How is AI transforming financial reporting and auditing today?

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping the finance sector from automating financial reporting to enhancing audit quality and enabling predictive analytics. But how far can AI go in transforming the role of the auditor and improving decision-making in financial institutions?

According to the KPMG AI in Finance Study 2026, AI is now widely adopted across Swiss finance functions. However, the real differentiator is no longer adoption itself, but how effectively organizations translate AI into measurable performance. Swiss companies are increasingly moving beyond pilot use cases and scaling AI with 76% already having deployed agentic AI in at least one finance area.

The growing use of AI in finance brings substantial benefits:

It automates repetitive, manual tasks, improving speed and accuracy.
It enables real-time analysis, including fraud detection and anomaly recognition.
It supports predictive analytics, allowing companies to forecast financial outcomes and anticipate risk.

At the same time, AI introduces new challenges such as algorithmic transparency, data quality issues, and ethical concerns. Responsible use and oversight of AI systems are essential to maintain trust among regulators, investors and stakeholders.

KPMG Global AI in Finance Report 2026

The findings are based on a global survey of over 1,000 financial leaders across industries and regions, including over 50 organizations in Switzerland.

It builds on previous research and broadens the scope from financial reporting to the full finance function, including governance, controls and workforce transformation.

The Swiss key insights one-pager provides a Switzerland-specific perspective on the findings of the KPMG Global AI in Finance Report.

Based on responses from Swiss organizations, they highlight how companies are turning AI adoption into measurable business performance through agentic AI, effective governance, strong data foundations and workforce capabilities.

AI in Finance Report 2026

Active AI use across the finance function has more than doubled in two years. Many organizations now see meaningful business returns, according to our 2026 survey.

Swiss key insights: AI in Finance

Swiss organizations are actively scaling AI beyond pilots. AI is increasingly embedded as an operational capability, especially in tax, risk and analytics.

Find the most important study highlights

76%

have deployed agentic AI in at least one finance area, signalling a clear move beyond pilot use cases.

42%

identify data quality as a primary barrier to scaling AI across finance functions.

71%

report that AI is meeting or exceeding ROI expectations in their finance function, showing that the focus is increasingly shifting towards measurable business value.

What are the most common use cases?

Participating companies most frequently use AI for (KPMG Global AI in Finance Report 2025):

Research and data analysis
Fraud detection and prevention
AI powered and automated financial reporting
Risk assessment

As adoption increases, companies are also integrating AI across departments — including compliance, tax and treasury. This cross-functional use enables stronger risk management and more consistent reporting practices.

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What are the main barriers to AI adoption?

What are the key benefits of AI in financial reporting?

AI is actively transforming how finance teams operate. The benefits include:

Automated financial reporting AI reduces manual workload and improves consistency with standards such as IFRS, GAAP etc.

AI reduces manual workload and improves consistency with standards such as IFRS, GAAP etc.

AI-powered audits Improve audit trail transparency and reduce false positives

Improve audit trail transparency and reduce false positives

AI in risk management Algorithms identify anomalies and risks in real-time

Algorithms identify anomalies and risks in real-time

Natural Language Processing (NLP) Extracts key insights from unstructured data sources like contracts or emails

Extracts key insights from unstructured data sources like contracts or emails

Predictive analytics Supports better forecasting and strategic planning

Supports better forecasting and strategic planning

Financial statement analysis AI supports identifying discrepancies and patterns across vast datasets

AI supports identifying discrepancies and patterns across vast datasets

How can companies assess their AI readiness?

To assess how far AI has progressed in financial reporting and other finance functions, KPMG created an AI maturity framework centered on three main survey questions:

Current use of AI in financial reporting: Over the past six months, how much progress has your company made in the use of AI, specifically in financial reporting? How much progress does your company plan to make in three years?
Adoption level of generative AI: Over the past six months, how much progress has your company made in the use of generative AI, specifically in financial reporting? How much progress does your company plan to make in three years?
Integration of AI across risk, treasury, accounting, tax and planning: How much progress has your organization made in leveraging AI across the following financial areas? (Risk management, treasury management, accounting, financial planning, and tax operations, reporting, and planning).

Beyond the initial assessment, organisations should review how their AI efforts align with broader business strategy. This includes evaluating whether AI tools deliver measurable benefits — such as reduced audit cycles, better reporting quality or improved compliance.

Building trust through cross-functional working groups Successful companies often establish cross-functional AI working groups that bring together finance, IT, internal audit and compliance to ensure a coordinated approach. These efforts help build trust, standardise practices and improve scalability.

Successful companies often establish cross-functional AI working groups that bring together finance, IT, internal audit and compliance to ensure a coordinated approach. These efforts help build trust, standardise practices and improve scalability.

What does the future of AI in auditing look like?

AI is set to make audits faster, smarter and more predictive. Rather than replacing auditors, it will support them by automating routine tasks and enabling data-driven insights. Companies increasingly expect auditors to integrate AI into their work and advise on governance and controls.

Key developments in AI-driven auditing include

Real-time and continuous auditing AI enables early detection of risks and financial inconsistencies

AI enables early detection of risks and financial inconsistencies

Predictive analytics Auditors can identify emerging issues before they escalate

Auditors can identify emerging issues before they escalate

Generative AI Assists in analysing unstructured data and drafting standardised reports

Assists in analysing unstructured data and drafting standardised reports

As these technologies mature, the role of the auditor evolves focusing more on interpretation, ethics and strategic insight, while AI handles data-heavy processes.

These digital audits, powered by machine learning and generative AI, will offer greater transparency, speed and insight than traditional approaches.

How to get started?

Determine your ambition How important is AI to your business or financial reporting function?Do you want to be an AI leader in your industry?How do you see your business evolving based on AI?Which opportunities does AI open up for your company?
How important is AI to your business or financial reporting function?
Do you want to be an AI leader in your industry?
How do you see your business evolving based on AI?
Which opportunities does AI open up for your company?
Determine your maturity level based on our assessment Where do you fit in KPMG’s AI Maturity assessment?How much progress has your company made in terms of how it uses AI for financial reporting?Which AI-related steps has your company already taken?
Where do you fit in KPMG’s AI Maturity assessment?
How much progress has your company made in terms of how it uses AI for financial reporting?
Which AI-related steps has your company already taken?
Align your ambition, maturity and strategy Are you funding AI sufficiently?Do you have established AI governance and frameworks?Are you addressing barriers to AI and financial reporting?
Are you funding AI sufficiently?
Do you have established AI governance and frameworks?
Are you addressing barriers to AI and financial reporting?
Look for support Look to leaders for ways to enhance your financial reporting with AI. KPMG's Trusted AI approach emphasizes principles such as fairness and transparency. This option supports an ethical use of AI that adds value and benefits clients. KPMG can also demonstrate how AI is capable of improving both corporate governance and audit quality.

Look to leaders for ways to enhance your financial reporting with AI. KPMG's Trusted AI approach emphasizes principles such as fairness and transparency. This option supports an ethical use of AI that adds value and benefits clients.

KPMG can also demonstrate how AI is capable of improving both corporate governance and audit quality.

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