The internal audit profession is experiencing a significant transformation, shaped by broader regulatory expectations causing a shift from a compliance driven approach to strategic, value driven outcomes. As complexity of business models increases, fuelled by accelerated developments such as in fintech, internal auditors must keep up with the emergence of new and more complex risks.

At BDO Malta, they are leveraging cutting-edge technology to assist their internal audit professionals in dealing with these emerging risks while redefining the customers’ experience during Internal Audits. Their recent implementation of an advanced engagement platform with AI capabilities marks a new era in assurance processes.

This transformation reflects BDO Malta’s broader investment in people, processes, and technology for their internal audit offering. They continue to grow their specialised internal audit team, bringing in professionals with expertise in risk, compliance, governance, and systems assurance. At the same time, they have refined their methodologies to align with international best practices and new Global Internal Audit standards, embedding technology at every stage of delivery. The result is an internal audit function that provides an enhanced client experience, and allows their internal audit and technology risk assurance specialists to focus on what matters most to their clients – adding value in key risk areas.

Why is this transformation important?

For Mark Attard, CEO of BDO Malta, the value of this transformation extends well beyond operational efficiency. “By investing in this platform, we’re not only future-proofing our internal audit capabilities, we’re also helping clients improve controls and decision-making in a measurable way,” he says. “It’s a strategic shift that positions BDO Malta as a forward-looking partner in internal audit, ICT risk, governance and compliance.”

“Clients across audit, assurance and advisory tell us about their challenges to keep up with the ever-increasing regulatory requirements,” says Chris Scicluna, Group COO and Executive Director. "This is a reality which calls for efficiency, in-depth analysis and accuracy in engagement delivery. We are responding by redefining the customer experience, using advanced technology for smoother engagement delivery. This proactive approach builds trust with stakeholders and regulators, ensuring compliance and supports sustainable business practices,” he adds.

What is the future of internal auditing?

BDO's new platform integrates artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics to streamline the internal audit process through increased, real-time collaboration and automation of repetitive tasks. By embracing these modern technologies, they can provide deeper insights, improve accuracy, and enhance efficiency.

Ruban Thangaraja, Director of Internal Audit at BDO Malta, says that the introduction of this platform marks a step-change in how internal audits are delivered. “It enhances our risk-focused approach by automating routine tasks, enabling us to deliver greater value and assurance to our clients. By combining automation with human expertise, our teams can concentrate on the strategic areas that matter most to our clients,” he explains.

As Ivan Spiteri, Director of Technology Advisory & Assurance, puts it: “This platform redefines how we conduct assurance and advisory engagements. With its capabilities to automate and digitise the end-to-end engagement lifecycle, it offers a single, collaborative platform tailored for modern audit and advisory projects. It is built to adapt to various frameworks, enhancing both efficiency and accuracy in our processes. This advancement allows us to focus on delivering greater value to our clients.”

This platform is transforming BDO Malta's internal audits in five main ways:

1. Better client engagement

Working with clients to create and follow up with requests has never been easier thanks to this platform. It integrates requests into every aspect of the engagement, providing a smooth interface that improves engagement and satisfaction. This seamless interaction elevates the overall quality and reliability of their assessments.

2. Detailed reporting and gap identification

The platform provides an interactive workspace to analyse documents, generate detailed reports on findings, their location, and to identify any gaps. This thorough documentation enhances the quality of their internal audits and ensures that no detail is overlooked, providing clients with a clear and comprehensive understanding of their compliance status at any point in time throughout the assessment.

3. Scalability for extensive compliance requirements

The platform enables assessors to handle larger volumes of documentation without compromising on quality. This scalability is particularly valuable for organisations with extensive compliance requirements, allowing BDO Malta to manage complex internal audits efficiently and effectively.

4. Automation of repetitive tasks

The platform streamlines repetitive tasks such as document collection, reconciliation and mapping against the internal audit procedures. This automation not only reduces manual effort but also allows BDO Malta auditors to focus on more strategic areas, using a risk-based approach to deliver greater value to their clients.

5. Real-time collaboration

The platform allows BDO Malta to seamlessly integrate with various data sources, including real-time and diverse datasets from clients' systems. This capability ensures that they have comprehensive and up-to-date information, enhancing the depth and reliability of their internal audits.

Embrace the future with BDO Malta. 

For more information about BDO Malta, visit www.bdo.com.mt.