NOTE: This course was formerly known as Developing Audit Observations.
As a significant amount of time is committed to an internal audit engagement, a clear and actionable audit finding is critical to communicate issues noted during the engagement. Audit findings provide management, the board, and stakeholders with adequate detail and an objective summary of an organization’s operations, risks, and controls, as well as a thorough summary of the audit work performed. Audit findings are the means by which internal audit communicates audit results. But what does it take to develop an actionable audit finding, and what signifies an audit finding as actionable?
This highly interactive course provides internal auditors with timely insights into how to utilize critical-thinking techniques to make audit findings actionable. This course is not focused on the act of audit report writing, but rather on the foundational component of audit reporting — an effective audit finding. This course reviews the common writing mistakes that impact an internal auditor’s ability to effectively communicate audit findings. During this course, participants will practice writing audit findings, as well as review audit findings for peers.
Course Objectives
- Explore the importance of critical thinking when developing audit findings.
- Identify good writing strategies.
- Utilize good writing strategies to improve writing quality.
- Practice how to develop audit findings that are accurate, objective, clear, concise, constructive, complete, timely, and actionable.
- Develop audit findings that articulate the connection between the evaluation criteria and the condition, and explain how the findings can impact the ability of the activity under review to meet organizational objectives.
- Explain the importance of conducting team vetting of audit findings.
Course Topics
- Value of Audit Findings
- Audit finding guidance.
- Why audit findings are written.
- Users and readers of audit findings.
- Importance of applying critical thinking when developing audit findings.
- Overcoming Common Mistakes in Writing Audit Findings
- Writing strategies to ensure conformance with the Global Internal Audit Standards, particularly Standard 11.2 Effective Communication.
- Techniques to properly address technical terminology in writing audit findings.
- Vetting audit findings to overcome common writing mistakes.
- Developing Effective Audit Findings
- Components of an audit finding.
- Composing audit findings so they are actionable.
- Developing audit findings.
- Vetting your writing with teammates to improve audit findings.
Who Should Attend:
By participating in this course, internal auditors in all sectors and at all levels will be able to recognize what should be included in an effective and actionable audit finding that will meet professional standards. By honing critical thinking and writing skills, internal auditors can distinguish themselves as effective communicators and trusted advisors.
Summary Info
CPE Hours Available: 8
NASBA Knowledge Level: Basic
NASBA Field of Study: Personal Development
Competency Level: Applied Knowledge
Prerequisites: None
Advance Preparation: None
Topic(s): Audit Methodology
IIA Competencies: Performance
