audit report is dated March 10, 2006, a much more manageable schedule. The 2006 report is dated February 27, 2007. Interesting that it has shifted around so much over these three years.