Design a feature in Deloitte Omnia that helps audit clients respond faster to auditor document requests.

Introduction

Omnia is Deloitte's cloud-based audit platform, used by its audit teams around the world to plan audits, analyse client data and document evidence, with a sister platform, Levvia, for smaller and less complex audits. One of the most painful parts of any audit, for both auditors and clients, is the "PBC" (prepared by client) request list: hundreds of requests for invoices, bank confirmations, contracts, reconciliations and explanations, often tracked in emails and spreadsheets. Late or incomplete responses push audits past deadlines and frustrate everyone. The task is to design a feature in Omnia that helps audit clients respond faster to auditor document requests. I'll clarify, explain why it matters, segment users, find pain points, and then propose, prioritise and measure a solution.

Step 1

Clarify Questions (3 minutes)

• Who is the client user?

• Why it matters: A CFO, a controller and an accounts clerk need different things.
• Hypothetical answer: The client's finance team at a mid-sized listed company: a financial controller coordinating, with 6–10 people in accounts payable, treasury, payroll and tax who upload documents.
• Impact: Design for coordination across many contributors.

• What exists today?

• Why it matters: Avoid redesigning what works.
• Hypothetical answer (assumption): Omnia has a client portal where auditors post requests and clients upload files, but tracking, reminders and clarifications happen mostly over email.
• Impact: Focus on the workflow around requests, not file upload itself.

• What does "faster" mean?

• Why it matters: Defines the outcome.
• Hypothetical answer: Fewer days from request to accepted evidence, and fewer requests sent back because the file is wrong or incomplete.
• Impact: Speed and first-time-right quality both matter.

• Any constraints?

• Why it matters: Audit is regulated.
• Hypothetical answer: Auditor independence rules mean the auditor cannot prepare client evidence; data security and retention rules are strict.
• Impact: AI can guide clients but must not create evidence for them.

Propose the Goal

Reduce the time and back-and-forth needed for audit clients to provide correct evidence, so audits finish on time with less stress for both the client's finance team and the Deloitte audit team.

Define the Scope

I'll design a "request workspace" inside Omnia's client portal for the client's controller and contributors during the year-end audit. Interim audits and auditor-only tools are out of scope.