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CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Grant Thornton LLP has launched cta.x an app that allows companies and auditors to rapidly develop and deploy automated internal-controls tests, helping them comply with laws and regulations such as Sarbanes-Oxley. It will also help companies garner new insights from their internal-compliance efforts and increase the return-on-investment in their controls testing. Controls testing is traditionally conducted by a human being assessing evidence and manually analyzing data in a spreadsheet or system for governance, risk and compliance, said Ethan Rojhani, a partner in the Risk Advisory practice at Grant Thornton. The cta.x app automates and integrates controls testing by taking existing assurance processes and applying them to the full population of procedures and policies governing controls. It then pipes the data through Grant Thorntons proprietary logic engine and produces testing results in sophisticated, customizable dashboards. Grant Thorntons Risk Advisory professionals will administer and use the cta.x app as part of their client-service delivery, while the firms clients will also be able to directly access and use cta.x. Grant Thornton has built cta.x using proprietary cloud-based software, which the firm, or client-staff auditors, configure to perform test procedures on controls data. The app can also help a company identify discrepancies before they threaten data quality or business reputation. It accepts controls data that Grant Thornton has mapped to a standard model and then provides the flexibility to tailor-test procedures to specific controls attributes. The firm can deploy cta.x in a client-specific environment within Grant Thorntons software-as-a-service model, or in the clients own environment. A new way to test effectiveness Historically, controls testing lacks real-time capabilities, which means companies cannot identify exceptions until after the testing is complete. This makes it harder for them to effectively manage risks and compliance activities, and it limits the upside benefits of controls testing. Greg Haberer, a senior manager in the Risk Advisory practice at Grant Thornton, explains that cta.x remedies these shortcomings: Our app adds intelligent automation at the front end of the controls-testing process. This increases efficiency and shifts the compliance focus from manual tasks, such as data gathering and manipulation, to higher-value activities like anomaly detection and root-cause analysis. With cta.x, companies can realize several benefits: The cta.x app is integral to Grant Thorntons overall approach to controls testing, which the firm has built on a three-step framework: Gather and prepare data; perform test procedures; and report the results. There are many benefits to controls-test automation, but to fully realize them, companies need to have the experience and knowledge to automate things correctly, notes Rojhani. With cta.x, were combining our first-of-its-kind tools with Grant Thorntons proven formula for controls testing. This changes the controls-testing equation and helps our clients take risk mitigation and efficiency to higher levels. Companies have shown a growing interest in automating their controls testing: A recent Grant Thornton survey of chief financial officers reveals that almost one-third (32 percent) claim their organizations have already deployed technology to automate their controls testing, while almost one-third more (29 percent) plan to do so within the next 12 months. Another alyx platform innovation Grant Thornton developed cta.x with the help of alyx, a digital platform it recently launched for transformation and innovation. The platform is available to all of Grant Thorntons service professionals so they can help quickly solve specific business problems for clients with new and emerging technologies. The alyx platform uses a concierge-enabled system that methodically shares business problems with teams of subject-matter specialists and technologists. These teams subsequently develop solutions by combining know-how in Grant Thorntons core service areas accounting, tax and consulting with technologies such as intelligent automation, data extraction, data cleansing, analytics and blockchain. Grant Thornton has used alyx to develop several new offerings that marry innovation and knowledge. These include: Grant Thornton expects to launch several additional offerings in the coming months that it commercializes through its alyx platform. Our alyx platform is integral to Grant Thorntons efforts to digitize our clients business-critical functions, from risk management to operational efficiency, said Joseph Brown, Grant Thorntons national managing partner of Market Innovation and Release Management. This is all about identifying the real-world challenges our clients face, and then solving them with cutting-edge solutions that we can scale across disciplines and industries. For more information about cta.x, visit www.grantthornton.com/ctax. About Grant Thornton LLP Founded in Chicago in 1924, Grant Thornton LLP (Grant Thornton) is the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd, one of the worlds leading organizations of independent audit, tax and advisory firms. Grant Thornton, which has revenues of $1.92 billion and operates more than 50 offices, works with a broad range of dynamic publicly and privately held companies, government agencies, financial institutions, and civic and religious organizations. Grant Thornton refers to Grant Thornton LLP, the U.S. member firm of Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL). GTIL and the member firms are not a worldwide partnership. Services are delivered by the member firms. GTIL and its member firms are not agents of, and do not obligate, one another and are not liable for one anothers acts or omissions. Please see grantthornton.com for further details.

Answer: Grant Thornton launches cta.x an app for rapid, automated controls testing App helps companies govern financial resources and improve regulatory compliance with intelligent automation