Participant 7 described his experience as:

*"This is where we have experienced the biggest impact on our traditional audit testing approach whilst on the audit automation journey. The biggest impact which has led to the biggest benefits. The relieve of specialist auditors to perform mundane tasks and allow them more time for analysis of the output produced to form audit opinions."*

There was a consensus from all participants that automation of the audit execution phase is where they have experienced the biggest benefit through time saving and the speed of execution. Participant 8 highlighted a unique issue that emerged in their organization as they progressed on their digitalization journey in that auditors would require guidance on how to spend the time saved by automated audit procedures to best serve the end-to-end audit process. **Table 3** provides a summarized breakdown of responses received per participant.

All 12 participants indicated that automating the audit execution phase resulted in the biggest impact with the most benefits. This allows auditors more time to apply their audit skills on opinion-forming and judgment. Seven participants indicated an enhanced overall assurance service to the clients.

The interviewees also reflected on the anticipated or lived changes of the auditor's role in the audit team and the organization, specifically focusing on the role of the auditor potentially shifting from classic auditing to a consulting role. The feedback from participants was not consistent for this question. The inconsistencies noted


#### **Table 2.**

*Participant summary table.*


#### **Table 3.**

*Audit execution automation—Summary.*

were mainly due to the different definitions of what a consultant is and the different interpretations of a consultant's role. However, there was a consistent element in all responses from all participants in that the role of the traditional auditor will not be replaced as the need for opinion-forming and judgment will remain a human action.

Participant 1 indicated that the time saved during audit execution might be applied in a consultant capacity. However, this remains a gray area due to the need


#### **Table 4.**

*Auditor lived experience impact – Summary.*

for auditors to remain independent and objective. These consultant services provided might lead to "[…] *auditors marking their own homework down the line* […]" if they are involved in the design and operation of certain controls and required to provide assurance at a later stage. **Table 4** provides a summarized breakdown of responses received per participant.

Diverse opinions were obtained for this question due to the participants' perception and definition for a "consultant"; however, all participants indicated that the role of an auditor would remain due to the need for opinion-forming and judgment, and six highlighted the potential lack of independence should auditors be assuming the role of a consultant in an organization.
