Fiduciary Services for Swiss SMEs — Ongoing Rather Than Retrospective

Accounting, payroll, sales tax, financial statements: These must be accurate, and they must be on time. Both go without saying. The question is whether the numbers will be ready when you need them to make decisions.

In most fiduciary engagements, they are not.

Why Timing Matters

Many fiduciary mandates are structured on a back-office basis—set up that way and carried out accordingly. The supporting documents pile up; they are processed after the end of the year, and the financial statements are finalized in the spring or summer.

Anyone reviewing the 2025 financial statements in June 2026 will be making decisions based on figures whose oldest entries date back a year and a half.

That's enough for the tax return. But it's useless when it comes to determining whether we'll have enough cash flow to last until fall.

That's why we update the numbers here on an ongoing basis. Not because it sounds more modern, but because a figure that's three weeks old can support a decision—while one that's eighteen months old cannot.

What the Mandate Covers

Financial Accounting

Managed on an ongoing basis, reconciled monthly. Bank statements are received digitally, and posting is largely automated.

Payroll Accounting

Wages, social security, withholding tax, annual reports. Deadlines are monitored—not left to chance.

Value-Added Tax

Billing based on agreed-upon or collected fees, the balance tax rate, or the effective rate—whichever is more favorable for your business.

Annual Financial Statements

In accordance with the Swiss Code of Obligations (OR), with a clear breakdown. Tax return for the company and, upon request, for the owners.

Audits and Inspections

Preparation for a full or limited audit—as well as for audits that are less frequently announced: the AHV Compensation Fund, VAT audits by the FTA, and accident insurance audits. Assisting auditors on-site and promptly finalizing findings.

Reporting

Monthly or quarterly figures in a format that can be presented to a board of directors—not just a list of balances. More on this

The platform is tailored to your business

There is no single "right" accounting software. There are options that fit your processes—your bank, your point-of-sale system, and your payroll structure. TF Financial Services works with several platforms—including Bexio, Odoo, Zoho, Microsoft Dynamics, and Run my Accounts for accounting, as well as Infoniqa for payroll.

If you're already using a solution you're happy with, stick with it. Changing it isn't an end in itself.

If you want to switch

A system migration takes place on a specific date, typically the start of a fiscal year or quarter. The opening balance sheet, chart of accounts, outstanding accounts receivable and accounts payable, bank connection, and payroll master data are transferred.

You decide how much historical data to include. The opening balances from the previous year are typically entered so that reporting has a comparable figure starting from the first month. Anything beyond that is a matter of utility, not obligation: The archive remains part of the existing system; the ten-year retention requirement under the Swiss Code of Obligations is met as long as the documents can be made readable at any time.

What holds back change is rarely the technology itself. It's the notion that everything must necessarily come along with it.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a fiduciary mandate cost?

That depends on the volume of documents, the payroll structure, and how much preparatory work is handled in-house. After reviewing the past twelve months, we can provide a reliable estimate—before that, any figure would be just a guess.

How do you receive the receipts?

Digital. Bank transactions are received via an interface; invoices are submitted via upload or email. A paper-based system is an option, but it costs more—and delays the processing of figures.

Do you only handle payroll accounting?

Yes. Payroll is the area where mistakes quickly become costly and can be outsourced most easily on an individual basis.

What is the difference between this and CFO as a Service?

Treuhand records and closes the books; the focus is on the past. CFO as a Service uses these figures to steer the company forward: planning, pricing, financing, decision-making. Together, they form a complete chain, but you can also opt for just one of them.

Do you work with my current auditing firm?

Yes. Changing the auditing firm is not a requirement, and in many cases, continuity is actually an advantage.

How old are your numbers right now?

If you can't answer this question within a few weeks, it's worth having a conversation. It's free and there's no obligation.

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