Transformation of Financial Reporting Auditor Competencies in the Digital Era
( Pp. 170-178)
More about authors
Liudmila V. Kashirskaya
Dr. Sci. (Econ.), Associate Professor, Professor of the Department of audit and corporate reporting at the Faculty of taxes, audit, and business analysis
Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation
Moscow, Russian Federation Ulyana S. Suchkova employee of the corporate audit department, Kept
Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation
Moscow, Russian Federation
Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation
Moscow, Russian Federation Ulyana S. Suchkova employee of the corporate audit department, Kept
Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation
Moscow, Russian Federation
Abstract:
Objective. This article examines the evolution of the financial statement auditor profession, analyzing the transformation of necessary competencies in the context of rapid technological change and globalization. The paper provides a detailed overview of both current requirements for auditors and a forecast for the development of their professional skills through 2030. Hypothetical names for the new profession are proposed, reflecting its expanded functionality and strategic role in corporate governance. The primary objective of the study is to identify the key competencies that financial statement auditors should possess in the future and to develop a model for the transformation of the profession that meets the challenges of the digital age. Model. The model includes an analysis of the current state of the profession, a forecast of changes influenced by technological trends (AI, blockchain, Big Data), modeling the new role of the financial statement auditor with expanded functionality, and a study of potential changes in the profession's titles. Conclusions. A future auditor is not just a controller, but a strategic partner of the company, possessing deep digital literacy, continuous analytics, risk management, and cybersecurity skills, capable of providing valuable predictive insights. Practical significance. This study provides recommendations for professional educational institutions on adapting curricula, as well as for audit firms and practicing professionals on career development planning and building teams prepared for the challenges of the future. Originality. The study offers a comprehensive view of the future profession, integrating technological, professional, and methodological aspects, and provides a transformation model and hypothetical names for the new role. The scientific novelty lies in the systematization of the projected competencies of future financial statement auditors, extending beyond the scope of traditional financial auditing, and the development of a concept for a new profession integrating digital literacy, risk management, cybersecurity, and business analysis skills.
How to Cite:
Kashirskaya, L.V., Suchkova, U.S. (2026). Transformation of Financial Reporting Auditor Competencies in the Digital Era. Economic Problems and Legal Practice, 22(1), 170-178. DOI: 10.33693/2541-8025-2026-22-1-170-178. EDN: HKBFUF
Reference list:
AI in financial reporting and auditing: A new era: benchmarks: expectations of financial reporting executives from AI implementation and Its impact on companies and external auditors / KPMG. — Almaty: KPMG Caucasus and central Asia, august 2024. URL: https://kpmg.com/kz/ru/home/insights/2024/08/ai-in-financial-reporting-and-audit.html.
Komarova V.V. Problems and development of audit methodology in the context of digitalization in Russia: proceedings of the scientific seminar of students and postgraduates of the Institute of economics and management (November 21–26, 2022). Issue 23. // Management of organizational and economic systems. — Samara: Samara university, 2023. Pp. 252–255.
Website of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation. URL: https://minfin.gov.ru/ru/perfomance/audit/audit_stat/mainindex_selfregulation.
Russian universities for the auditor profession. URL: https://proverili.ru/professii/auditor/vuzy.
Monitoring the activities of higher education institutions. URL: https://monitoring.miccedu.ru/.
Bulyga R.P. “Transformation of the accounting and auditing professions under the influence of the “informatization factor.” Economics and Economic Sciences. 2017. No. 1. Pp. 6–23. (In Rus.).
Komarova U.V. “Implementation of artificial intelligence in auditing and Its impact on auditors’ professional skills.” Education and Science Without Borders: Social Sciences and Humanities. 2024. No. 23. Pp. 209–214. (In Rus.). EDN: RYZKRB.
Pronina A.S. “Professional competence and due diligence of an auditor.” Stolypinsky Vestnik. 2022. No. 7. URL: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/professionalnaya-kompetentnost-i-dolzhnaya-tschatelnost-auditora.
Pozharitskaya I.M. The Relationship between professional skepticism and auditor's judgment. Scientific notes of the Crimean federal university named after V.I. Vernadsky. Economics and management. 2015. Vol. 1 (67). No. 2. Pp. 141–149. (In Rus.).
Accounting in the 21st Century: monograph / edited by Yu.N. Guzov, V.V. Kovalev, O.L. Margania. St. Petersburg: Skifiya-print, 2021. 250 p.
Kashirskaya L.V., Zurnadzhyants Yu.A. Application of digital technologies in conducting control procedures in an organization. Economic Science. 2023. No. 223. Pp. 151–157. (In Rus.).
Zarubin D.N. Audit in the digital economy as an object of methodological analysis. Original Research (ORIS). 2022. Vol. 12, No. 1. Pp. 76–86. (In Rus.).
Paramonova L.A. Digital audit. School of University Science: Development Paradigm. 2020. No. 2 (36). Pp. 64–66. (In Rus.).
Komarova V.V. Problems and development of audit methodology in the context of digitalization in Russia: proceedings of the scientific seminar of students and postgraduates of the Institute of economics and management (November 21–26, 2022). Issue 23. // Management of organizational and economic systems. — Samara: Samara university, 2023. Pp. 252–255.
Website of the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation. URL: https://minfin.gov.ru/ru/perfomance/audit/audit_stat/mainindex_selfregulation.
Russian universities for the auditor profession. URL: https://proverili.ru/professii/auditor/vuzy.
Monitoring the activities of higher education institutions. URL: https://monitoring.miccedu.ru/.
Bulyga R.P. “Transformation of the accounting and auditing professions under the influence of the “informatization factor.” Economics and Economic Sciences. 2017. No. 1. Pp. 6–23. (In Rus.).
Komarova U.V. “Implementation of artificial intelligence in auditing and Its impact on auditors’ professional skills.” Education and Science Without Borders: Social Sciences and Humanities. 2024. No. 23. Pp. 209–214. (In Rus.). EDN: RYZKRB.
Pronina A.S. “Professional competence and due diligence of an auditor.” Stolypinsky Vestnik. 2022. No. 7. URL: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/professionalnaya-kompetentnost-i-dolzhnaya-tschatelnost-auditora.
Pozharitskaya I.M. The Relationship between professional skepticism and auditor's judgment. Scientific notes of the Crimean federal university named after V.I. Vernadsky. Economics and management. 2015. Vol. 1 (67). No. 2. Pp. 141–149. (In Rus.).
Accounting in the 21st Century: monograph / edited by Yu.N. Guzov, V.V. Kovalev, O.L. Margania. St. Petersburg: Skifiya-print, 2021. 250 p.
Kashirskaya L.V., Zurnadzhyants Yu.A. Application of digital technologies in conducting control procedures in an organization. Economic Science. 2023. No. 223. Pp. 151–157. (In Rus.).
Zarubin D.N. Audit in the digital economy as an object of methodological analysis. Original Research (ORIS). 2022. Vol. 12, No. 1. Pp. 76–86. (In Rus.).
Paramonova L.A. Digital audit. School of University Science: Development Paradigm. 2020. No. 2 (36). Pp. 64–66. (In Rus.).
Keywords:
audit, financial reporting, competencies, future of the profession, digitalization, artificial intelligence, big data, blockchain, transformation..
