Tech news: EY rolls out Blockchain Analyzer for smart contract reviews

March 14, 2025 11:08 AM

EY rolls out Blockchain Analyzer for smart contract reviews, Intuit launches Tap to Pay for iPhone users, AuditBoard unveils new AI-driven features, and other accounting tech news.

EY rolls out Blockchain Analyzer for smart contract reviews

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Big Four firm EY launched new artificial intelligence capabilities in its EY Blockchain Analyzer: the Smart Contract and Token Review (SC&TR) tool, designed to enhance vulnerability detection in smart contracts through greater code coverage and streamline the contract simulation process. A smart contract is a type of self-executing agreement that is usually implemented through a blockchain; the concept undergirds certain cryptocurrencies like Ethereum. The advanced AI feature enable users to automate and simulate the entire contract review process using natural language prompts and the tool's testing engine. Trained on an extensive library of existing tests and simulations, the feature supports the reviewer and improves the ability to detect vulnerabilities. This automation allows clients to achieve higher test coverage while leveraging the same number of resources. The SC&TR tool's new AI capabilities eliminate several manual steps for smart contract deployment, such as sandbox simulations and test creation.

Intuit launches Tap to Pay for iPhone users

Intuit announced the availability of Tap to Pay on iPhone for its QuickBooks Online customers in the U.S., enabling small and mid-market businesses to accept in-person contactless payments using only an iPhone. Business owners can get paid in-person or on the go with the QuickBooks mobile or GoPayment apps and Tap to Pay on iPhone, without the need for any additional physical POS devices or hardware, and features that auto-categorize and reconcile these transactions. Businesses can accept all forms of contactless payments, including contactless credit and debit cards, Apple Pay and other digital wallets, allowing their customers to choose how they pay. They can get paid instantly on open invoices, or create new invoices to accept payments in-person on the spot.

AuditBoard unveils features for scoping memos, cross-audit summaries

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Audit and risk platform AuditBoard announced new AI-powered audit capabilities at the 2025 Great Audit Minds conference in Orlando, Florida. One is a new AI Scoping Memo feature that automatically analyzes the scope of an audit and generates a detailed, structured memo taking into account various data points such as relevant risks, key processes and work steps to produce a comprehensive document. Users can edit the scoping document as needed. The other new feature is AI Cross-Audit Summaries, which leverages AI to deliver an executive-level summary with complete user control over the audits being summarized. The feature automates the consolidation of audit context, findings and trends into a single, executive-level report. Finally, AuditBoard announced its Next Gen Reporting Platform. Key capabilities include a smart bookmarking system with automatic updates, formula-based custom calculations, role-based permissions, direct action capabilities from dashboards, improved field display naming and enhanced clone maintenance.

DFIN launches EDGAR solution

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Capital markets and financial reporting software provider DFIN announced its new EDGAR Next Enrollment Portal, designed to streamline the transition to the SEC's new EDGAR Next filing framework and reduce client administrative burden. Through this new portal, DFIN clients can meet the new authentication requirements for all filing types, including public company filings, investment company filings and beneficial owner reporting. The DFIN EDGAR Next Enrollment Portal goes live on March 24, 2025, the opening date of the SEC enrollment window. The solution provides step-by-step guidance on the enrollment process and allows clients to continue to file through DFIN without changing their existing workflows. DFIN will be hosting a webinar on March 20, 2025, where its SEC experts will provide additional guidance on how to enroll with DFIN.

BlackCloak launches cybersecurity package for family offices

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BlackCloak, a digital executive protection solutions provider for family offices, corporate leaders and high-net-worth individuals, announced its enhanced family office cybersecurity bundle, an offering to combat a highly vulnerable and targeted group. BlackCloak's new family bundle includes services that support family office needs, such as family office setup, 24/7 concierge support, and risk assessments for principals and their families. BlackCloak's dedicated family office team monitors and manages personal and business emails to prevent a compromise that can lead to unauthorized access and financial and reputational harm.

Integrations, partnerships and M&A

Arch, a digital alternatives management platform modernizing workflows, data standardization and portfolio insights across private equity, hedge funds, venture capital, real estate and other alternative investments, announced a strategic partnership with Top 10 firm RSM US LLP. This initiative equips RSM's accounting, family office, financial services and private client teams with Arch's solutions to navigate the complexities of alternative investments. … HR and payroll platform Deel has acquired Safeguard Global's payroll division. This will significantly reinforce Deel's ability to execute large global payroll projects effectively, an area where it is seeing huge growth and opportunity. Safeguard's payroll customers will now migrate to Deel, and they will be able to add services from Deel's product suite, including immigration, contractor management, benefits, performance and equipment management, and AI-driven labor law insights. Under an agreement with Safeguard Global, Deel will continue to support its existing and future international payroll customers with Deel's technology and expertise. … Boost Payment Solutions, a B2B payments company, announced a partnership with international payment pioneer TransferMate designed to address the growing demand for cross-border payments. The collaboration combines Boost's cross-border payment solution for enterprise-level business, Boost 100XB, with TransferMate's globally regulated payments infrastructure to help increase industry-wide commercial card usage and adoption. TransferMate's license network will provide Boost customers with access to payment licensing for over 200 countries in North America, Europe, Asia and beyond across more than 140 currencies. The partnership aims to streamline processing and reconciliation for accounts payable and receivable teams dealing with international payments.

New hires and appointments

Lease accounting software provider LeaseCrunch appointed Laura Schulhof as chief financial officer. Most recently, she served as senior vice president of finance at Intelerad Medical Systems, where she led financial strategy and oversight across multiple global markets. Prior to that, as CFO of Ambra Health, she drove significant revenue expansion, navigated successful funding rounds and led a major acquisition that strengthened the company's market position. … Tax automation solutions provider Avalara announced Carlos Mercuriali has joined Avalara's leadership team as senior vice president and general manager of global business operations. Mercuriali is a veteran of operations expertise, having spent more than 12 years at SAP in sales and general management roles. As SVP and GM of international business operations, Mercuriali will support Avalara's business strategy to extend its international presence and vision, promoting further adoption of the company's AvaTax core offerings as well as its e-invoicing, cross-border and other products that provide global international compliance coverage to customers.

Other news

Payments solutions provider Fortis has received a joint investment from Audax Private Equity and existing investor Lovell Minnick Partners. The investment will support Fortis in accelerating its mission to become the global leader in payment technology and embedded commerce experiences for businesses. Through this strategic investment, Audax will join LMP in its partnership with Fortis to enhance the embedded payments journey, enhance product and service offerings, and scale infrastructure to meet the evolving needs of businesses. … Lease accounting software provider LeaseCrunch LLC announced its upcoming webinar "Financial Due Diligence in M&A: How to Speed Up Your Process Without Sacrificing Accuracy," taking place on March 19 at 1:00 p.m. CDT. The session, led by Justin Pulgrano, senior vice president of strategic growth at LeaseCrunch, will share practical strategies for streamlining financial due diligence workflows, especially through automation.