IMPERATIVES AND KEY PROBLEMS OF BIG DATA ANALYSIS IN THE COMPANY’S DIGITAL AUDIT SYSTEM

Significant changes that can now be observed in auditing procedures are caused by a conceptually new understanding of audit procedures in the field of data analysis. The concept includes a whole system that has been built over a long period of time and with the help of testing new tools and methodologies. Together, this formed a digital audit system, which includes a digital methodology that is universal for different countries within the network of one company, digital tools of the Big Four, including both client data analysis and systems for documenting audit results and communication with clients. External auxiliary tools for data analysis and big data processing, such as Alteryx, and internal auxiliary systems such as automation of audit samples are also used. The article examines the process of digital audit implementation on the example of the EY company during 2015–2020. During this time, systems were deployed that created a new assurance architecture. Examples of data processing and normalization problems, as a concomitant process of digitization and the use of digital tools in audit, are analyzed. The local prevalence of classic double-side recording systems complicates the introduction of digital tools, due to their adaptability to non-classical one-side recording systems. Additionally, it is determined that the need to normalize data taking into account local specifics has both positive aspects of impact on the use of digital tools due to the possibility of data transformation at the stage of uploading to digital tools, and negative aspects — due to the additional risk of data manipulation and the human factor. The unfolding of the war in Ukraine is causing changes in the logistics of conducting a digital audit, due to the need for additional personnel for digital teams due to the exit of companies from the market of Russia and Belarus. The purpose of the article is to investigate the problems that arise in the process of using digital tools by the Big Four companies in the digital audit system.