The latest in an ongoing series on the Schneider Downs Audit Practice’s commitment to innovation transformation.
As our firm approaches its 70th anniversary as a leading public accounting firm, Schneider Downs has a long history of commitment to continuously improve business processes to help our clients – and our firm – be better. Standing still means falling behind, and we’re proud of our long-standing dedication to always seeing new and better ways to get things done.
As Senior Manager of Transformation and Innovation at Schneider Downs, I have a front-row seat to see this commitment first hand. It’s been exciting to be part of the ongoing process of using innovative technology to improve our audit procedures.
Our Latest Innovations
My involvement with audit innovation began in 2021, when I became Manager of Innovation and Transformation. At that time, Schneider Downs committed resources to advancing audit technology, and I was tasked with leading the dynamic audit solution (DAS) project—a major initiative to introduce advanced data analytics and new software into our practice.
To launch the initiative, we brought together a Task Team from the audit team, taking care to include a variety of professional levels, as well as different perspectives in the process. Collectively, we evaluated options for our next audit technology and methodology. Over the course of Summer 2024, we evaluated four vendors, using demos and a detailed scorecard process to guide our decision. This process gave us a broad perspective for moving forward.
Today, we’ve entered into full deployment of the Caseware suite of products into our client service model.
Navigating Change and Gathering Feedback
Change management has been one of the biggest challenges. Transitioning from established methods to new workflows required feedback from the audit department—questions about how the new software fits with our processes, and – sometimes – resistance to change. The blessings of a continual commitment to change is that trying new things becomes normal, and thus less intimidating.
Training has been crucial. We recently trained new hires, and I was impressed by their questions and enthusiasm for the new software. Often, the best feedback and feature requests come from staff at this level, and we make sure to share those with the software developers. As our newest hires continue their professional development, these new processes will become the baseline upon which we continue to add new innovations.
Surprises and Client Impact
Of course, change isn’t just new to our professionals, but to our clients as well.
The client reaction was surprising and enlightening. We expected clients to notice changes in deliverables or question new formats, but most didn’t realize we’d switched software. Some teams reported that, unless we told clients about the change, they wouldn’t have known—showing how smooth the transition was. Instead, the difference is in final product and service delivery. (We’ll share more client perspectives in an upcoming article in our Innovation Transformation series.)
Evolving into a Subject Matter Expert
I’ve enjoyed my personal journey as a member of the leadership team for this transformation. My nearly five years in client service prepared me for this role. I became the firm’s internal software expert, spending over two years as product owner on the DAS project with AICPA and CaseWare. This gave me firsthand experience with the software’s evolution, from early releases to the improved version we use today.
My position is dedicated solely to this transformation, and I feel empowered to serve Schneider Downs as an agent of cahnge. I focus on ensuring our audit innovation succeeds, serving as the main contact for technical questions, implementation challenges, and communication with development teams.
Looking to the Future
Audit innovation is an ongoing journey. By automating the upfront work, we’re focused on using data analytics not just for historical analysis, but also to provide forward-looking insights for clients. Our staff is engaged and can ask more in-depth, industry-specific questions, which benefits their development, strengthens client relationships, and improves our final product. We’re spending more time on what matters most and adding value, which is why our clients selected Schneider Downs in the first place.
We’re always searching for new tools to help us achieve this, and I’m excited about the possibilities ahead. I’ll be sure to keep you updated.
Discover how our innovative approach can transform your audit experience—reach out to our team to learn more.
