# Writing Audit Reports by Objectives Course (Self-Paced) Canonical URL: ## Overview Accepted practice in performance auditing is to begin an audit with objectives based on user needs and to develop a report that answers those objectives. This course is grounded on the concept that using audit objectives as the logical, integrated basis for planning through reporting helps you organize your message and write reports that succinctly communicate the audit results. This course includes two comprehensive case studies and 15+ practice exercises based on real-world audit scenarios. In practice exercises, write audit objectives that, when answered, will tell audit results as a story. In a case exercise, use a report conference to reach an agreement on the message before writing, organize the report message to answer the audit objectives, and write a finding synopsis. ## What you'll learn - Design a report to solve the problem of multiple audiences. - Explain the effect objectives have on findings and message formulation. - Write objectives for process-oriented and results-oriented audits that identify performance aspects and finding elements to be developed, and form an outline for the report. - Organize a finding that answers the audit objectives using different methods and advance organizers such as captions and topic sentences. - Apply general guidelines for selecting appropriate visual aids. ## Curriculum #### Module 1: How Report Structure Serves Various Audiences - Identify key audiences for audit reports - Structure audit reports to meet audience needs - Elements of effective audit findings - Understand the traditional finding model (criteria, condition, effect, cause) - Analyze real audit examples #### Module 2: How Auditing and Reporting Form a Coherent Process - Understand auditing and reporting as a unified process - Role of audit objectives in planning - Developing audit objectives through survey work - Apply a formula for writing well-defined audit objectives #### Module 3: How Objectives Determine Finding Content - Differences between result-oriented and process-oriented objectives - Components of findings driven by objectives - Write effective objectives for audits - Compare how findings differ based on results-focused vs. process-focused objectives #### Module 4: How an Audit Plan is Built from Objectives - Selecting audit scope and methodology - Identifying and gathering appropriate data - Formulating subobjectives for comprehensive audits - Use a design matrix to document the audit plan #### Module 5: How to Move from Data to Findings - Analyzing data to derive meaningful findings - Constructing a clear and concise findings synopsis - Meeting audit quality and content requirements - Use a story conference approach to reach team consensus on audit messages - Apply Yellow Book (Government Auditing Standards) report requirements #### Module 6: How to Use Advance Organizers for a Coherent Report - Using topic sentences and captions effectively - Implementing visual aids to enhance readability - Structuring reports for clarity and coherence - Write captions that tell the story of the audit finding ## Pricing **Tuition:** $1199