| Abstract [eng] |
The pace of digital transformation has increased significantly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This has affected not only businesses but also audit firms. With the rapid development of technology, it is being integrated more and more closely into corporate processes. Key digital technologies include big data analytics, forms of artificial intelligence of varying sophistication, and blockchain. These technologies aim to maximize the benefits obtained, whether by increasing the quality of services provided, improving process efficiency, or reducing costs. Each technology has unique opportunities that can have a positive impact on a company's performance. These trends are particularly relevant for audit firms providing assurance services to clients in a wide range of business sectors. However, it is important to consider not only the opportunities but also the challenges of digital technologies. The increasing level of autonomy of such technologies is a cause for concern, leading to additional risks that are not considered by most auditors. It has been observed that these innovations are increasingly limiting auditors' decision-making and, in some respects, have a negative impact on auditors' skills and audit quality. Auditors should use digital technology as an aid, have sufficient competencies to use it, and understand the risks involved. Subject: Audit of financial statements. Objective: to identify the opportunities and challenges arising from the use of digital technologies in the audit of financial statements. Main results of the project: The opportunities and challenges arising from digital technologies have a significant impact on financial auditing. The digital transformation, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the changes in the rebranded 315-TAS have highlighted the relevance of these technologies for auditing. According to the literature reviewed, the resulting opportunities and challenges vary depending on the technology under investigation and the perspectives of individual researchers. There is a noted lack of quantitative research that could shed light on the broader scope of opportunities and challenges in the context of auditing digital technologies. Given these aspects, the study makes a valuable contribution to the scientific knowledge in this field and provides valuable insights. The validity and reliability analyses carried out confirm that the instrument developed, and the results obtained are empirically sound. The results have revealed key aspects of the opportunities and challenges of digital technologies. Among the main opportunities, the high potential for improving audit quality, optimizing processes, and reducing costs was highlighted. Meanwhile, the negative impact on auditors' professional competencies, the increasing complexity of audits, and the lack of regulation in auditing standards are the main challenges of these technologies. The Big Four firms are highlighted as being more successful in adopting digital technologies and in meeting the associated challenges. |
