Key Communication Skills for Auditors and Assurance Professionals
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Key Communication Skills for Auditors and Assurance Professionals Course
Introduction:
In today's business environment, the audit department's performance is often evaluated based on the quality of its primary deliverable: the audit report. The effectiveness of the entire audit process can be influenced by the quality of the report itself. Therefore, it is crucial that the audit report is professional, effectively communicates the intended message, and is presented in a clear, concise, and unambiguous manner.
This course is specifically designed to empower auditors with the skills and techniques necessary to write and structure persuasive and impactful audit reports. Participants will learn how to craft reports that not only convey the findings and recommendations accurately but also inspire readers to take appropriate action.
Through this course, auditors will acquire essential writing skills, including effective communication strategies, report organization techniques, and the use of language that engages and motivates the intended audience. By mastering these skills, participants will be able to produce audit reports that are influential, compelling, and compelling, thereby maximizing their impact on decision-making processes within the organization.
Join us in this course to enhance your ability to create audit reports that leave a lasting impression. By mastering the art of persuasive report writing, you will be able to effectively communicate audit findings, drive meaningful change, and contribute to the overall success and improvement of your organization.
Course Objectives:
At the end of this Key Communication Skills for Auditors and Assurance Professionals Course, learners will be able to do:
- Distinguish barriers to effective written communication and how to overcome them
- Structure of the audit report for impact
- Present audit findings in a clear and concise manner
- Identify the target audience and adapt their writing accordingly
- Produce an organized and structured audit report draft
Who Should Attend?
This course is suitable for all internal and IT auditors who are required to produce and edit audit reports.
Course Outlines:
Introduction to Report Writing
- Value of the audit report
- Measuring return
- Ensuring a “need” fit
- Maintaining quality control
- Elements of written communication
- Barriers to written communication
- Constructs of written communication
- Clear writing techniques
- The writing act
- Preparing to write
- Writing the first draft
The Audit Report Findings and Structure
- Audit findings and their presentation
- Structuring an audit report
- Areas to cover
- Determine the audience
- Likely findings
- Technical appendices
- Summarizing working papers into the reportable narrative
- Use of planning worksheets
- Differing types of reports
Drafting the Audit Report
- Analyzing the prospective audience
- Who the audience is
- Number of readers
- Organizational status
- Knowledge background
- Attitude to audit
- Personal agendas
- Hot topics
- Key stakeholders
- Writing the draft
- Scheduling time
- Writing as you go
- Structuring your thoughts
- Draft quickly and polish later
- Use of clear writing techniques
- Evaluation of the draft
- Checking for substance and strategy
- Capturing and maintaining the reader’s attention
Editing the Audit Report
- Editing the report
- Bottleneck
- Causes of auditor frustration
- The "Kilroy was here" syndrome
- Editing for substance, readability, correctness, and style
- Editing others’ work
- Applying appropriate levels of editing
- To change or not to change?
- Build the writer's pride in authorship
- Building a desire to write well
The Final Audit Report
- Production of the final version
- Polishing the report
- Deciding distribution
- Management responses
- Audit replies
- Selling the report
- Writing the summary
- Supporting evidence
- Conducting report presentations
- Responding to questions