Stop doing finance compliance the old way

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Finance compliance has long been treated as a necessary burden—an expensive, time-consuming process that companies must deal with to avoid regulatory risk. But just because compliance is required doesn’t mean it has to be inefficient. In 2026, more organizations are realizing that the old way of managing finance compliance doesn’t scale. It strains teams, delays audits, and introduces unnecessary risk.

It's time to stop doing finance compliance the old way.

How finance compliance worked for the last 20 years

For public companies, financial compliance typically centered on SOX 404—internal control over financial reporting. This required management to design effective controls, assess them annually, and obtain an auditor’s opinion to include in public filings. Meanwhile, service organizations pursued SOC 2 examinations for customer trust, while merchants and fintech platforms addressed PCI DSS to protect cardholder data. Each framework had its own documentation standards, report templates, and assessor requirements.

Manual, checklist-driven workflows dominated. Teams collected screenshots, logs, and spreadsheets to evidence control performance. Audit prep began months in advance, and often took over staff calendars. Tools were fragmented or nonexistent, and cross-functional coordination—especially with engineering—was inconsistent at best.

Auditor coordination was reactive. Too often, evidence was submitted in the format most convenient for the team—not the auditor. Lack of standardization across frameworks led to repeat work, mismatched expectations, and delays. For finance-specific audits, misunderstandings around PCAOB registration or appropriate scoping of IT-related controls could lead to findings or restatements.

Compliance was episodic, not continuous. Without real-time system integration, most companies relied on static snapshots of control environments. But auditors and regulators increasingly expect ongoing monitoring and responsiveness to risk. One-time checks and point-in-time walkthroughs can no longer keep up.

Common challenges that still persist

Even as compliance tools have advanced, many organizations continue to face legacy pain points.

Misaligned frameworks multiply the workload. Companies that must meet SOX, SOC 2, PCI DSS, and even new cybersecurity statutes like New York’s 23 NYCRR Part 500 find themselves duplicating evidence and translating controls manually. Disparate tool stacks offer no shared mapping or visibility across frameworks.

Outdated audit artifacts create risk. Submitting a PCI "compliance certificate" instead of an official ROC or AOC, or using a non–PCAOB-registered firm for SOX ICFR, can invalidate audits. Misinterpreting assessor qualifications jeopardizes the trust that compliance is meant to establish.

Audit prep overloads already-stretched teams. The push to produce artifacts on command consumes hundreds of hours. Engineering, product, and IT teams often bear the brunt of repeated evidence requests and unclear expectations. This cycle diverts resources from innovation and core operations.

Siloed tools and vendors create bottlenecks. Engaging a QSA company for PCI, a CPA firm for SOC 2, and a separate assessor for ISO 27001 introduces handoffs and delays. Add in fragmented ticketing and documentation systems, and you have a compliance process that can’t scale efficiently with business growth.

Finance compliance needs a new model—one based on integration, not duplication.

The future of finance compliance in 2026

The regulatory landscape in 2026 demands speed, transparency, and continuous assurance. Organizations can no longer afford to treat compliance as a once-a-year event or a side project for the finance team.

Continuous monitoring replaces batch assessments. With data-driven controls and system integrations, forward-looking compliance programs continuously track risk indicators, control performance, and exceptions. This enables faster identification of issues—and faster resolution—before they escalate into findings.

Multi-framework alignment becomes the norm. Instead of reinventing the wheel for each standard, companies now use unified control libraries that map across requirements. For instance, a single logical access control can support SOX, SOC 2, and PCI DSS with consistent evidence. This reduces scope confusion and audit fatigue.

Audit readiness becomes a business capability. Boards, investors, and regulators want confidence that internal controls are well-designed and operating effectively—every day, not just at year-end. That means embedding compliance into business systems, not spreadsheets.

Smart tools drive collaboration and speed. Rather than emailing files back and forth or pulling logs manually, companies increasingly rely on automated workflows and centralized documentation. When your evidence is built into daily operations—and accessible to the right stakeholders—prep time shrinks, and audit outcomes improve.

Expert oversight closes the loop. Technology alone isn’t enough. In-house audit expertise—especially around ICFR, GLBA Safeguards, and evolving cyber rules—ensures control design and evidence stay aligned with regulatory expectations. The combination of automation and human expertise de-risks your compliance approach.

How Thoropass solves finance compliance challenges

Compliance shouldn’t slow you down. Thoropass automates evidence collection, connects directly to your systems, and ensures your controls meet the right standards—across finance frameworks like SOX 404, SOC 2, PCI DSS, and more.

Why it matters: With Thoropass, you're building a compliance program that adapts to your growth. You reduce manual work, avoid rework, and stay ready for every audit.

In-platform audits mean fewer handoffs. Thoropass is a CPA firm, PCI QSA Company, and HITRUST Assessor. That means you can fulfill audit requirements without bouncing between third-party vendors. For PCI, you get automation, ROC/AOC generation, and ASV scanning—all in one place.

Unified control mapping streamlines prep. Avoid duplicative evidence requests and conflicting interpretations. When a single control supports multiple frameworks, Thoropass ensures that evidence is collected once, reviewed by experts, and presented in auditor-ready formats.

Continuous monitoring keeps you current. Our integrations check control performance in real time, so there are no surprises at audit time. Whether it’s user access, encryption settings, or change management logs, you always know where you stand.

Closed-loop system ensures audit quality. Unlike most tools, Thoropass doesn’t just prepare you for the audit—we perform it. That eliminates disconnects between “prep” software and external auditors. Our auditors never grade their own work, and every engagement follows industry-standard guidelines.

Trust centers reduce customer friction. Easily share audit reports, certifications, and control summaries with stakeholders through a secure, customizable portal. That means fewer one-off requests and greater transparency.

Ready to evolve your finance compliance strategy?

The pressure on finance teams is growing. With expanding regulatory obligations and stakeholder expectations, manual compliance methods won’t keep up. But full automation without oversight isn’t enough either.

Thoropass delivers both—platform efficiency and deep audit expertise—so you can streamline your controls, reduce prep time, and maintain year-round audit readiness. Whether you're scaling a fintech startup or operating a public company, your finance compliance shouldn’t be stuck in the past.

Schedule a discovery session today and see how Thoropass can upgrade your approach to SOX, SOC 2, PCI DSS, and beyond.