Brian Wolohan

Executive summary

Brian is a Partner in the National Professional Standards Group, where he leads the firm's Audit Innovation group and works with the Audit Methodology and Audit Risk Management groups to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the firm's risk analysis, audit execution, and inspection approach. Brian serves on the the PCAOB's Data Analytics Task Force, and on numerous task forces with the Center for Audit Quality (CAQ) and the AICPA.

Brian joined Grant Thornton from the CAQ where he served as the Senior Director of Professional Practice, Policy and Research. He worked with senior members of the profession, regulators, and other stakeholders on critical and emerging issues facing the profession to advance regulatory and public policies that promote audit quality. He led the preparation and issuance of comment letters to the PCAOB, SEC, IAASB and others on proposed standards and other rules affecting the audit profession.

Prior to joining the CAQ, Brian served as Associate Director in the PCAOB's Office of Research & Analysis, where he designed and developed many of the audit risk assessment methodologies used by the PCAOB to inform its risk-based inspections program. He conducted research and trainings on structured financial products, fair value of illiquid instruments, and best practices in fraud risk assessment.

He has performed extensive analysis on market risks and audit implications and served as a Commissioner on the NACD's Blue Ribbon Commission on Risk Governance. He also served as Director of Corporate Development at AOL, where his responsibilities included strategic planning, enterprise valuation, deal negotiation, and acquisition integration. He also worked in the Accounting Policy group, where he conducted financial due diligence on venture capital investments and business combinations and was responsible for accounting for AOL's multi-billion dollar securities portfolio.

Brian began his career as an auditor in Grant Thornton's Atlantic Coast practice; his focus included public stock and debt issuance, private placements, and accounting for financial instruments and securitizations.

Professional qualifications and memberships

• CPA (Virginia, Washington DC)
• AICPA member

Community involvement

• PCAOB Data and Technology Task Force (member)
• CAQ Data Analytics Task Force (member)
• CAQ Emerging Technologies Task Force (member)
• AICPA Data Analytics Guide Working Group (member)
• NACD Blue Ribbon Commission on Risk Governance (prior)

Presentations and Publications

• Data Analytics in Accounting, 2021 webcast (link)
• Harnessing Insights From Audit Innovation, 2021 article (link)
• Making the Most of Analytics %26 Technology, 2020 webcast (link)
• Have Audits Changed Forever? 2020 webcast (link)
• The Reality of Audit Innovation Today, 2020 video (link)
• Audit Innovation has Arrived, 2019 webcast (link)
• How Innovation is Changing Audit, 2018 video (link)
• Why Boards Should Expect More from their Audit, 2018 article (link)
• Innovation Drives Quality and Value in the Audit, 2018 video (link)
• SEC Starts EPS Rounding Probe, 2018 article (link)
• Guide to Audit Data Analytics, 2017 book (link)
• Put Audit Data Analytics Into Action, 2017 video (link)
• Risk Governance: Balancing Risk and Reward, 2009 white paper (link)

Education

• MBA and a Masters in Finance, University of Maryland at College Park (2003)
• BS, cum laude, University of Maryland at College Park (1997)