Exploring Perceptions and Experiences of Blockchain Implementation in Auditing: A Multiple Case Study
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Authors
James, Navin
Issue Date
2025-10
Type
Dissertation
Language
en
Keywords
Business, Engineering, Science, & Technological Innovation , Accounting , Blockchain , Audit , PCAOB , AICPA
Alternative Title
Abstract
Blockchain technologies are poised to reshape financial statement audits, yet authoritative guidance remains limited. The purpose of this qualitative multiple case study was to examine perceptions and experiences with established accounting standards regarding blockchain implementation in practice in the United States. Accounting theory and the extended technology acceptance model guided the study. Data were collected from 14 semi-structured interviews, an open-ended survey, and organizational documents from auditing firms. Reflexive thematic analysis and triangulation produced seven themes across three domains. Auditors reported limited real-world exposure, heavy reliance on legacy professional guidance, and implementation hurdles, including client education, tool limitations, and regulatory ambiguity. Participants anticipated efficiency gains from immutable, real-time ledgers, such as faster confirmations and more reliable provenance, and emphasized that transparent, codified standards are a prerequisite for mainstream adoption. Alignment with existing theoretical frameworks was uneven, often recognized conceptually but seldom operationalized, and current regulatory materials were viewed as helpful for framing risk but incomplete for method design. The study contributes practitioner-grounded evidence on blockchain’s auditability, highlighting immediate needs for targeted standards, competence development, and carefully scoped pilots on permissioned networks. These findings inform standard setters, firms, and educators seeking to integrate distributed-ledger evidence without compromising assurance quality.