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Partnership Announcement
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Tellen partners with Grant Thornton to expand AI-powered audit quality capabilities

February 2, 2026
Unknown Author

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tellen partners with Grant Thornton to expand AI-powered audit quality capabilities

Tellen to acquire Grant Thornton’s qm.x audit quality solution and support AI platform adoption among users across the globe

New York, NY | February 2, 2026

Tellen and Grant Thornton today announced a strategic partnership that will see Tellen acquire the qm.x application platform from Grant Thornton. Tellen and Grant Thornton have also entered into a multi-year commercial agreement under which Grant Thornton will continue using the solution as it is integrated into Tellen’s AI platform, while promoting its use across the Grant Thornton International Limited (GTIL) network, which comprises member firms operating in more than 150 markets worldwide.

Launched in 2022, qm.x is a cloud-enabled application and audit quality solution with a global user base. Today, the solution is used by more than 20 Grant Thornton firms, as well as numerous other audit firms across a range of audit environments. Following the transaction, Tellen will serve as the long-term product owner and primary technology partner for all existing qm.x users, including firms within and outside of the GTIL network.

As part of its roadmap, Tellen will rebrand the qm.x platform as Tellen QM and offer it within Tellen’s AI platform. Tellen will also expand the capabilities available within Tellen QM, a move that will better support how firms manage audit work and tap into AI-enabled tools across the audit process. At the same time, Grant Thornton will continue to utilize Tellen QM and provide ongoing input into the expansion of its capabilities on Tellen’s platform.

The partnership reflects Grant Thornton’s interest in ensuring consistent and scalable capabilities while aligning with Tellen’s broader effort to build an AI platform for accounting firms and modernize audit workflows.

Accounting firms are increasingly exploring how AI can support audit planning, testing, documentation, and review. And they are looking for platforms that allow them to apply AI consistently across engagements rather than relying on isolated tools. Tellen is supporting this shift by building an AI platform that provides a common environment for AI-enabled audit workflows.

Tellen’s existing capabilities, including QualityScan AI, support monitoring and review activities, beginning with post-engagement analysis of audit files and expanding as firms adopt additional AI-powered workflows. This approach allows accounting firms to adopt AI capabilities in a practical and incremental way while operating within a single platform. With the addition of Tellen QM, they can now manage both audit execution and quality management in a single integrated environment.

Audit regulators and standard setters continue to emphasize firmwide systems of quality management, including standards such as the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board’s (IAASB) ISQM 1, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ (AICPA) SQMS 1, and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s (PCAOB) QC 1000. These developments underscore the importance of consistent approaches to audit quality as firms adopt new technologies. And they reinforce the need for platforms like Tellen QM that can support quality, visibility, and oversight as audit practices evolve.

“This partnership allows us to work directly with firms around the world as they modernize audit work and adopt AI in a practical way,” said Deepak Lalit, CEO and Co-Founder of Tellen. “Our focus is on providing a single platform that supports AI-enabled workflows across audit quality and execution.”

“This partnership is a win for everyone,” said Jeff Hughes, Audit & Assurance partner at Grant Thornton LLP, who led the initial creation and launch of qm.x. “The qm.x platform will reach new heights under Tellen’s dedicated team — and its users, many of whom are global Grant Thornton firms, will benefit from fast innovation, strong alignment with audit quality, and a modern foundation for a future focused on AI.”

Existing qm.x users will not experience any disruption in pricing or service as Tellen supports and enhances the platform. This commitment applies to all current qm.x customers, regardless of network affiliation, as the platform continues to be supported and enhanced by Tellen. The platform will continue to see ongoing investment, with expanded capabilities that support how firms use AI to enhance audit quality and efficiency.

To learn more about Tellen’s AI platform, visit: www.tellen.ai

About Tellen

Tellen is an AI platform for accounting firms designed to support how work is delivered and managed across audit and accounting. The platform brings together data, AI-enabled workflows, and analysis to shape how the work is performed, reviewed, and evolves over time as AI becomes more central to the profession.

About Grant Thornton

Grant Thornton delivers professional services in the US through two specialized entities: Grant Thornton LLP, a licensed, certified public accounting (CPA) firm that provides audit and assurance services — and Grant Thornton Advisors LLC (not a licensed CPA firm), which exclusively provides non-attest offerings, including tax and advisory services.

In January 2025, Grant Thornton Advisors LLC formed a multinational, multidisciplinary platform. The platform offers a premier advisory and tax practice, as well as independent audit practices. With offices across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia Pacific region, the platform delivers a singular client experience that includes enhanced solutions and capabilities, backed by powerful technologies and a roster of more than 20,000 quality-driven professionals enjoying exceptional career-growth opportunities and a distinctive cross-border culture.

Grant Thornton is part of the Grant Thornton International Limited network, which provides access to its member firms in more than 150 global markets.

Grant Thornton LLP, Grant Thornton Advisors LLC and their respective subsidiaries operate as an alternative practice structure (APS). The APS conforms with applicable laws, regulations and professional standards, including those from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.

“Grant Thornton” refers to the brand under which the member firms in the Grant Thornton International Ltd (GTIL) network provide services to their clients and/or refers to one or more member firms. Grant Thornton LLP and Grant Thornton Advisors LLC serve as the U.S. member firms of the GTIL network. GTIL and its member firms are not a worldwide partnership and all member firms are separate legal entities. Member firms deliver all services; GTIL does not provide services to clients.

Media Contact

Joy Schwartz
Vice President of Marketing and Operations
joy@tellen.ai
+1 516 972 0114

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn how Tellen’s AI Agent Workforce powers modern accounting firms.

What is Tellen’s AI Agent Workforce?

Tellen’s AI Agent Workforce is a suite of specialized AI-powered agents designed for accounting firms. These agents automate audit workflows, financial statement preparation, and footnote disclosures while ensuring security, compliance, and transparency.

How do Tellen’s AI agents help accounting firms scale?

By automating time-intensive tasks like substantive testing, financial reporting, and consistency checks, Tellen enables firms to handle more engagements without increasing headcount. This drives higher efficiency, capacity, and profitability.

Are Tellen’s AI agents secure?

Yes. Tellen deploys directly into your firm’s cloud environment (Azure, AWS, or GCP), ensuring that sensitive client data never leaves your control. The platform is also SOC 2 Type II certified, providing enterprise-grade security and compliance.

Can Tellen’s AI agents adapt to our firm’s unique workflows?

Absolutely. Tellen’s agents are dynamic learners. They are trained on your firm’s proprietary data, policies, and tech stack, creating a shared knowledge base that evolves with each engagement.

What accounting tasks can Tellen’s agents automate?

Tellen automates tasks across every audit stage, including:

  • Planning: Research and guidance from accounting standards.
  • Fieldwork: Substantive and control testing.
  • Reporting: Drafting financial statements and footnotes.
  • Review: Consistency checks and quality scans.

How does Tellen improve audit quality?

Tellen ensures accuracy and compliance by cross-referencing data, logging every AI decision, and providing 100% traceable outputs backed by verifiable sources—so your audit files are complete, consistent, and trustworthy.

What ROI can accounting firms expect with Tellen?

Firms using Tellen report significant time savings, revenue-per-employee growth, and improved engagement capacity. For example, one firm achieved 332% ROI and saved nearly 300 hours using AI agents.

How does Tellen's pricing work?

Tellen uses outcome-based pricing—we win when you win. Unlike typical SaaS subscriptions that charge regardless of results, our pricing model is tied to the actual value delivered to your firm. This ensures our incentives are aligned with your success, not just seat counts.

Does Tellen integrate with our existing software?

Yes. Tellen integrates with Caseware and automates evidence collection through portals like Suralink today. Our extensible integration framework supports connecting to additional systems through mutual buildout—we work with you to integrate your specific tools.

How is Tellen different from generic AI tools?

Unlike generic AI or off-the-shelf automation software, Tellen is purpose-built for accounting. It is secure, compliance-focused, and continuously adapts to your firm’s unique processes, ensuring firm-specific intelligence.

How can we get started with Tellen?

You can schedule a demo or consultation via our Demo page. Our team will guide you through setup, deployment, and training so your firm can start scaling with AI-powered efficiency.