银监会对小微企业贷款提出“两增两控”新目标

Over the past few years the audit space has rapidly evolved due to technological advancements and the regulatory environment. The qualifications being sought for auditors has also begun to change but what hasn’t changed is the make-up of an audit professional, they possess both a left and right brain… yes, auditors have a right brain too! Historically, auditors have heavily relied on their left brain to perform their role, being highly logical and organized which has served them well. However, in this new era, they’re going to need to tap more into their right brain, using their creativity and intuitiveness to succeed.

Why?

Audit work is not going to be as routine and structured as it once was as a result of new software automating many traditional audit processes. Some of the services that came to define the profession will no longer be required for the professional to perform. Nowadays, data can be collected through new software applications and then transferred into data visualization tools such as Tableau and Qlikview. These tools can help the auditor articulate a story about the data through the visualization of patterns that are found within the data. Auditors in the future will rely on their right brain skills to create meaningful visualizations, and their traditional left-brain strengths to interpret the significance of the data to their clients.

“There is a synergy between big data and visualization tools which triggers critical thinking,” said Jay Thibodeau , professor of Accountancy at Bentley University. “The visualized data ignites interest and creates a critical thinking perspective.”

Many post-secondary institutions are beginning to expand their program and course offerings to better support the next generation of professionals. Graduates can now obtain a Master of Science in Audit Analytics from Bentley University and there is the KPMG Master of Accounting with Data and Analytics which launched last year through the Villanova School of Business amongst others. Visualization tools are making their way into college accounting and auditing curricula. For example, Thibodeau is teaching a course in Financial Statement Auditing which incorporates big data analysis and data visualization tools.

Thibodeau states that students who are already well versed with technology are finding it easy to assimilate and understand these new tools. They are learning how visualization helps detect anomalies in data, and how those anomalies impact risk assessment. Further, they are learning how their risk assessment can lead to modifications of audit procedures.

In today’s marketplace, auditors are needing to be creative in how they problem solve and decipher large data populations not just sample set. Their employment of critical thinking, determining patterns is powerful to gaining new insights to deliver back to their clients. Changing how they look at information can improve efficiency and increase effectiveness in an audit.

It’s fantastic to see how our current professionals are adapting to the changes, and I look forward to welcoming new graduates and connecting with both their left and right brain.

Shaun Budnik, Audit Innovation Leader, KPMG LLP

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This article represents the views of the author(s) only, and does not necessarily represent the views or professional advice of KPMG LLP.