e-ISSN 2518-1181
DOI 10.33146/2518-1181
Online Media ID R40-06293
← Back Published: 30.10.2025

Digital Transformation of Agribusiness Enterprises' Financial Statement Audit

Authors

Volodymyr Lytvynenko National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine ORCID 0000-0002-6495-0537
Yurii Burdym National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine, Kyiv, Ukraine ORCID 0009-0004-1505-2599

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33146/2518-1181-2025-3(109)-41-50

Abstract

The development of information technologies for accounting and financial reporting necessitates the digital transformation of financial reporting audits. The article aims to study the possibilities of using information technologies to conduct financial statement audits and outline the directions for further digital transformation of auditing agribusiness enterprises. The study results show that audit companies use a wide range of software solutions to conduct financial statement audits: from specialized programs to cloud products that provide communication with the customer. The possibility of implementing software solutions depends on whether the audit company has enough resources to master them. The reasons that hinder digital transformation in the audit field are the high cost of software, the complexity of unifying information obtained from accounting information systems, the need to bring the audit methodology into line with the requirements of the software product, the need for staff training and regular product updates, and software support. Introduction of reporting using the SAF-T file by European countries opens broad prospects for the digital transformation of auditing. SAF-T is an electronic reporting standard in XML format for exchanging accounting data. Its main goal is to simplify the submission of accounting data at the request of a state body or auditor. The Concept for Implementing Electronic Audit of Taxpayers in Ukraine provides for the voluntary submission of data in the SAF-T UA format from 2023. The study found that information from the SAF-T UA file is a reliable source of audit evidence to confirm financial reporting data and tax returns. Auditors can use such files during an audit, in particular, to plan their actions, identify risks, and perform audit procedures. The development of software for auditing financial statements should consider the possibility of the auditor using the SAF-T UA file, which contains all the necessary structured information.

Keywords

audit, software, standard audit file, business continuity, audit procedures, accounting data, financial reporting, digitalization, information technology, SAF-T
References
  1. Benko, M. M., & Sopko, V. V. (2015). Information technology as a factor of integration of internal and external audit. Ekonomichnyi forum, 1, 254–262. [in Ukrainian]
  2. Hutsalenko, L., & Aloshyn, V. (2024). Directions of digitalization of going concern audit – a prerequisite for its efficiency increase. Visnyk Ekonomiky, 2, 92–105. https://doi.org/10.35774/visnyk2024.02.092 [in Ukrainian]
  3. Ivakhnenkov, S. V. (2007). Audit automation in Ukraine and the world: approaches and software. Audytor Ukrainy, 3, 19–24. [in Ukrainian]
  4. Kovalevska, N. S., Nesterenko, I. V., Sokolova, Ye. B., & Karbivnycha, T. V. (2021). The Digital Component of Modern Audit of Activities of Business Entities. Biznes Inform, 4, 161–168. https://doi.org/10.32983/2222-4459-2021-4-161-168 [in Ukrainian]
  5. Ministerstvo finansiv Ukrainy. (2020). Concept of E-audit for Taxpayers. Retrieved from: https://mof.gov.ua/uk/news/minfin_prezentuie_kontseptsiiu_e-auditu_dlia_platnikiv_podatkiv-2570 [in Ukrainian]
  6. Kravchenko, I. I. (2022). Implementation of Digital Economy Tools in Statistical Analysis, Accounting and Audit. Oblik i finansi, 3(97), 12–20. https://doi.org/10.33146/2307-9878-2022-3(97)-12-20 [in Ukrainian]
  7. Lytvynenko, V. S., & Kolesnikova, O. M. (2025). Audit of agribusiness enterprisesactivities as a tool to support food security amid systemic risks in the agricultural sector. Efektyvna ekonomika, 7. http://doi.org/10.32702/2307-2105.2025.7.53 [in Ukrainian]
  8. Lokhanova, N. O. (2024). Ways to improve audit automation in the current conditions of audit activities. Naukovyi visnyk Odeskoho natsionalnoho ekonomichnoho universytetu, 1-2(314-315), 26–33. https://doi.org/10.32680/2409-9260-2024-1-2-314-315-26-33 [in Ukrainian]
  9. Kabinet Ministriv Ukrainy. (2023). National Revenue Strategy until 2030. Retrieved from: https://www.kmu.gov.ua/npas/pro-skhvalennia-natsionalnoi-stratehii-dokhodiv-do-2030-s1218-271223 [in Ukrainian]
  10. Parkhomenko, O. P., & Parkhomenko, V. P. (2016). Analysis of audit information support in modern conditions. Visnyk Volynskoho instytutu ekonomiky ta menedzhmentu, 16, 240–244. [in Ukrainian]
  11. Petryk, O. (2021). Audit in the context of sustainable development. Kyiv: KNEU. [in Ukrainian]
  12. Ministerstvo finansiv Ukrainy. (2011). Procedure for providing documents of a large taxpayer in electronic form. Retrieved from: https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/z0044-12#Text [in Ukrainian]
  13. Romaniv, S. R., & Mykhailyshyn, N. P. (2016). Theoretical principles of functioning of computer audit in Ukraine. Hlobalni ta natsionalni problemy ekonomiky, 10, 979–985. [in Ukrainian]
  14. Khodakivska, L. O., & Khodakivska, K. S. (2012). Computer audit technologies in the conditions of development of modern information systems. Naukovi pratsi Poltavskoi derzhavnoi ahrarnoi akademii. Spetsvypusk, 136–141. [in Ukrainian]
  15. Fabiianska, V. Iu., & Beldii, A. M. (2019). Computer Audit in Ukraine within the Framework of Requirements of European Law. Oblik i finansi, 3(85), 129–137. https://doi.org/10.33146/2307-9878-2019-3(85)-129-137 [in Ukrainian]
  16. Akimova, T., Pryymak, S., Kostyakova, A., Usatenko, O., & Lytvynenko, V. (2024). The Impact of Innovations in Enterprise Accounting and Control Systems on Optimizing the Analysis of Financial Reporting in the Transition to IFRS. Economic Affairs, 69(1), Spec, 371–379. https://doi.org/10.46852/0424-2513.1.2024.39
  17. European Commission. (2024). Analysis of good practices for implementing the Standard Audit File for Tax. Retrieved from: https://reform-support.ec.europa.eu/document/download/b98a358e-809c-4bd5-b6b8-f35960e9a994_en?filename=22BG10_SAF-T_Best%20Practices%20Analysis_EN.pdf&prefLang=ga