Custom PCAOB Webinar with Spanish Subtitles Empowers South American Firms
Client challenge
An accounting firm based in Argentina with 10 offices and more than 600 specialists (accountants, auditors, lawyers, economists, actuaries and engineers) has established itself as a professional reference across Tax, Auditing, Consulting, Legal Services, SMEs, actuarial Services, Banking and Financial Services. As the largest locally capitalized professional services firm in Argentina, they have maintained a leadership position for years and are ranked 6th in the audit ranking by prominent business magazines.
Despite their strong market presence, the firm was preparing to take on a substantial role in a PCAOB audit, which required registration and a thorough understanding of evolving U.S. regulatory standards. To ensure their audit teams were fully aligned with these requirements and equipped to address common deficiencies frequently flagged during inspections, the firm sought an audit update course that combined high-level technical training with targeted guidance on key areas.
To support this need, we developed customized live webinars, blending both technical updates and practical training focused on the most pressing PCAOB standards and inspection findings. The session covered essential topics such as Group Audit Requirements (AS 1201 and AS 1206), Independence Rules, Audit Documentation (AS 1215), and Consideration of Fraud Under AS 2401, with particular emphasis on management override and journal entry testing.
Given the firm’s specialization in Life, Loans, and Annuities, the training also addressed common findings specific to this area, including evaluating audit results, assessing risk, and auditing estimates—especially where PCAOB standards differ from ISAs. The webinar included updates on recently issued standards and proposals, such as AS 1000 and QC 1000, along with guidance on confirmation procedures, responding to engagement deficiencies, and technology-assisted analysis. To round out the session, we incorporated reminders from the latest PCAOB Audit Focus and Spotlight documents, reinforcing best practices around Accounting Estimates, Use of Specialists, journal entries, Illegal Acts, and Independence. This tailored approach ensured the firm’s auditors were well-prepared, informed, and fully audit-ready.
Delivering the material through a live webinar? That was easy. But making it accessible to a team where many of the younger professionals don’t speak English? That’s where things got a bit more challenging. The client needed training in Spanish; meanwhile, our in-house CPAs at GAAP Dynamics were doing their best with a well-meaning “no hablo Español.” It quickly became clear that to make the training truly effective, we’d need to find a way to bridge the language gap without losing the quality or technical accuracy of the content.
Our solution
Working closely with the firm’s leadership, we developed a tailored 2-hour webinar hosted on our ON24 platform for English-speaking professionals. This live format allowed participants to engage directly with our instructors, asking questions and interacting with their peers in real time. Attending the live session also enabled them to earn 2.0 CPE credits.
For team members who are not fluent in English, we recorded the entire webinar and used a platform called Sonix to generate Spanish subtitles from the audio. This ensured that everyone could access the training content effectively, regardless of their language proficiency.
Step 1: Upload Your Audio File
Start by uploading your audio file to the platform. This could be any type of spoken content you’d like to transcribe.
Step 2: Create the Initial Transcript
The system will automatically generate a transcript based on the audio in the original language.
Step 3: Review and Make Edits
Go through the transcript to check for accuracy. Make any necessary edits for clarity, correct terminology, or formatting.
Step 4: Open the Translation Feature
Once you’re happy with the transcript, navigate to the translation section within the platform.
Step 5: Select a Language
Choose the language you’d like to translate the transcript into from the list of available options.
Step 6: Let the Translation Process
The platform will process the translation automatically, which may take a few moments.
Step 7: Use Your Translated Text
After it’s complete, you can use the translated version however you need—such as for subtitles, captions, or documentation.
Their transformation
By combining live, interactive training for English-speaking professionals with accurately subtitled recordings for Spanish-speaking team members, we were able to deliver a seamless, inclusive learning experience that met the firm’s diverse needs. This approach not only ensured compliance with evolving PCAOB standards but also empowered every auditor, regardless of language, to stay informed and confident in their roles.
This experience has opened up exciting new possibilities for GAAP Dynamics to better support our clients around the globe. In the past, when clients asked if we could deliver webinar training in their native languages (Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, etc.) we had to (regretfully) say “no, no, no.” But now? We’re thrilled to say “sí, sim, hai!” With new tools and creative solutions in place, language is no longer a barrier to delivering high-quality, impactful training worldwide.