ATA ushers in the era of the smarter, data-driven audit with Validis
ATA’s partnership with Validis demonstrates how strategic technology adoption translates into immediate ROI while transforming audit methodology from checklist-driven compliance to risk-based strategic advisory. Two perspectives, one transformative outcome.
reduction in time to audit-ready data
improvement in realization
from kick-off to first data upload
"Validis empowered ATA to shift from a checklist-driven approach to a truly risk-based methodology, enabling our auditors to prioritize high-risk areas and deliver more targeted, value-adding audits."
Lori Warden, CPA, CGMA - Assurance Practice Leader
The Goal
The Idea
The impact we made
From Strategic Vision to Operational Excellence
ATA is a BDO Alliance member and market leading audit firm with diverse clients across multiple offices. Their transformation with Validis showcases how strategic technology adoption translates into measurable operational success.
The Strategic Perspective: Lori Warden, Assurance Practice Leader, championed Validis implementation to revolutionize ATA’s audit methodology. Her tech-focused approach aimed to shift the firm from checklist-driven processes to truly risk-based auditing.
“The big AHA moment for me was seeing the Validis dashboard. For the first time, I could see the whole business in seconds.”
The Operational Reality: Malcolm Neel, Audit and Assurance Partner for Kentucky offices, experienced the tangible benefits of Lori’s strategic decision. His first Validis engagement delivered immediate results that exceeded expectations.
“I was blown away. For one client we went from $32,000 worth of time overruns the previous year and used Validis to eliminate over $15,000 of unnecessary work. We came in under budget for the first time that year.”
Seamless Implementation Drives Rapid Adoption
From kick-off call to first data upload took less than two weeks. The implementation was so smooth that one auditor remarked it was “almost a little too easy to implement.”
What drives successful adoption? According to Malcolm, it’s the immediate visibility of value:
“Once you see the technology and what it can do, you want to adopt it because it’s so powerful – you see the benefit.”
ATA’s approach combined strategic vision with exceptional support. While Lori drove the initial purchase decision, the ongoing partnership proved invaluable:
“The Validis team is always there when I need them and more supportive than other software solutions I’ve worked with.”
Having an internal advocate who had previously used Validis also ensured smooth rollout across teams.
From Lori’s perspective, the decision was straightforward: “It was an easy decision to make. Validis is reasonably priced, simple-to-use, with great visuals for effortless data insights extraction and anomaly detection.”
Enhanced Audit Quality and Strategic Insights
Validis doesn’t just improve efficiency – it transforms what auditors can deliver. “Validis makes us smarter auditors,” explains Lori, highlighting the platform’s role in enabling sophisticated analysis that was previously time-prohibitive.
Malcom explains:
“You can do a great horizontal analysis month by month and you can spot potential deviations in financial statements from expected trends using Validis.”
This enhanced capability extends to providing strategic market insights. For one agriculture client, Malcolm demonstrated how their financial data correlated with market fluctuations on the Chicago Board of Trade, delivering value that goes far beyond traditional compliance work.
The technology ecosystem at ATA continues to evolve, with Validis integrating seamlessly with other tools like DataSnipper, creating a comprehensive audit platform that saves substantial time on complex engagements.
Competitive Advantage in a Demanding Market
“We’re in a very competitive environment and time is money,” notes Malcolm.
“You can invest time, you can waste time, or you can use time wisely – and Validis forces you to use your time wisely and you reduce the amount of effort to get the same results.”
This efficiency translates directly into competitive positioning. ATA can now deliver smarter audits while providing exceptional value that clients recognize and appreciate.
The verdict?
“If you’re starting down the path of a data-driven audit and AI, access to the right data is imperative. Validis has to be the first step in your journey.” – Lori Warden
“Those who do not embrace AI and technology, they’re going to fall by the wayside. Things change at a very rapid pace in our profession, and Validis helps you use your time wisely while reducing effort to get the same results.” – Malcolm Neel
For audit firms looking to transform their practice, ATA’s experience proves that the right technology, properly implemented, delivers both immediate ROI and long-term competitive advantage.
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