Description

Is your audit report getting the attention it deserves? By making a few simple changes, you can catch the attention of your stakeholders while maintaining your credibility. In this customized course, we will weigh a variety of ideas to refresh your reports and streamline and simplify the performance audit reporting process in order to preserve your team's sanity! This course is beneficial for both new and experienced auditors and works best when the whole team participates. New auditors learn how to use the elements of a finding to structure their message and back up their statements with firm evidence. Experienced auditors learn how to set clear expectations, quickly review audit reports, and coach staff to improve their writing. Much of our discussion will center on the five elements of a finding, as required by the GAO's Yellow Book performance audit reporting standards and suggested by the Institute of Internal Auditors.

Learning Objectives:

• Structure audit content in support of audit recommendations
• Create convincing, implementable and auditable recommendations
• Generate concise and logical findings in an hour or less
• Choose the strongest content for your finding
• Decide how much detail to share in the report
• Quantify findings
• Enhance the readability of your report
• Recognize dangerous tone and language
• Establish expectations and guidelines for creating a compelling finding
• Decide when to pursue the root cause
• Focusing the report conclusion on a finite, answerable objective
• Sort out insignificant complaints and focus on significant risks
• Choose methodologies that support performance audit report conclusions and findings
• Draft your audit findings and imagine your conclusions at the end of planning
• Gather the strongest evidence for your most controversial statements

Program Knowledge Level: Intermediate NASBA Field of Study: Auditing (Governmental) Formal Learning Program Type: Group, Self Study Learning Format: Webinar or In-Person Who Should Attend: Performance auditors who write or review audit reports Prerequisites: More than one year of audit experience Advance Preparation: None Recommended CPE Credit: 12+ Hours Instructor: Leita Hart-Fanta, CPA Questions? You can find our FAQ here.