Tech news: KPMG trumpets new AI assurance capabilities

KPMG trumpets new AI assurance capabilities

The offices of KPMG LLP in the Canary Wharf business and shopping district in London

Simon Dawson/Bloomberg

Big Four firm KPMG announced new AI assurance services to help organizations scale GenAI and agents. The firm's new offerings provide assurance frameworks that monitor agent behavior, supporting them to operate within established guardrails while mitigating new compounded risks such as security vulnerabilities, customer privacy, accuracy of AI outputs and more. The services announced include AI model risk assessments, control testing and quantitative assessments that evaluate models through structured risk assessments and design/control effectiveness reviews, as well as hands-on testing of AI systems using statistical and performance-based methods; AI model validation to test models for accuracy, assumptions and regulatory compliance; real-time systems assessments, which evaluates AI-related updates and system implementations for changes that impact financial reporting controls, supporting audit compliance and oversight; and AI assurance and attestation, which provides formal, independent assurance over AI systems against defined standards or frameworks, including SOC, FedRamp, SWIFT, HiTrust and more.

Acumatica rolls out 2025 R2 release

Cloud ERP provider Acumatica touted its 2025 R2 release, which focused on AI capacities, industry-specific solutions and enhanced usability. The new version features a new customizable interface, allowing users to personalize every screen, including fields, tabs and layouts. The 2025 R2 release also sports AI automation features that let people set up automated workflows by connecting Acumatica with the LLM platform of their choice (the software integrates with several LLM platforms, including Azure, Azure OpenAI, AWS Bedrock, OpenAI and Anthropic), then simply describe what they want to happen — just like talking to a colleague. Once defined, these automations run directly inside Acumatica, helping teams update records and streamline repetitive processes. The release also included some accounting/CRM-focused features that include inclusive tax support for VAT, payment links with line item attachments, the ability to set default processing centers for specific branch and payment method combinations, enhanced decimal place controls to improve payroll accuracy and ensure calculations meet union and organizational standards, intelligent EIN support, a redesigned Activity form that provides access to status, project details and billing, case management for vendor partners, and the ability to consolidate multiple documents into one polished email. Acumatica's new release also boasts new industry-specific verticals for construction, distribution and manufacturing.

Qount announces AI-Powered 1099 Workflow solution

Karen Roach/Karen Roach - stock.adobe.com

Practice management and intelligent platform Qount announced its enhanced 1099 Workflow. Users can manage the entire 1099 process—from client enrollment to filing—inside a single system. QAI can pre-classify transactions with the correct 1099 type and box. The solution lets users onboard entire client lists; avoids duplicate entry and brings in the vendor data, transactions and rules straight from QBO. It offers the ability to upload via Excel (with other integrations on the horizon). Smart dashboards give visibility into filing readiness. W-9 OCR auto-populates names, EINs and addresses. A QAI Mapping Engine intelligently maps COAs to the right 1099 forms. There are also shared dashboards, built-in reminders and a complete audit trail. Right now the solution is in beta. Later this year Qount intends to add direct e-filing, allowing firms to complete the entire 1099 process seamlessly within Qount.

Tonkean proactive agents act without waiting for human commands

Wanan - stock.adobe.com

Tonkean, described as an enterprise orchestration platform, announced the general availability of proactive AI agents that can act autonomously before being asked, doing things like preventing problems, capturing hidden savings or increasing capacity. Instead of waiting for human triggers, these agents continuously monitor data and events across systems (ERP, P2P, CLM, HRIS, etc.), identify when tasks should start, and autonomously move work forward. Users can deploy unlimited proactive agents that execute complex workflows autonomously without waiting for their command. Proactive agents identify what needs doing and do it, handling hundreds of contracts, thousands of invoices, and countless processes in parallel—looping in humans only when human input is required. Users can make their own agents without coding, but the platform also comes with several pre-built agents. These include a Renewals Agent that proactively manages the entire renewal lifecycle—monitoring existing contracts, identifying consolidation and negotiation opportunities, and determining which subsequent execution processes to trigger on its own. A Third-Party Risk Agent performs persistent monitoring and research on third parties. If a vendor is suddenly flagged in external databases (e.g., lawsuit, sanctions list, bad press), this agent launches a review before the next procurement cycle. The Spend Anomaly Agent continuously monitors transaction patterns. If it detects a vendor invoice is higher than usual or splits charges just below approval thresholds, it kicks off a review, prepares supplementary materials detailing history of the account, finds relevant stakeholders and impacted employees, suggests alternative vendors, and more. The agents can be deployed across procurement, legal, HR, IT and other enterprise teams.

BillingPlatform announces e-invoicing solution

robu_s - stock.adobe.com

Billing platform BillingPlatform launched BP E-Invoice, an integrated e-invoicing solution. BP E-Invoice is tailored to meet e-invoicing mandates across Europe, Asia-Pacific and other regions. BP E-Invoice automates the creation, delivery and tracking of digital invoices directly within BillingPlatform. BP E-Invoice natively supports mandatory e-invoicing and regulatory reporting standards such as SAF-T and Peppol and is adaptable to emerging regional and national tax laws. Users will have the ability to manage all e-invoicing across geographies through BillingPlatform, even if they are using multiple billing systems. BP E-Invoice is available as a module within BillingPlatform, with pricing based on usage and invoice volume.

Ledgible launches crypto holdings dashboard

HQ of Ledgible

Digital assets solutions provider Ledgible announced the expansion of its Digital Asset Portfolio and Advisor solution, which now sports a white-label, API-driven platform to surface and manage digital asset data. Ledgible's Portfolio solution offers both clients and advisors a view of crypto holdings across venues, including aggregated balances, gains and losses, and transaction details. Advisors gain the same consolidated information as clients. The solution supports a "crawl, walk, run" approach. Institutions can launch quickly with a white-label instance while their teams work on full API integration into existing user interfaces. Once ready, they can transition to a fully embedded experience, maintaining flexibility without sacrificing time to market.

K1x announces W-2 data extraction capabilities

Picasa/Jacob Kearns - Fotolia

Fintech K1x added new W-2 data extraction capabilities, unifying unstructured and structured K-1, 1099 and W- 2 data extraction in a single, patented platform. The solution now offers comprehensive extraction of K-1 footnotes, K-3s, 199A, UBI, whitepapers, 1099s (e.g. ,1099-INT, DIV, OID, B, Consolidated), and W-2 line items. There is also a tabular application design that provides seasonal views across form types for intuitive workflows. Users can surface K-1 and 1099 income items in summarized reports, accelerating the workpaper creation and data compilation processes. The launch includes promotional incentives offering unlimited 1099 and W-2 automation free for one year to firms adopting Enhanced or Enterprise bundles by Sept. 30, 2025.

Financial Cents announces WorkflowCon 2025

Rabia Elif Aksoy

Practice management solutions provider Financial Cents announced the return of WorkflowCon 2025, taking place Nov. 12–13, 2025. This year's theme — "Clear the Chaos. Find Your Calm." — reflects the industry's growing need to simplify firm operations while adapting to rapid technology change. Headline speakers Include:

● Kenji Kuramoto (Acuity CEO) — Keynote
● Lauren Baptiste (Wellbeing expert) — Keynote
● Kellie Parks
● Chad Davis
● Dawn Brolin
● Jason Staats
● Erica Goode
● Plus sessions from 25+ firm owners, coaches and technology leaders.

WorkflowCon 2025 will also feature a Workflow Showdown Competition, where firms submit their best workflows for a chance to win an all-expenses-paid weekend trip to Mexico; interactive tracks and roundtables covering teams, clients, workflows, revenue and NextGen/AI; and fundraisers for a cause, raffles of up to $250, and 1:1 matched networking.

Partnerships and integrations

Tax planning software provider TaxPlanIQ announced a partnership with tax prep company Liberty Tax and virtual family office solutions provider Elite Resource Team. Liberty Tax franchisees will integrate TaxPlanlQ into their operations and use the platform to provide tax planning services, allowing them to expand beyond compliance tasks and into higher level advisory work as a value-added service. All franchisees will have the flexibility to work directly with TaxPlanlQ or to collaborate with Liberty Tax corporate through a structured support model. ERT will also be integrating TaxPlanIQ into its system, allowing the company to offer advanced, ROI-driven tax planning at scale with 125+ strategies, AI-powered recommendations, and client-ready deliverables. … Subscription-based financial planning platform Facet announced that tax preparation and filing are now included in its flat-fee membership plans. Depending on their membership level, users can either file federal and state taxes online with expert review or have a certified tax professional handle the entire return. In both cases, filing is directly connected to their financial roadmap. Facet built this capability by integrating its proprietary technology with april, an embedded, year-round tax platform. … Tax automation solutions provider Avalara announced its enhanced Avalara App for Stripe Billing and Checkout, integrating with Stripe's latest tax API to enable processing, real-time tax previews, and access to additional compliance tools. Avalara's upgraded app supports a full range of compliance needs for Stripe customers—not just tax calculation. Users also gain access to Avalara's broader compliance suite, including sales tax licenses and registrations, returns filing, exemption certificate management, cross-border and tariff calculations, and e-invoicing. … SAP Taulia, a working capital solutions company, announced a strategic partnership with Boost Payment Solutions, a provider of commercial card optimization, to support its virtual card offering. The collaboration will integrate Boost's multi-patented straight-through processing technology into SAP Taulia's virtual card functionality, delivering seamless, automated B2B payment experiences for suppliers.

Other news

Advisory and audit solutions provider Fieldguide has achieved ISO 42001 certification, the international standard for Artificial Intelligence Management Systems. By securing certification through a rigorous external audit, Fieldguide has demonstrated that its AI systems, policies and safeguards meet the highest standards for ethical AI development and oversight. This certification builds on Fieldguide's SOC 2 compliance. … Tipalti, a finance automation software provider, has secured $200 million in growth financing from long-time partner Hercules Capital, Inc. The financing will fuel Tipalti's continued investment in artificial intelligence and product innovation, as well as support its global growth. … Top 25 firm CohnReznick announced the hiring of Yuying Chen-Wynn as its global leader, strategic AI. She has more than two decades of experience building systems and products in fintech, edtech and big tech across the U.S., Europe and Asia. Chen-Wynn was previously the head of AI for a global firm where she was responsible for leading all generative AI build, buy, invest and risk management initiatives across its six companies. She holds bachelor's and master's degrees in computer science and electrical engineering from MIT. Chen-Wynn is a frequent speaker at major industry conferences and an active contributor to the AI community through podcasts, newsletters, and executive education programs. She is a board member of People Incorporated.