As firms look ahead to 2026, many are taking stock of how well their systems and processes are supporting the work they do every day. For audit teams in particular, that reflection is becoming increasingly important.
Audit thresholds are set to increase, meaning fewer companies will fall within statutory audit requirements. For firms, this may result in smaller audit departments, tighter margins, and greater pressure to deliver high-quality audits with fewer resources.
In that environment, the way audit work is managed matters more than ever. And for many firms, traditional ways of working may be starting to show their limits.
The challenges of traditional audit workflows
Despite advances in accounting technology, many audit teams still rely heavily on spreadsheets, Word documents and PDFs to manage audit files. While familiar, these tools can introduce challenges that become more pronounced as workloads increase.
Manual version control is one common issue. When working papers are shared across teams, keeping track of the latest version, reviewer comments, and sign-offs can be time-consuming and prone to error. Important updates can be missed, and review processes can slow down at critical points in the audit cycle.
There’s also the question of consistency. Without a standardised structure for working papers, audit methodologies can vary between teams or offices. Over time, this can lead to:
- Increased risk of errors or missing documentation
- Slower reviews and bottlenecks during busy audit periods
- More complex onboarding and training for junior staff, who must learn different approaches depending on who they’re working with.
All of this adds friction to a process that already demands precision and professional judgement.
Why standardisation matters more than ever
As audit departments adapt to changing demand, maintaining quality and compliance becomes a priority. Standardising audit methodology across the firm helps ensure that every engagement follows the same structure, regardless of who is carrying out the work.
Cloud-based audit working papers make this far easier to achieve. By providing a consistent framework for documentation, review and sign-off, they support firm-wide alignment without restricting professional judgement.
For partners and managers, this means greater confidence that audits are being completed in line with internal standards and regulatory expectations. For teams on the ground, it means clarity around what’s required and how work should be documented.
Improving efficiency during peak audit periods
Busy audit seasons place strain on even the most experienced teams. When processes rely on manual file handling and disconnected documents, review stages can quickly become bottlenecks.
Cloud-based audit tools help streamline these workflows. Real-time access to working papers, clear review notes, and transparent progress tracking reduce delays and unnecessary back-and-forth. Reviewers can see exactly where an engagement stands, what’s been completed, and what still needs attention.
That efficiency becomes particularly valuable when audit teams are leaner, and when deadlines leave little room for rework.
Scaling audit work without increasing risk
With fewer audits in scope but expectations around quality unchanged, firms may need to do more with smaller teams. Scaling audit work in this context isn’t about increasing volume – it’s about maintaining standards while managing risk effectively.
Cloud-based audit working papers support this by embedding consistency and control into everyday processes. Automated checks, structured documentation, and clear audit trails all help reduce reliance on individual knowledge and memory.
This makes it easier to manage workloads, support less experienced staff, and maintain oversight – even as team structures change.
Optimising audit departments for the future
Rising audit thresholds may reduce the number of statutory audits, but they also create an opportunity for firms to rethink how their audit departments operate.
Optimising audit workflows, improving efficiency, and reducing risk can help ensure audit remains a sustainable and valuable service line; investing in the right tools is a key part of that process.
Designed specifically for audit teams
MyWorkpapers is built specifically for audit professionals, with cloud-based working papers designed to support consistency, quality and compliance across your firm.
By replacing disconnected spreadsheets and documents with a single, structured audit platform, MyWorkpapers helps standardise audit methodology, improve review processes, and make better use of audit teams’ time – without compromising on professional standards.
As firms look ahead to 2026 and beyond, reviewing your audit tools could be an important step in preparing for what comes next. To find out more about how MyWorkpapers supports modern audit teams, explore the platform or speak to the Bright team today.
