There are still many unknowns with respect to how
blockchain will impact the audit and assurance profession,
including the speed with which it will do so. Blockchain is already
impacting Certified Public Accountant (CPA) auditors of those
organizations using blockchain to record transactions and the
rate of adoption is expected to continue to increase. However, in
the immediate future, blockchain technology will not replace
financial reporting and financial statement auditing. Financial
statements reflect management assertions, including estimates,
many of which cannot be easily summarized or calculated in a
blockchain.
Furthermore, the process of an independent audit of financial
statements enhances the trust that is crucial for the effective
functioning of the capital markets system. Any erosion of this
trust may damage an entity’s reputation, stock price and
shareholder value, and can result in fines, penalties, or loss of
assets. Users of financial statements expect CPA auditors to
perform an independent audit of the financial statements using
their professional skepticism. CPA auditors conclude whether
they have obtained reasonable assurance that the financial
statements of an entity, taken as a whole, are free from material
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. A blockchain is
unlikely to replace these judgments by a financial statement
auditor.
That said, CPA auditors need to monitor developments in
blockchain technology—it will impact clients’ information
technology systems. CPA auditors will need to be conversant with
the basics of blockchain technology and work with experts to
audit the complex technical risks associated with blockchain.
In addition, CPA auditors should be aware of opportunities to
leverage their clients' adoption of blockchain technology to
improve data gathering during the audit. They should also
consider whether blockchain technology will allow them to create
automated audit routines. The auditing profession must embrace
and "lean in" to the opportunities and challenges from
widespread blockchain adoption. CPA auditors and assurance
providers are encouraged to monitor developments in blockchain
technology because they have an opportunity to evolve, learn,
and capitalize on their already proven ability to adapt to the
needs of a rapidly changing business world.
(Adapted from https://www2.deloitte.com/za/en/pages/audit/articles/impact-ofblockchain-in-accounting.html)