Your annual report checklist – 25 factors every report must get right

Quality control is everything in annual reporting

How many sets of eyes review your annual report before it goes live? If the answer is “too many” or “not enough”, you’re not alone.

Annual reports sit at the crossroads of compliance, corporate communications, investor relations and sustainability. They’re scrutinised by regulators, analysts, employees, NGOs and customers. A single error, from an incorrect figure to inconsistent ESG disclosures, can undermine credibility with stakeholders.

That’s why an annual report checklist is critical. It ensures accuracy, protects reputation and turns what could be a compliance exercise into a powerful storytelling tool.

Annual report quality control: 25 essentials

Here’s a structured annual report checklist to help corporate communications directors, sustainability officers, and investor relations teams get it right first time.

1–5: Core compliance checks

1. Financial accuracy – cross-check numbers against audited accounts
2. FCA and Companies Act compliance – ensure statutory disclosures are complete (UK-specific)
3. Risk disclosures – align with FCA and FRC guidance on clarity and balance
4. Forward-looking statements – confirm appropriate disclaimers are included
5. Governance section – ensure director and committee responsibilities are transparent

6–10: Investor relations essentials

1. CEO and Chair statements – consistent in tone and aligned with strategic priorities
2. Business model clarity – explain how the company creates value across short, medium, and long term
3. KPIs – transparent, comparable year-on-year and linked to strategy
4. Dividend policy – clearly explained where relevant
5. Capital allocation – ensure investors can follow how resources are deployed

11–15: ESG and sustainability reporting

1. TCFD compliance – where applicable, include climate-related disclosures
2. GRI/ISSB frameworks – check consistency with global reporting standards
3. Materiality assessment – demonstrate how ESG issues were prioritised
4. Carbon footprint reporting – ensure scope 1, 2 and relevant scope 3 data is included
5. Social impact – cover diversity, inclusion, and community initiatives with evidence

16–20: Stakeholder communications

1. Clarity of narrative – avoid jargon; ensure non-specialist readers can follow
2. Consistency of tone – one voice across sections, not a patchwork of contributors
3. Employee section – include workforce engagement, training and wellbeing insights
4. Customer stories – demonstrate impact through real examples
5. Supplier and value chain transparency – especially important for ESG credibility

21–25: Design, accessibility and readability

1. Data visualisation accuracy – ensure charts match numbers in the text
2. Plain English – avoid unnecessary complexity or corporate clichés
3. Accessibility – ensure digital reports meet accessibility standards (WCAG)
4. Cross-referencing – hyperlinks and references to other sections should work
5. Proofreading – a final professional review for spelling, grammar, and formatting consistency

Of course, this list isn’t exhaustive, every organisation is unique. But if you keep this annual report checklist at the heart of your process, you’ll be on the right track.

How to manage the annual report review process

Even with an annual report checklist, reports can go off track if roles and responsibilities aren’t clear. Applying a battled-tested process is crucial to creating a report that meets the expectations of all stakeholders. Best practice is to:

• Assign a project manager to own the review cycle
• Limit reviews to three structured rounds: content accuracy, stakeholder alignment, final polish
• Use tracked changes and version control to prevent confusion
• Involve a professional business writing agency for independent quality assurance

If you’re managing multiple stakeholders, you might find our annual review writing process interesting. It shows the approach we’ve been using at Alex Genn Copywriting, supporting some of the world’s leading brands, for over 20 years.

Why outsourcing quality control makes sense 

Your internal teams know the data and strategy best. But even with a strong annual report checklist they may not have capacity for exhaustive proofreading, compliance checks, or tone alignment. That’s where annual report writing services add value:

• External perspective helps identify jargon or inconsistencies insiders overlook
• Expertise in frameworks like TCFD, ISSB and FCA requirements ensures compliance
• Professional writers and editors provide a consistent, stakeholder-friendly narrative
• Independent review reduces the risk of last-minute rewrites

Outsourcing quality control allows leadership to stay focused on strategy and messaging while specialists handle technical detail, compliance requirements, and narrative consistency. The result is peace of mind that the finished report will meet every requirement and still tell the company’s story with impact.

Trust your checklist

Annual reports are high-stakes documents. They’re compliance-heavy, but also strategic communications tools. A clear annual report checklist keeps everything on track – from financial accuracy to ESG disclosures, from investor messaging to design.

The 25 checks above aren’t just about avoiding mistakes. They’re about ensuring your annual report builds trust with stakeholders and delivers on its potential as a corporate storytelling platform.

Need expert support with your next annual report?

At Alex Genn Copywriting, we specialise in professional report writing and quality control. Whether you need a full writing partner or a final compliance check, our team helps corporate communications leaders deliver reports that are accurate, credible and engaging.

Arrange your free consultation today to discuss how can support your next annual report.