AI is reshaping audit and accounting in Malta – but human expertise still leads

Artificial intelligence is no longer just a buzzword, it’s a defining force in professional services.

As long-time audit professional Hilary Galea-Lauri recently noted on LinkedIn, AI has emerged as a “double-edged catalyst” for the Big Four: Disrupting consulting while enhancing audit. While consulting arms face pressure as clients bring AI capabilities in-house, audit practices are seizing the opportunity to automate repetitive tasks, improve compliance, and unlock new levels of quality and insight.

This global shift is mirrored in Malta, where audit and consulting professionals are rapidly integrating AI into their workflows, not as a replacement for human input, but as a powerful augmentation tool.

As local leaders tell MaltaCEOs.mt, the goal is not to remove people from the process, but to elevate their role in delivering strategic, judgement-driven advice.

Wayne Pisani of Grant Thornton Malta tells this newsroom how “AI rapidly processes large volumes of data, helping us deliver findings and recommendations sooner.” With automated anomaly detection and risk scoring, the firm achieves “greater accuracy” and allows clients to benefit from “faster insights, greater accuracy, and more strategic outcomes.” Mr Pisani points to the use of Microsoft 365 Copilot for research, drafting and spreadsheet tasks, enabling “more timely, reliable, and relevant insights” – with AI managing routine work so teams can focus on interpretation and advice.

This mirrors global trends. According to IIA, the use of generative AI in audit rose from 15  per cent to 40  per cent over the past year – reflecting rapid embrace of data analytics, risk tracking and task automation.

Christian Gravina of GCS Malta highlights practical AI deployment: OCR tools to scan invoices and rule‑based matching of bank ledger entries. Automated workflows have made routine processes faster, reduced errors, and freed staff to handle exceptions and enrich client service.

As Mr Gravina explains, junior staff are now “spend[ing] less time on manual data entry and more time reviewing outputs, interpreting results, and learning to use the software tools.” This shift is preparing juniors for “more strategic involvement earlier in their careers.”

This echoes findings from the 2025 Future of Jobs Report: while AI automates repetitive work, auditors must “focus on higher‑value activities such as risk assessment, strategic decision‑making, and advisory services.”

AI as augmentation, not replacement

When asked whether in‑house AI tools threaten external consultancies, both Mr Pisani and Mr Gravina emphasise continued demand for human-led expertise.

Mr Pisani says Grant Thornton now “co‑create AI strategies aligned with [the client’s] goals, ethics, and risk frameworks,” advising on governance and bringing cross‑industry perspective.

Mr Gravina adds, “technology can handle repetitive tasks … but making sense of financial information  – and knowing how to act on it – still requires human insight.”

Governance, skills and professional development

Mr Pisani emphasises upskilling and cultural change: Junior staff are taking on “higher‑value roles earlier in their careers,” while cross‑functional and innovation-oriented training enhances strategic and client-facing skills.

Global bodies are responding too. ISACA now offers an “Advanced in AI Audit” certification, while internal audit functions are advised to build governance frameworks that align with evolving standards like the EU AI Act.

The big picture

Beyond Malta, major audit firms are embedding AI through platforms such as Deloitte’s “PairD” chatbot – now in use by 75 per cent of its audit staff for summarising documents and data analysis.

Malta’s audit and consulting professionals are adopting AI in line with global best practice: Deploying tools for data intake, analysis and anomaly detection while placing importance on human insight, ethics, and strategic acumen.

As Mr Gravina put it, “making sense of financial information – and knowing how to act on it – still requires human insight.”

As AI becomes embedded, the firms that succeed will be those that pair technological efficiency with robust governance, skilled talent and genuine advisory value – ensuring audit remains trustworthy, strategic and forward‑looking.