Flashback to FAR conference 2023: ‘Curiosity is the magic word!’

Visual recordings of all the plenaries:

Panel discussion:

During the yearly FAR conference, last June, Jan Bouwens chaired a panel discussion on innovation with four British experts.
The excerpts below provide a flavor of the stimulating discussion that unfolded.

John Toon (Beever and Struthers and ICAEW) stated that the adoption of innovative technology is still often seen as a risk by audit partners. He also sees a contradiction between the education, creativity and enthusiasm of aspiring auditors on the one hand and the checklist-driven formalized rigid processes within which they have to function on the other hand.

James Berridge (Saffery) indicated that many auditors adhere strongly to the imposed auditing standards and audit methodology: ‘Nevertheless, innovative technological options are available that provide excellent audit procedures, for example concerning the turnover cycle, while they do not fit well within the rules’.

John Boulton (ICAEW) looks at technology in the same perspective as sustainability: it permeates all business processes. The ICAEW ensures that it has a role throughout the qualification process as an auditor.

Caroline Monk (Beever and Struthers) believes that culture is the starting point of a good audit. There is a danger in taking technology as a starting point. ‘Curiosity’ is the magic word. And technology is the enabler.

If you want to know more, please check out the video of the discussion on Youtube: https://lnkd.in/epQyuYxd

Aftermovie:

Check out the aftermovie of the FAR Confrence 2023: