How Cortea is making AI trustworthy for auditors: ‘It’s not just about automation but quality control’

Cortea is a startup that aims to make AI trustworthy for auditors, addressing the issue of audits being painful for both companies and auditors. Founder and CEO Valentin Neumann highlights that auditors face stress due to complex data and heavy workloads, with over a third of accountants considering leaving the profession in the next five years.

While AI can speed up processes, implementing it in a heavily regulated industry like accounting and finance poses challenges. Neumann explains that Cortea avoids forcing users to change their existing processes by creating an interface that resembles traditional software, making the transition smoother. The company relies on the 'MAYA' principle, aiming to be the 'Most advanced, yet acceptable' solution.

Cortea's platform presents auditors with fully drafted audit procedures, allowing them to review and approve the findings. The company serves two types of customers: advanced auditors who already use AI platforms and conservative firms with traditional methods. Cortea's challenge lies in designing a user-friendly interface that caters to both groups.

By focusing on a trust-worthy and recognizable user experience, Cortea builds a defense against larger, more general AI tools. Cortea's AI outputs come with specific instructions for auditors to verify, ensuring accuracy and transparency. This quality management system sets Cortea apart from standard LLMs, which often provide "black box" results that auditors cannot verify.

Neumann predicts a shift in auditors' work, emphasizing the potential for AI to free up time for strategic consulting and advisory roles.