Audits are changing, fast. More clients. Tighter deadlines. Growing compliance demands. A workforce stretched thin.
And while firms have embraced digital tools for email and file storage, many still manage audits the old-fashioned way: piecing together spreadsheets, chasing down documents, and manually reviewing workpapers. It’s inefficient, error-prone, and it holds teams back.
That’s where audit automation comes in.
Audit automation gives your team structure, speed, and visibility—without adding more work. From client requests to workpaper preparation and review, automation tools like Suralink’s Request List Management and Workpaper Suite streamline every step. Less time organizing. More time delivering value.
Here’s how audit automation works and why more firms are adopting it to modernize engagements from start to finish.
If you’re still managing client requests via email threads and Excel trackers, you’re not alone. But those familiar methods often create more problems than they solve.
Common issues with manual audit workflows:
And the result? Slower audits, higher risk, frustrated staff—and frustrated clients.
Firms need a better way to manage both client collaboration and internal preparation in one unified system. That’s the real promise of automation.
Audit automation refers to software tools that eliminate repetitive manual tasks in audit engagements, replacing them with standardized, efficient, and transparent workflows.
Rather than juggling multiple tools and processes, firms can automate and centralize:
It’s not about replacing the auditor. It’s about enabling your team to do more, with fewer bottlenecks and better outcomes.
The shift toward automation isn’t just about keeping up with the times—it’s about solving real, painful challenges.
Automation enables scale without chaos.
At Suralink, audit automation is more than just managing client requests. It’s about connecting your entire engagement workflow, from the moment you create your request list to the final review of workpapers.
Here’s how Suralink brings automation into every phase:
Automate the creation, tracking, and follow-up of PBC requests. Get real-time status updates and client collaboration built in.
→ Learn more about Request List Management
This is where most firms feel the biggest burden, and where automation has the most impact.
Suralink’s Workpaper Suite lets teams automate sample testing and match client support docs directly to Excel-based workpapers.
Add pinned comments from your workpapers that sync directly to your request list—so you don’t have to bounce between tools.
Workpaper Suite makes review cycles cleaner and faster for managers and partners. With linked support files, reviewers don’t have to dig through unorganized folders ever again.
One source of truth for every document, with version control and audit trails built in.
Digitally sign and approve key documents right from the platform—no third-party tools needed.
Every action, change, and communication is automatically tracked, helping you stay compliant and reduce risk.
Automation isn’t one-size-fits-all. But there are clear high-impact use cases across engagements:
When the team at Boyum Barenscheer relied on Excel and email to manage audit requests, their workflow was chaotic—duplicated asks, scattered docs, endless check-ins.
After switching to Suralink:
As Senior Accountant Jasmin McKenzie put it:
“Having everything in a centralized location has made our team more effective. And our clients think it’s easier and less cumbersome. It’s been a win-win.”
Firms can’t afford to operate like it’s 2015. Client expectations have changed. Manual workflows aren’t just slow, they’re a liability. They drain time, introduce risk, and erode client trust.
But when you embed automation into both client-facing tasks and internal workpaper processes, everything changes.
And Suralink gives you all of that in one connected platform. Purpose-built for the audit lifecycle. Schedule a demo to learn more!