Can a quarterly attestation be e-signed?

Yes. Electronic signatures are legally valid in the United States under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA when applicable. Ensure intent, signer consent, attribution, and reliable record retention are documented to meet legal tests.

Who may sign the attestation?

An authorized officer, controller, or delegated finance manager should sign. Confirm authority in internal policies or governance documents and record title and authority in the attestation itself.

Is notarization required?

Not typically required for internal attestations. If a regulator, contract, or state law demands notarization, follow state-specific rules; RON may be permitted where recognized by state law.

What supporting documents should be attached?

Attach reconciliations, bank confirmations, trial balances, and variance explanations. Provide consistent filenames and cross-references so auditors can match figures to the attestation.

How long must I keep the attestation?

Follow federal and industry rules: at least 3 years for tax-related records (IRC §6501(a)), 6 years for HIPAA-covered documents (45 CFR §164.530(j)), and longer when contracts or litigation require it.

How do I correct a signed attestation?

If an error is material, prepare an amended attestation signed by the same authorized person and circulate an explanation. Retain both the original and amended version with audit trail metadata.

Electronic Signature
Templates
Finance
Financial Quarterly Attestation

Financial Quarterly Attestation

This template is fully customizable. Edit the text, fill out the fields, and send it for signature. Give it a try!

FINANCIAL QUARTERLY ATTESTATION

This Financial Quarterly Attestation is provided by the undersigned authorized officer of the organization identified below for the fiscal quarter ending . The undersigned certifies that, to the best of their knowledge and belief, the information and attachments submitted with this attestation are accurate and complete.

Company Identification

Company Legal Name Company Address

Tax Identifier

Primary Contact

Contact Email

Reporting Period and Key Figures

Reporting Quarter: Fiscal Year: Quarter End Date:

Key Financial Metrics (rounded to nearest dollar)

Attachments Checklist

Please indicate which statements and schedules are attached to this attestation:

Balance Sheet
Income Statement
Cash Flow Statement
Notes to Financial Statements
Account Reconciliations
Board/Committee Minutes (if applicable)
Other attachments (describe below):

Affirmations and Certifications

The undersigned, having reviewed the records and supporting documentation for the reporting period, affirms and certifies the following statements. Check each box to indicate affirmation. If any box is not checked, provide an explanation in the Exceptions box below.

The attached financial statements fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position and operating results of the organization for the reporting period in accordance with the applicable financial reporting framework. No unrecorded liabilities or material obligations exist that should have been recorded at the reporting date. There is no knowledge of fraud or suspected fraud involving management, employees, or others that could materially affect the financial statements. To the best of my knowledge, internal controls over financial reporting are operating effectively such that the financial information is reliable for presentation. All subsequent events that require adjustment or disclosure have been identified and disclosed in the attachments. The organization is in compliance with material debt covenants and other material contractual obligations, or a description of breach and remediation is provided. All material related-party transactions and balances have been disclosed in accordance with applicable accounting requirements. There are no undisclosed material violations of laws or regulations that are reasonably likely to have a material effect on the financial statements.

Exceptions / Explanations (if any affirmation above is not checked)

Material Changes and Subsequent Events

Describe any material changes in operations, significant transactions, litigation, contingent liabilities, or other events occurring after the reporting date that could materially affect the reported results or financial position.

Representations Regarding Estimates and Records

The undersigned represents that all accounting estimates, accruals, and judgments used in preparation of the attached financial statements are reasonable, have been applied consistently, and that the underlying books and records supporting these statements are available for review by authorized representatives upon request.

Records Location / Contact for Document Requests

Legal Acknowledgement

By signing below, the undersigned declares under penalty of law that the statements made in this attestation are true, accurate and complete to the best of their knowledge and belief. The undersigned acknowledges that intentional misstatements or omissions may subject the organization and the undersigned to civil or criminal liability under applicable law. The organization agrees to preserve and, upon request, provide supporting documentation for a period required by applicable regulations and internal policy.

Officer Contact Phone Officer Contact Email

Attestation Signature

Printed Name:

Title:

Signature:

Date:

What a Financial Quarterly Attestation Is and When It’s Used

A Financial Quarterly Attestation is a signed statement by an authorized representative certifying that an entity’s quarterly financial statements, disclosures, and internal control assertions are accurate to the preparer’s knowledge. Organizations use it to document internal review, satisfy board or lender requirements, and support regulatory reporting. The attestation typically accompanies financial schedules, reconciliations, and explanatory notes and may be retained as part of the company’s official financial record for auditors, compliance teams, or regulators.

Why maintaining a clear quarterly attestation matters

Consistent attestations create an auditable record of management review, reduce regulatory risk, and support timely external reporting. They help demonstrate governance over financial close processes and provide evidence for auditors, lenders, and internal stakeholders.

Who typically completes and relies on a quarterly attestation

The document is often circulated among preparers, approvers, and retention teams to ensure a documented, searchable audit trail for each reporting period.

Controllers and CFOs preparing certified quarterly financial statements and internal control confirmations.
Internal audit and compliance teams reviewing attestations as part of governance and audit evidence.
External auditors and lenders using attestations to verify management representations during reviews.

Step-by-step: complete and certify a quarterly attestation

Follow these steps to collect data, certify accuracy, and preserve an auditable record for the quarter.

01

Prepare Data: Compile trial balance, reconciliations, and supporting schedules.
02

Draft Attestation: Populate fields and attach explanatory notes and schedules.
03

Review & Approve: Obtain approvals from controller or CFO and internal audit as required.
04

Submit & Archive: Sign, distribute to stakeholders, and store per retention policy.

How the attestation moves from preparer to archive

A clear routing path reduces delay and creates a complete audit trail. Typical flows are shown below.

Upload Document: Preparer uploads attestation and attachments to the document management system.
Assign Signers: Add controllers, CFOs, or approvers and define signing order if required.
Authenticate Signers: Use email, SMS code, or stronger methods for high-risk attestations.
Complete & Archive: Signed document and audit trail are stored in the retention repository.

Recommended digital workflow settings for consistent processing

Standardize settings to ensure uniform handling, reduce signer friction, and capture a consistent audit trail.

Field	Configuration
Signing Order	Sequential by role to enforce approvals
Authentication Level	Email + SMS code for moderate assurance
Attachments Required	Force upload of reconciliations before signing
Retention Tag	Auto-assign fiscal year and document type metadata

Core elements every professional attestation should include

Include the following sections to make the attestation clear, auditable, and defensible during internal or external review.

Certification Statement

A clear declaration that financial statements are accurate and complete, signed under the signer’s authority and subject to disciplinary consequences for misstatement.

Financial Schedules

Attach quarter-end balance sheet, income statement, cash flow, and reconciliations that support reported figures and account for material changes.

Supporting Attachments

Include schedules, bank confirmations, and material variance explanations; reference each attachment in the exceptions section for traceability.

Preparer Declaration

Identify preparer, their role, and contact information so auditors can follow up on methodology and assumptions.

Internal Controls Checkbox

A standardized set of control assertions (e.g., completeness, cutoff) that preparer checks and documents remediation if controls failed.

Audit Trail Section

Record timestamps, signer IPs, and version history to support non-repudiation and regulatory review.

Security and compliance features to protect attestations

Encryption: TLS 1.2/1.3; AES-256 at rest

Audit Trail: Detailed timestamps and signer attribution

Access Controls: Role-based permissions and SSO options

HIPAA/BAA: BAA required for protected health information

21 CFR Compliance: Support for record integrity where needed

Data Residency: Configurable controls for jurisdictional storage

Key penalties and compliance risks to avoid

False Certification: Civil or criminal exposure for intentional misstatement

Regulatory Fines: Agency sanctions or fines under applicable statutes

Tax Filing Penalties: IRC §6721 penalties may apply for incorrect information returns

Audit Findings: Increased scope and remediation costs from auditors

Contract Breach: Lender covenant violations and remedy triggers

Operational Delay: Late attestations can delay financial close

Common preparation errors and how they cause delays

Mismatched names or titles between schedules and signer block that slow auditor verification and require rework.
Missing reconciliations or supporting schedules that force auditors to request additional documentation and extend review timelines.
Unsigned or improperly dated attestations that result in non-compliance with board, lender, or regulatory requirements and require re-signing.
Ambiguous exception notes or absent remediation plans that generate internal control findings and remediation tracking work.

Comparison: signNow and common eSignature vendors for attestations

Price and feature options matter when selecting an eSignature provider for recurring quarterly attestations. The table summarizes common dimensions across vendors.

	signNow	DocuSign	Adobe Sign	PandaDoc	HelloSign
Starting Price	$8/user/mo	$15/user/mo	$14/user/mo	$19/user/mo	$15/user/mo
Free Trial	7-day free trial	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor
Bulk Send	Yes (Premium)	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor
Audit Trail	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
HIPAA Compliant	Yes	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor
Envelope Cap	No cap	100 envelopes/user/year	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor	Varies by vendor

Frequently asked questions about Financial Quarterly Attestations

Answers to common questions about e-signatures, signatory authority, notarization, retention, and correcting errors in attestations.

Need help? Contact support

Can a quarterly attestation be e-signed?
Yes. Electronic signatures are legally valid in the United States under the ESIGN Act (15 U.S.C. §7001) and UETA when applicable. Ensure intent, signer consent, attribution, and reliable record retention are documented to meet legal tests.
Who may sign the attestation?
An authorized officer, controller, or delegated finance manager should sign. Confirm authority in internal policies or governance documents and record title and authority in the attestation itself.
Is notarization required?
Not typically required for internal attestations. If a regulator, contract, or state law demands notarization, follow state-specific rules; RON may be permitted where recognized by state law.
What supporting documents should be attached?
Attach reconciliations, bank confirmations, trial balances, and variance explanations. Provide consistent filenames and cross-references so auditors can match figures to the attestation.
How long must I keep the attestation?
Follow federal and industry rules: at least 3 years for tax-related records (IRC §6501(a)), 6 years for HIPAA-covered documents (45 CFR §164.530(j)), and longer when contracts or litigation require it.
How do I correct a signed attestation?
If an error is material, prepare an amended attestation signed by the same authorized person and circulate an explanation. Retain both the original and amended version with audit trail metadata.

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