MindBridge Analytics Inc., which provides the intelligence layer for Augmented Assurance, and Validis, a leading provider of financial data collection and standardization technology, have announced a partnership and integration that sends standardized client data from Validis directly into MindBridge for full-population risk analysis.

Audit analytics work begins with getting client data out of accounting systems and into a usable form. That task comes before any risk assessment, and it takes time away from the judgment calls auditors are there to make. Audit firms typically receive client data from a range of accounting systems and formats, which must be standardized and checked before analysis can begin — data that arrives inconsistent or incomplete has to be reconciled first, since findings built on unstandardized inputs are difficult to rely on. Once the data is ready, a second question emerges: where to focus, and on what, as client financial environments grow more automated and complex.

The partnership combines Validis' ability to securely extract and standardize transaction-level data directly from client accounting systems with MindBridge's explainable AI and full-population financial analysis. Full-population means reviewing every transaction rather than testing a sample — a breadth of coverage that is difficult to achieve manually, and one reason the analysis leans on AI to prioritize which flagged items deserve auditor attention first. Through the new integration, standardized general ledger, trial balance, chart of accounts, accounts receivable, and accounts payable data can flow directly into MindBridge. This reduces manual data preparation, allowing auditors to concentrate on the areas of greatest risk rather than on data transformation. The companies said the connection is intended to shorten the path between receiving client files and beginning risk analysis.

"The challenge isn't only accessing more data," said Les Rechan, CEO of MindBridge. "It's understanding where risk exists and where auditors should focus their attention. Our partnership with Validis addresses both sides of that challenge, helping firms modernize their audit approach while keeping professional judgment at the center."

"Audit firms receive client data from many different accounting systems, in many different formats," said Michael Turner, CEO of Validis. "Our job is to standardize that data and check it. Connecting our work to MindBridge means the data can move straight into risk analysis, and the auditor decides what to test and where to focus."

The integration reflects what MindBridge calls Augmented Assurance: auditors using AI to review every transaction, with clear explanations of why each item was flagged, while professional judgment remains with the auditor. By pairing reliable, standardized data with prioritized risk findings, the companies aim to help firms improve audit quality, reduce manual effort, and deliver more consistent assurance at scale. For firms weighing the partnership, the concrete measure to watch is the one the companies set for themselves: how much shorter the path becomes between receiving client files and starting risk analysis.