Switzerland

Expert advisory
for those who cannot
afford to get it wrong.

Senior-level regulatory, accounting, tax, and audit expertise — delivered with the precision of someone who has been on the other side of the inspection table.

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Our philosophy

The ginkgo tree has survived unchanged for 270 million years. Resilience is not about rigidity — it is about deeply rooted adaptation. We bring that same thinking to your regulatory and financial challenges.

What we do

Five
practice
areas

Each engagement is scoped around a specific outcome. You know exactly what you receive and what it costs — before we start.

01

Regulatory &
Compliance Advisory

Financial Services

Financial institutions in Switzerland operate under one of the world's most demanding supervisory frameworks. Whether you are facing a FINMA inspection, strengthening your AML/KYC controls, or addressing findings from a prudential audit, we provide hands-on, senior-level support grounded in direct experience with Swiss regulatory practice — including over a decade working within the Swiss audit oversight authority.

  • AML/KYC framework reviews — design and operating effectiveness of controls, benchmarked against FINMA Circular 2011/1 and AMLA requirements
  • FINMA audit preparation — structured readiness assessments, team coaching, and documentation review ahead of regulatory inspections
  • Prudential audit support — risk management, capital adequacy, liquidity, and internal controls aligned with supervisory expectations
  • Gap analyses and remediation plans — structured assessment against applicable FINMA circulars, with prioritised, actionable roadmaps
  • Ongoing compliance advisory — second-line support on a mandate basis: policy reviews, regulatory monitoring, compliance function reinforcement

For: Banks · Asset managers · VASPs · Fund administrators · Insurance companies

02

Accounting &
Financial Operations

SMEs & Startups

A well-built finance function is the foundation every growing company needs — and too often lacks. We set up the right structures, run the day-to-day with rigour, and prepare you for the next stage of growth, whether that means an audit, an investor, or a new market. We step in at the level your company actually needs, without the overhead of a full-time hire.

  • Accounting system setup — chart of accounts design, software selection and configuration, aligned with Swiss GAAP (OR) or IFRS readiness
  • Bookkeeping and financial reporting — rigorous, timely recording and monthly, quarterly, and annual management reports
  • Statutory financial statements — preparation in compliance with the Swiss Code of Obligations (Art. 957 et seq.), including all required notes and disclosures
  • Cash flow management and budgeting — rolling forecasts, budget preparation, variance analysis, and financial decision support
  • Interim CFO / Finance Manager — part-time or project-based senior finance leadership: strategy, banking, investor reporting, team coordination

For: Swiss SMEs · Industrial companies · Fintechs · Startups · Foreign companies entering Switzerland

03

Tax Advisory
& Compliance

Corporate & Private Clients

Swiss tax law is multi-layered — federal, cantonal, and communal — and the stakes of mismanaging it are real. We deliver pragmatic, technically sound tax advice that focuses on what matters: compliance, risk reduction, and legitimate optimisation where it genuinely exists. No unnecessary complexity. No false promises.

  • Corporate tax advisory — direct tax advice on structuring, dividend policy, intercompany transactions, and optimisation within Swiss law and OECD standards
  • VAT advisory and compliance — registration, periodic filings, input tax deduction reviews, and support during FTA audits
  • Tax return preparation — complete preparation and filing for companies and individuals, including complex situations (self-employment, securities, real estate, foreign assets)
  • Real estate taxation — acquisition structuring, ongoing taxation, property gain tax, and exit planning
  • Tax risk reviews and audit support — exposure identification, documentation, and representation during tax authority inquiries

For: SMEs · Entrepreneurs · Executives · Private clients · Real estate investors · Crypto holders

04

Internal Audit &
Risk Management

Governance & Assurance

Internal audit done well is not a compliance formality — it is one of the most powerful tools a board and management can have. We deliver risk-based internal audit services that produce actionable insights, not lengthy reports that gather dust. Fully independent. Senior-level judgment throughout.

  • Outsourced or co-sourced internal audit — full delivery or reinforcement of your internal audit function, calibrated to your size and regulatory obligations
  • Risk assessment and audit planning — structured identification of key risks, translated into a prioritised, risk-based annual audit plan
  • Audit execution — operational, financial, compliance, and IT audits conducted with rigour and focused on root causes, not just symptoms
  • Internal control system evaluation (ICS/SCI) — assessment of design and operating effectiveness, with gap identification and improvement recommendations
  • Reporting to management and audit committees — clear, decision-oriented reports with findings, risk ratings, and concrete next steps

For: Mid-size companies · FINMA-supervised entities · Holding structures · Companies preparing for external audit

05

Training &
Capacity Building

Finance, Audit & Compliance

Practical knowledge transfer, not generic workshops. Every training programme we deliver is built around real Swiss regulatory and accounting practice, calibrated to your team's level, your industry, and your specific challenges. We also integrate AI-powered tools and data analytics where they meaningfully improve efficiency — because better-equipped teams make better decisions.

  • AML/KYC and regulatory compliance training — tailored to AMLA, FINMA circulars, and FATF standards, with practical case studies and red flag identification
  • Finance fundamentals for non-finance professionals — financial statement literacy, key metrics, and budget reading for managers, founders, and board members
  • Advanced accounting training — closing process optimisation, complex transaction accounting, consolidation basics, and internal controls for finance teams
  • Internal audit methodology — risk-based planning, working paper standards, interview techniques, and report writing for junior auditors and new internal audit functions
  • Data analytics and automation in finance and audit — hands-on training in Excel, Power BI, and AI tools with direct applicability to professional practice

For: Banks · Asset managers · SMEs · Compliance officers · Junior auditors · Board members · Founders

How we work

Priced by output,
not by the hour.

Hourly billing creates the wrong incentives. It rewards time spent, not value created — and it leaves the client with no predictability. Every engagement at Phlow Advisory is scoped and priced around a specific deliverable. You know what you receive and what it costs before we begin. No surprises on the invoice.

1
Defined scope, fixed price

Each mandate begins with a clear scope: the deliverable, the timeline, and the price. Changes in scope are discussed transparently and agreed in advance.

2
Recurring needs, fixed retainer

For ongoing mandates — monthly reporting, compliance advisory, interim CFO — we agree a monthly retainer that reflects the scope of work, not the hours logged.

3
Aligned on value, not volume

Our pricing reflects the expertise and judgment we bring, not the time we spend. Senior input from day one — not delegated to junior staff after the pitch.

Example deliverables & scope

Regulatory & Compliance

AML/KYC framework review

Assessment report covering design and operating effectiveness, benchmarked against FINMA requirements — with gap identification and prioritised recommendations.

Regulatory & Compliance

FINMA audit readiness assessment

Structured review of your current position, vulnerability identification, team preparation sessions, and a defensible documentation package.

Accounting & Financial Operations

Annual statutory financial statements

Complete preparation of your annual accounts in compliance with Swiss GAAP (OR), including all notes, disclosures, and board submission.

Tax

Corporate tax return

Full preparation and filing of your corporate tax return, including cantonal and federal declarations — scoped by complexity level agreed upfront.

Training

Custom training programme (half-day)

A fully tailored session including preparation, materials, delivery, and a written summary — priced as a single fixed-fee deliverable.

Founder · Phlow Advisory

About

Two decades bridging audit, regulation, and finance.

Phlow Advisory was founded by a Swiss-qualified accountant with over twenty years of experience at the intersection of audit, regulation, and finance in Switzerland.

The first decade was spent at a leading international audit and consulting firm, working exclusively in financial services — delivering regulatory and financial audits for banks, asset managers, and financial institutions. This built a deep, practical understanding of how financial institutions operate, and what robust controls and governance actually look like.

The following decade was spent within the Swiss regulatory environment, gaining direct insight into supervisory expectations, inspection methodologies, and the standards applied to audit quality in the financial sector.

This combination — operational experience inside major financial institutions, and deep familiarity with the regulatory perspective — is what Phlow Advisory brings to every engagement. We know what good looks like, and we know what regulators are looking for.

The practice is deliberately boutique. Every mandate is handled personally, at senior level, with no delegation to junior staff. Clients work directly with the person who has the expertise.

10+

Years in a leading international audit & consulting firm, financial services

10+

Years of experience within the Swiss regulatory environment

100%

Senior-level delivery on every mandate

Get in touch

Let's talk about your situation.

Every mandate starts with a conversation. Tell us what you are dealing with — we will tell you candidly whether and how we can help.

Location Switzerland
Languages English · Français · Deutsch
Response Within one business day
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