Report Writing and Communication Skills for Auditors

By the end of this training course, participants will be able to:

• Simplify your reports and enhance their readability
• Significantly enhance the impact of your reports
• Make your reports easier to write, easier to review and easier for management to implement
• Improve the acceptance and implementation of your recommendations
• Use all your interpersonal skills more efficiently
• Manage your time more effectively
• Negotiate more successful outcomes
• Apply proven listening skills

CONTENT

Audit Reports – Your Shop Window

• The challenges of audit reporting
• The main problems with audit reports
• The need to create impact
• Analysis of 4 actual reports
• Evaluation of your own reports – using a proven method
• The Executive summary

Best Practice Audit Reports

• The psychology of audit reports
• Writing reports with impact
• The need to make reports more positive
• How to simplify the content
• Highlighting the issues that really matter
• Improving the review process

Keeping the Report as Simple as Possible

• The main report
• Writing a clear, concise report
• Forming and expressing the audit opinion
• Recommendations and action plans
• Finalising the report
• The need for follow-up – should this be carried by IA?

Effective Communication – the Key Audit Goal

• The challenges for auditors
• The characteristics of effective communication
• The impact on productivity of clear communication
• Interpersonal skills for auditors
• Influencing
• The power of senior management and stakeholder engagement

Negotiation and Listening

• The power of Effective negotiation
• Negotiating during each audit phase
• The need for win-win solutions
• Listening – the most important audit skill?
• Types of listening and the importance for IA
• Time Management

TRAINING METHODOLOGY

The training methodology combines lectures, discussions, group exercises and illustrations. Participants will gain both theoretical and practical knowledge of the topics. The emphasis is on the practical application of the topics and as a result participant will go back to the workplace with both the ability and the confidence to apply the techniques learned to their duties.