The Evolving Role of CPAs in Leading AI-Augmented Audits

February 3, 2026

For Wenzel Ryan Reyes, CPA, CA, Head of Methodology for AI Audit Solutions at Mindbridge, opportunity lies in using AI to strengthen the role of auditors, acting as an extension of professional capability.

“Clients today are looking for professionals who understand AI and data in the context of finance,” he says. “That’s where the future of the profession is heading.”

Audits have traditionally relied on examining a subset of data and applying it to a broader population. This approach is no longer sufficient in the data rich environments of internal controls, audit risk or financial transformation.

“AI lets us analyze 100% of a population,” he explains. “We simply could not do this with traditional sampling.”

AI can identify patterns and give insights on those patterns. But its outputs are only as valuable as the professional judgment that interprets them.

Professionals are required to assess not just the data itself, but also its implications within the broader business, regulatory and ethical context. AI can provide clarity and efficiency, but it’s the CPA skillset that allows auditors to lead the change, rather than simply adopting it.

Wenzel sees the auditor’s role evolving in 3 major ways.

1. Auditors will become stronger risk interpreters. They can build on their roles in helping organizations see where risks lie and how they can be managed.
2. Auditors will become better storytellers. AI-enabled tools, particularly LLMs, are improving how financial narratives are communicated.
3. Auditors will become orchestrators of tech tools. While human auditors will continue signing opinions, what happens beneath that signature will be driven by tech.

This all means a greater involvement with AI – and a greater onus to ensure it is used appropriately. Wenzel advocates for a “human in the lead, human in the loop” approach - humans leading the design of AI and ensuring they are involved in the process - to AI governance and empowers professionals to ask questions to prevent overreliance.

Questions like “What should the AI be doing?”, “How will outputs be reviewed?” and perhaps most importantly, “When should humans intervene?”

AI adoption in audit is not without challenges - a lack of education, pace of adoption and methodological uncertainty are common barriers.

“When you don’t know anything about AI, your first reaction is that it’s dangerous.” Education is the first step to overcoming that fear.

He also warns against rushing into anything or waiting passively for others to figure it out. Firms should take a deliberate, strategic approach aligned with their specific needs where AI can assist.

Finally, he notes that standards and regulations often lag behind tech, making methodology hard to define. Still, he urges CPAs to lead change rather than wait for it – being “history makers”, not “history majors”.

By setting clear objectives, using professional judgment and investing in education, CPAs are not simply adopting new tools. They ensure the future of audit is augmented.