Our mission: to be

the highest-quality
audit organization
in the profession
Felice Persico
Global Vice Chair, Assurance, EY

A
lot has been accomplished since EY launched SAQ in 2015
as a strategic program focused on improving audit quality.
The changes introduced through SAQ have required
significant investment and created a positive change for
our people and the companies we audit.

Over this period, we have globally deployed EY Canvas, our online

audit platform; introduced the EY Canvas Client Portal; established
our Global Audit Quality Committee; developed a network of
seasoned professionals as our Quality Enablement Leaders
(QELs); implemented the Milestones project management
program; transformed our root-cause analysis program; and
launched a number of other global initiatives.

SAQ demonstrates our commitment to keeping audit quality as

our primary focus. It is the single most important factor in our
decision-making, and the key measure on which our professional
reputation stands.

SAQ is making an impact, and we are already seeing improvements in

our audit quality results. Our mission is to be the highest-quality audit
organization in the profession. We are proud of the progress that has
been made and know that our efforts are ongoing.

This publication details the approach we have taken on each of the six
components of the SAQ agenda: tone at the top, strengthen people

“SAQ is the single capabilities, audit technology and digital, enablement and quality
support, simplification, and accountability. It shows the extent of

most important the culture change program on which we have embarked.

factor in our All our people are having to learn new ways of working. They are
embracing innovation and harnessing the power of new technologies
decision-making, such as data analytics, robotic process automation (RPA),
blockchain, artificial intelligence and machine learning.
and the key We cannot stand still. As this publication demonstrates, continuous
measure on which improvement is fundamental to the way we operate and quality is
key to our culture.
our professional
reputation stands.”

Audit Quality: A Globally Sustainable Approach

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