Companies spend millions per annum in advertising and marketing through agreements with independent advertising agencies, who in turn use this money for creative campaigns and purchase of media space from the media owners (broadcast, press, online and outdoor). However, there is often very little transparency between the actual nature of spend by the advertising agency and what the advertiser is charged.

We perform contract compliance and media expenditure audits to ascertain if the agency is adhering to the terms and conditions of the agreement and to verify that the amount the agency charges the advertiser is the same amount paid to third-party media owners and vendors. From our experience significant amounts maybe payable back to the advertiser for amounts charged by the agency which are contrary to the terms of the contract or agreement. Some typical reasons include incorrect deduction of agency commissions, rebates received by agencies from the media owners not passed back to the advertisers and disallowed mark-up on costs charged to the advertiser.

Media expenditure audits performed every 2 to 3 years also improve and enhance the advertiser / agency relationship and the results usually drive greater transparency with improved mutual understanding and appreciation between the advertiser and the agency.