Course Outline: Audit Reporting (8 hours)

Objectives

• Understand auditing standards relevant to audit reports
• Learn how to translate audit findings into draft audit messages for an audit report
• Discuss best practice techniques to develop reader-friendly, high-impact audit reports
• Discuss methods for reporting audit reports beyond written reports

Short Description

In this course attendees will learn how to identify audit report messages and develop clear and impactful audit reports. Using real-world government audit examples, the course will cover audit messages and reporting best practices as well as requirements in auditing standards for reporting. Attendees will also practice drafting report messages, reviewing audit reports, and summarizing reports.    

Course Outline

Audit Reporting

        Overview of the reporting process [can customize]

What the standards say about reporting?

Turning findings into audit messages

Exercise 1: Draft report messages using a finding

Drafting an audit report

Sidebar: Drafting Recommendations

Reporting guidance and best practices

        Clear and concise

        Plain language

Active voice

Conscious word choice

Use of graphics

        Reviewing an audit report

Exercise 2: Review an audit report

Drafting summary documents (highlights, executive summary, blurb)

Exercise 3: Re-write a highlights document for a report  

        Exercise 4: Develop a one-paragraph summary of a report