If the word "audit" makes your team groan, you're not alone. Whether it's an internal review, a regulatory exam, or a full-blown financial audit, most finance and accounting teams face scrutiny from multiple directions. This seminar helps participants understand what auditors are really looking for, how to align your goals with theirs, and what you can do to make the audit process smoother, less stressful, and more productive. You'll learn what to expect during each phase of the audit-planning, fieldwork, and reporting and walk away with practical strategies to improve your communication, documentation, and overall preparedness. Whether you're supporting an external audit, prepping for compliance testing, or working with internal auditors, this session will help your team respond with clarity, confidence, and professionalism. We will show you how to streamline the audit process so it is easier for you and for the auditors, which saves time and money.
Learning Objectives
After attending this presentation, you will be able to...
- Distinguish between internal, external, and compliance audits
- Identify audit objectives and how to support them during engagements
- Prepare effectively for the planning and fieldwork phases
- Improve communication with auditors and reduce common audit friction
- Respond confidently and constructively to audit findings
Major Topics
The major topics that will be covered in this course include:
- Types of audits: external, internal, compliance, regulatory, objectives of each audit type, and how they differ
- Aligning management’s role with auditor expectations
- What to expect in the planning phase
- Fieldwork survival tips and communication best practices
- Documentation dos and don’ts
- Responding to findings and building effective action plans
- Avoiding common audit pitfalls
