Designing an Intelligent Audit Framework Based on Big Data Analytics for Identifying Material Risks in Financial Reporting
Keywords:
Intelligent accounting, Internal control, Human error, Financial information processing, Artificial intelligence, Thematic analysis.Abstract
This study aimed to analyze the role of intelligent accounting in improving internal controls, reducing human error, and accelerating financial information processing in organizations located in Tehran. This qualitative study was conducted using thematic analysis. The participants included 18 financial managers, senior accountants, internal auditors, accounting information system specialists, and consultants involved in the implementation of intelligent financial software in Tehran. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, and recruitment continued until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. All interviews were conducted after obtaining informed consent, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and coded using NVivo software. Data analysis followed the main phases of thematic analysis, including familiarization with the data, generation of initial codes, development of candidate themes, review and refinement of themes, naming of final categories, and reporting of findings. To enhance trustworthiness, member checking, peer review, audit trail documentation, and constant comparison of codes were applied. The analysis resulted in four main categories: “strengthening internal controls through intelligent monitoring,” “reducing human error through automation and standardization,” “accelerating and integrating financial information processing,” and “the need for data governance and human oversight in intelligent accounting.” Participants emphasized that intelligent accounting systems improve financial control quality through access controls, automated alerts, change tracking, anomaly detection, reconciliation support, and real-time processing of accounting data. However, excessive dependence on technology, poor input data quality, weak documentation, and the absence of clear control policies were identified as major implementation challenges. Intelligent accounting can transform internal control mechanisms from traditional, retrospective, and manual procedures into preventive, analytical, and real-time control systems. This transformation may reduce human error, increase the speed of financial information processing, and enhance the reliability of financial reporting, provided that it is accompanied by data governance, complementary controls, staff training, and professional human judgment.
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