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Use the modern audit to surface insight and build confidence throughout the year

Learn how a modern, AI‑powered audit surfaces insight and builds confidence throughout the year.


With 88% of employees saying they use AI at work, organizations in Canada are keen to connect an uptick in usage with value creation. As enterprises explore possibilities, leaders will want to consider the potential upsides of an AI-powered audit. Embracing a modern, AI-powered audit approach can create positive benefits within finance and across organizations.

AI, automation and platform integration are changing audit delivery for the better 

A modern audit can surface critical insights and data to support better business decisions. The scope of that potential depends on how well the audit links AI technologies with human thinking. That connection point is key.
 

Simplifying audit methodology with intuitive technology provides auditors with clear steps to execute from start to finish. Grounding the audit on a strong tech foundation helps identify risks, streamline efforts and drive confidence in conclusions. What does that look like in practice?

  • Simplifying methodology within a scalable AI platform helps auditors easily toggle between professional standards and entity-driven considerations. The technology adapts to the complexity of the audit, allowing for a tailored approach.

  • Technology enables auditors to assess risks much more effectively, using benchmarked norms to ask purposeful questions and surface insights quickly. Data and analytics become easily accessible, no matter how big the population.

  • An AI-powered platform transforms the audit into a seamless, end-to-end experience, eliminating the need for bespoke documents or workarounds.

Using technology in this way moves the audit from a compliance exercise to a value creator. It enables auditors to empower people with better information. A modern audit makes it easier for organizations to address industry- or business-specific risks, manage huge data sets, and surface information needed to make timely decisions in a volatile market.
 

These incremental shifts work together to eliminate friction, inconsistencies and inefficiencies within the audit while simultaneously nurturing business resilience. Moving in this direction frees up time for analysis, judgement and strategic decisions — all critical in a market that’s continuously shifting. And that improves collaboration and the flow of information.

What should Canadian organizations think about when considering a modern audit approach?

At EY, we view the AI-powered platform as a part of a three-pillar approach to modernization. It’s the point where the methodology, streamlined processes and AI-powered platform work together that generates meaningful progress.

Audit Transformation Campaign diagram

Over the last few years, globally EY has invested US $1 billion and counting in assurance technology with a clear goal: to integrate and transform EY’s leading-edge audit and assurance capabilities into a unified, AI-powered platform. This is designed to help organizations across Canada and around the world meet the evolving expectations of regulators, boards and capital markets. EY evolved to help deliver smarter, more efficient and more insightful audits.

To capitalize on the benefits of a modern audit, Canadian organizations must set clear intentions and lay the groundwork for success. That includes moving to:

  • Shift the audit conversation toward insights. Engage with your auditors on how the audit can surface risks, patterns and anomalies earlier, enabling faster discussion and decision-making.

  • Create space for judgement and analysis. Use the modern audit to free up time for both audit teams and management to focus on interpretation, insight and strategic discussion.

  • Use audit outcomes throughout the year. Draw on audit outcomes throughout the year to inform management decisions, rather than confining value to the year-end process.

Summary

A modern audit connects technology with human judgement to deliver insight, confidence and clarity. When the audit adapts to risk, complexity and scale, it moves beyond compliance to support better decisions across the business.

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