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KPMG strengthens System of Quality Management framework to drive continuous audit quality improvement in Hong Kong

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Empowering people with technology to deliver high-quality audits and strengthen public trust

HONG KONG, June 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — KPMG today announced the release of its Hong Kong Audit Quality Report 2025, outlining plans to strengthen its System of Quality Management (SOQM) framework to drive continuous improvement across all audit engagements. The report also highlights how the firm continues to strengthen audit quality through innovation, digital transformation, and investment in its people. Together, these efforts demonstrate KPMG’s commitment to delivering high-quality audit and assurance services that support confidence in the capital markets and reinforce public trust.

Audit quality remains fundamental to KPMG’s ambition to be the most trusted and trustworthy professional services organisation. As technological advances continue to reshape the business landscape, KPMG is transforming its audit practice through the strategic integration of artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and innovative digital solutions, while maintaining the highest standards of professional excellence, ethics, and integrity.

The report highlights significant enhancement in the firm’s digital transformation journey as part of the Global Quality Framework. During the year, KPMG expanded the functionality of its Audit Application Platform (AAP), a centralised digital hub that connects audit solutions, workflow monitoring, and support services. The firm also developed and deployed innovative audit applications, including KPMG Clara AI Chat, which enables auditors to interrogate audit documentation, access KPMG’s knowledge base, and benefit from generative AI-powered coaching and productivity enhancements. In addition, KPMG’s Vouching Platform was introduced to improve audit quality through a standardised workflow and enhanced control points for audit procedures. These developments form part of KPMG’s broader commitment to responsible AI adoption under its Trusted AI framework.

While technology continues to transform the audit profession, KPMG recognises that people remain at the heart of every audit. Through its firm-wide Digitalisation of Audit programme, the firm is investing in developing future-ready audit professionals by enhancing data literacy, AI prompt engineering capabilities and technology confidence across all levels of the audit practice. KPMG has continued to recruit specialised talent, including data scientists, while also expanding initiatives such as its Audit Tech Pioneers programme, AI-chat hackathons, and innovation competitions to encourage continuous learning and innovation. During 2025, the firm delivered more than 110 technology workshops and coaching sessions in Hong Kong, helping to upskill more than 3,400 professionals on the latest audit technologies and digital solutions.

The report also underscores KPMG’s continued focus on fostering a strong culture of quality. Towards the end of 2025, the firm held an Audit Quality Week, bringing together more than 600 audit professionals across Hong Kong through a series of in-person and virtual activities designed to reinforce quality-focused behaviours ahead of the audit peak season. The programme increased awareness of key themes emerging from internal and external inspections, highlighted the firm’s quality initiatives, and encouraged reflection on lessons learned from previous audits.

KPMG’s commitment to quality is further reflected in the results of its latest Global People Survey. The survey found that 98 percent of respondents agreed that the commitment to quality is apparent in what we do on a day-to-day basis, while 99 percent agreed that the culture and tone set by leadership prioritise the importance of audit quality. These findings demonstrate the strength of KPMG’s SOQM and the firm’s ongoing commitment to continuous improvement.

Ivy Cheung, Senior Partner in Hong Kong SAR and Vice Chairman of KPMG China, says: “Trust is the foundation of well-functioning capital markets, and audit quality is fundamental to earning and maintaining that trust. As the business environment continues to evolve, we are investing in innovation and strengthening our governance frameworks to deliver audits that are transparent, reliable, and of the highest quality. We also value the perspectives of our key stakeholders and actively seek and act on their feedback, which helps us continuously enhance our audit and assurance quality, and respond to the evolving needs of the market.”

Wilson Lee, Head of Audit, Hong Kong SAR, KPMG China, says: “While technology is transforming the audit profession, people remain at the heart of every audit. Through our Digitalisation of Audit programme and continued investment in upskilling, we are equipping our professionals with the skills and confidence to harness emerging technologies responsibly and effectively. Guided by our Values, our people are united by a commitment to integrity, collaboration, and quality, creating a culture that drives continuous improvement and innovation across our audit practice.”

To learn more about KPMG’s initiatives and investments in audit quality, download the Audit Quality Report 2025.

About KPMG
KPMG in China has offices located in 31 cities with over 14,000 partners and staff, in Beijing, Changchun, Changsha, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Dongguan, Foshan, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Haikou, Hangzhou, Hefei, Jinan, Nanjing, Nantong, Ningbo, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenyang, Shenzhen, Suzhou, Taiyuan, Tianjin, Wuhan, Wuxi, Xiamen, Xi’an, Zhengzhou, Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR. It started operations in Hong Kong in 1945. In 1992, KPMG became the first international accounting network to be granted a joint venture licence in the Chinese Mainland. In 2012, KPMG became the first among the “Big Four” in the Chinese Mainland to convert from a joint venture to a special general partnership.

KPMG is a global organisation of independent professional services firms providing Audit, Tax and Advisory services. KPMG is the brand under which the member firms of KPMG International Limited (“KPMG International”) operate and provide professional services. “KPMG” is used to refer to individual member firms within the KPMG organisation or to one or more member firms collectively.

KPMG firms operate in 138 countries and territories with more than 276,000 partners and employees working in member firms around the world. Each KPMG firm is a legally distinct and separate entity and describes itself as such. Each KPMG member firm is responsible for its own obligations and liabilities.

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SOURCE KPMG

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Texas Instruments board declares third quarter 2026 quarterly dividend

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DALLAS, July 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The board of directors of Texas Instruments Incorporated (Nasdaq: TXN) today declared a quarterly cash dividend of $1.42 per share of common stock, payable August 11, 2026, to stockholders of record on July 31, 2026.   

About Texas Instruments

Texas Instruments Incorporated (Nasdaq: TXN) is a global semiconductor company that designs, manufactures and sells analog and embedded processing chips for markets such as industrial, automotive, data center, personal electronics and communications equipment. At our core, we have a passion to create a better world by making electronics more affordable through semiconductors. This passion is alive today as each generation of innovation builds upon the last to make our technology more reliable, more affordable and lower power, making it possible for semiconductors to go into electronics everywhere. Learn more at TI.com.

TXN-G

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SOURCE Texas Instruments Incorporated

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Drake Expands End-to-End Professional Services with Launch of Drake Audit Defense™

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New post-filing audit defense service extends Drake Software’s support beyond tax preparation, helping firms save time while delivering greater value to clients.

FRANKLIN, N.C., July 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Drake Software, a leader in professional tax preparation solutions, today announced the launch of Drake Audit Defense™, a new post-filing audit defense service designed to help tax professionals better support their clients after a return is filed. The new offering represents another step in Drake’s continued investment in delivering integrated products and services that support tax professionals throughout the entire client journey—from intake to post-filing.

Enrollment for Drake Audit Defense is available now for Drake Software customers for Tax Year 2026 returns. Customers can enroll by logging into their account at DrakeSoftware.com

Drake Audit Defense provides tax professionals with an easy-to-offer service that helps clients navigate eligible IRS and state tax notices, audit assistance, and qualifying tax-related identity theft assistance. By reducing the administrative burden associated with post-filing issues, firms can spend less time managing notices and audits while providing additional value and peace of mind to their clients.

“Tax professionals are looking for more than software—they’re looking for solutions that help them run more efficient practices and deliver exceptional client experiences,” said Alice Curry, Chief Customer Offer. “Drake Audit Defense is another example of how we’re expanding the Drake ecosystem with integrated services that support firms before, during, and after tax season.”

“Our goal is to make it easy for firms to manage the products and services they rely on in one connected Drake experience,” said Curry. “By integrating Drake Audit Defense alongside our growing portfolio of workflow solutions and enhancements, we’re giving customers greater visibility into their practice, fewer administrative tasks, and a simpler way to manage their business while delivering even more value to their clients.”

Drake Audit Defense is designed specifically for Drake Software customers and integrates seamlessly into existing workflows, making it simple to enroll clients during the tax preparation process while providing trusted support by credentialed tax experts when post-filing issues arise.

About Drake Software

For more than four decades, Drake Software has provided innovative tax preparation and practice management solutions that help tax professionals serve their clients with confidence. Today, Drake continues to expand its ecosystem with integrated products and services that support firms from client intake through post-filing, helping practices work more efficiently while delivering exceptional client experiences.

Media Contact:
Colleen Woods Heikka
Sr. Director, Product Marketing
Colleen.woods@Taxact.com

+1-781-588-6339

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SOURCE Drake Software, LLC

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IronSpark Studios Launches in Birmingham, AL

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IronSpark is a new creative studio focused on animation, game development, and interactive experiences.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., July 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Storytelling has a new home in Birmingham, Alabama, with the launch of IronSpark Studios, a creative media company focused on animation, game development, and interactive experiences. Guided by its mission to build stories that engage, excite, and entertain, IronSpark Studios develops original and client-driven intellectual property and digital experiences.

Production is shifting away from traditional big studios and moving rapidly toward independent creators and agile, small studios. Founded on the belief that world-class creative belongs in Birmingham, IronSpark Studios collaborates with local creatives, businesses and organizations while working to attract animation, game development and interactive media production to the region.

“Our vision is to create experiences that inspire audiences, spark imagination and leave a lasting impact,” said Brass Bralley, co-founder and managing director. “We believe Birmingham is a place where creative talent can grow, collaborate and help shape the future of storytelling.”

The studio operates through three divisions—Animation, Games and Interactive—creating content for film, commercial projects, video games, immersive exhibits and emerging digital experiences.

IronSpark Studios is partnering with clients and intellectual property owners while developing original projects of its own, helping bring more animation, game development, and interactive media production to Birmingham.

“I’ve chosen to build many businesses in the Birmingham ecosystem, and the choice to build IronSpark here was a simple one,” said Mazi Rasulnia, co-founder and consulting partner.  “Birmingham has a vibrant community of innovators and creators, and IronSpark will be a great addition.”

Among those projects is its first original animated short film, The Purple Sky Peanut Butter Club. Based on a true story of heroism and sacrifice, the dialogue-free animated short explores the power of small traditions and their ability to provide healing through grief and transcend generations.

“The stories we create are meant to connect people,” said Wink Winkler, co-founder and head of creative. “Whether that’s through film, series, a video game or an interactive experience, at the end of the day, the story is at the heart of everything we create.” 

Contact: Brass Bralley, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Brass@ironsparkstudios.com

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SOURCE IronSpark Studios

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