Mastering the Five Tiers of Audit Competency: The Essence of Effective Auditing

200 Pages·2016·7.89 MB·English

by  Ann Butera

Quality Control & Reliability B
u INTERNAL AUDIT AND IT AUDIT SERIES
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Risk-based operational audits and performance audits require a broad array of r
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competencies. This book provides auditors and risk professionals with the under-
standing required to improve results during risk-based audits.
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Mastering the Five Tiers of Audit Competency: The Essence of Effective
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Auditing is an anthology of powerful risk-based auditing practices. Filled with
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practical do and don’t techniques, it encompasses the interpersonal aspects of riskt-
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based auditing, not just the technical content. r
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n Mastering the
This book details the behaviors you need to demonstrate and the habitual actiongs

you need to take at each phase in an audit to manage the people relationships as weltl
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as the work itself. Each section of this book is devoted to a component of the audit: Five Tiers of
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planning, detailed risk and control assessment, testing, audit report writing, projec t
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management, audit team management, and client relationship management. i
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The book leverages The Whole Person Project, Inc.’s 30 years of hands-on organi -
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zational development experience and custom-designed internal audit training proi-
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grams to aid those just starting out in audit as well as more experienced auditorsr.
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It also contains templates you can use to set performance goals and assess your

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progress towards achieving those goals.
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This book will spark ideas that can enhance performance, improve workinug
relationships, and make it easier to complete audits that improve your organization’ds
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risk management culture and practices. Explaining how to make positive antd

sustained changes to the way you approach your work, the book includes a summar Cy
of the key points and a brief quiz to help you remember salient ideas in each chaptero.
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Presenting proven methods and advice that can help you immediately save timep,
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reduce stress, and produce reliable, quality results, this book is an ideal resource for
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anyone looking to make positive changes and adopt more productive work habits. e
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K26588
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K26588 cvr mech.indd 1 4/1/16 3:02 PM

Internal Audit and IT Audit
Series Editor: Dan Swanson
A Guide to the National Initiative Mastering the Five Tiers of
for Cybersecurity Education (NICE) Audit Competency:
Cybersecurity Workforce Framework (2.0) The Essence of Effective Auditing
Dan Shoemaker, Anne Kohnke, and Ken Sigler Ann Butera
ISBN 978-1-4987-3996-2 ISBN 978-1-4987-3849-1
A Practical Guide to Performing Operational Assessment of IT
Fraud Risk Assessments Steve Katzman
Mary Breslin ISBN 978-1-4987-3768-5
ISBN 978-1-4987-4251-1
Operational Auditing:
Corporate Defense and the Value Principles and Techniques
Preservation Imperative: for a Changing World
Bulletproof Your Corporate Hernan Murdock
Defense Program ISBN 978-1-4987-4639-7
Sean Lyons
Securing an IT Organization
ISBN 978-1-4987-4228-3
through Governance,
Data Analytics for Internal Auditors Risk Management, and Audit
Richard E. Cascarino Ken E. Sigler and James L. Rainey, III
ISBN 978-1-4987-3714-2 ISBN 978-1-4987-3731-9
Fighting Corruption in a Security and Auditing of Smart Devices:
Global Marketplace: Managing Proliferation of
How Culture, Geography, Language Confidential Data on Corporate
and Economics Impact Audit and Fraud and BYOD Devices
Investigations around the World Sajay Rai and Philip Chuckwuma
Mary Breslin ISBN 9781498738835
ISBN 978-1-4987-3733-3
Software Quality Assurance:
Investigations and the CAE: Integrating Testing, Security,
The Design and Maintenance and Audit
of an Investigative Function Abu Sayed Mahfuz
within Internal Audit ISBN 978-1-4987-3553-7
Kevin L. Sisemore
The Complete Guide to
ISBN 978-1-4987-4411-9
Cybersecurity Risks and Controls
Internal Audit Practice from A to Z Anne Kohnke, Dan Shoemaker,
Patrick Onwura Nzechukwu and Ken E. Sigler
ISBN 978-1-4987-4205-4 ISBN 978-1-4987-4054-8
Leading the Internal Audit Function Tracking the Digital Footprint of Breaches
Lynn Fountain James Bone
ISBN 978-1-4987-3042-6 ISBN 978-1-4987-4981-7
The Whole Person Project, Inc.,
Elmont, New York, USA
CRC Press
Taylor & Francis Group
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Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742
© 2016 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business
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Contents
Preface.......................................................................................................................ix
Acknowledgments ..................................................................................................xiii
Author ......................................................................................................................xv
Chapter 1 How to Get the Most from This Book..................................................1
Chapter Contents at a Glance ...............................................................1
The Book at a Glance ...........................................................................1
Overview of the Five Tier Audit Competency Model ..........................3
Tier 1: Audit Methodology ..............................................................4
Tier 2: Documenting Audit Results at Each Step in the
Methodology ....................................................................................4
Tier 3: Project Management ............................................................5
Tier 4: Managing Audit Team Members .........................................5
Tier 5: Managing Constituent Relations ..........................................5
Some Definitions before We Start ........................................................6
Change Management ............................................................................6
How to Effect Personal Change .......................................................6
The Value of Focusing on Behavior ................................................7
Three Categories of Change ............................................................8
How Individuals React to Change ...................................................9
Specific Ways to Increase Acceptance of Change .........................11
Why Change Is Never Easy ...........................................................12
Why Targeting the Right Behavioral Change Is So Important .....13
Why Change Is Even More Difficult in Audit Departments .........14
Keys to Achieving Sustained Change ...........................................16
Chapter Summary ..............................................................................16
Quiz ....................................................................................................17
Chapter 2 Techniques for Planning Useful Audits .............................................19
Chapter Contents at a Glance .............................................................19
Definition and Benefits of the Critical Linkage™ .............................21
Applying the Critical Linkage™ ...................................................21
An Example of the Critical Linkage™ in Action ..........................25
Audit Planning Techniques ................................................................25
How to Understand the Entity under Review ................................25
Where to Get Information about the Process under Review .........27
Other Tips for Efficiency during the Planning Phase ....................31
Data-Collection Interviewing: The Funnel Approach .......................32
Putting It All Together to Set the Scope and Objectives ....................36
v
vi Contents
Managing Your Time Effectively while Planning .............................36
Estimating Time Requirements .....................................................36
Actions to Take for Better Estimates .............................................37
Chapter Wrap-Up ...............................................................................38
Chapter Summary ..............................................................................38
Quiz ....................................................................................................39
Chapter 3 Techniques for Detailed Risk and Control Assessment .....................43
Chapter Contents at a Glance .............................................................43
Just What Is Inherent Risk? ................................................................45
Using the Risk Mental Model ........................................................46
Common Risk Categories ..............................................................47
Two Categories to Exclude When Identifying Inherent Risk.............52
Exercise 3.1: Which of the Following Describe Risk Events?.......54
Exercise 3.2: Determining Root Cause .........................................55
Tips for Analyzing the Inherent Risks ..........................................55
Understanding the Nature of the Risk ...........................................55
Risk’s Effect: Assessing a Risk’s Consequences................................56
Prioritizing Risks: Defining the Terms .........................................57
Ten Key Questions to Ask to Assess Risk .....................................60
Tips for Documenting the Risks ....................................................61
Control Assessment ............................................................................62
Understanding Controls .................................................................62
Managing Risks Using Controls ....................................................62
Monitoring and Control Activities ................................................62
Criteria for Assessing the Adequacy of Control Design ...............63
Types of Controls ...............................................................................65
Tips for Writing about Controls in Narratives ...................................70
Chapter Wrap-Up ...............................................................................71
Chapter Summary ..............................................................................71
Quiz ....................................................................................................71
Chapter 4 Testing and Sampling Techniques ......................................................73
Chapter Contents at a Glance .............................................................73
Testing Techniques .............................................................................74
Types of Testing .............................................................................75
A Step-by-Step Approach to Developing Control Tests for
Operating Effectiveness .....................................................................77
Audit Sampling Techniques ...............................................................83
Chapter Wrap-Up ...............................................................................88
Chapter Summary ..............................................................................88
Quiz ....................................................................................................88
Contents vii
Chapter 5 Documentation and Issue Development: The Building Blocks
for Effective Audit Reports ................................................................91
Chapter Contents at a Glance .............................................................91
General, Four-Step Writing Process...................................................93
General Criteria for Written Communication ...............................94
Documenting the Audit: Getting Started ...........................................94
Mind-Mapping Approach ..............................................................95
“Stream of Consciousness” or “Don’t Edit while Writing”
Approach .......................................................................................96
Chronological Approach ...............................................................96
Attention Grabbing Approach .......................................................96
Rational Approach .........................................................................97
Devil’s Advocate Approach ...........................................................97
Tips for Effective Summary Writing..................................................97
Issue Development ..............................................................................99
Guidelines for Identifying Issues.................................................103
Effective Audit Documentation Techniques ....................................107
Questions to Ask Yourself When Documenting Findings ..........107
Your Role in Preparing Audit Reports ........................................107
Four Secrets to Accelerated Report Issuance ..............................108
Chapter Wrap-Up .............................................................................109
Chapter Summary ............................................................................110
Quiz ..................................................................................................110
Chapter 6 Core Competencies You Need as an Auditor ...................................113
Chapter Contents at a Glance ...........................................................113
Executive Presence in Audit .............................................................114
Critical Thinking: What Is It? ..........................................................116
Ways to Increase Critical Thinking Ability ................................117
General Guidelines for Managing Your Time .................................119
Tips for Managing up the Ladder .....................................................122
General Ways to Organize the Message You Want to
Communicate ...................................................................................122
Planning Effective Meetings ............................................................124
Building Your Facilitation Skills .....................................................125
Reporting on an Audit’s Status.........................................................126
Chapter Wrap-Up .............................................................................128
Chapter Summary ............................................................................128
Quiz ..................................................................................................128
Chapter 7 Techniques for Managing the Audit Team .......................................131
Chapter Contents at a Glance ...........................................................131
Delivering Feedback.........................................................................134
viii Contents
Tips for Preparing to Deliver TACTful Feedback .......................136
Tips for Managing a Multigenerational Workforce ..........................138
Leaders and Managers .....................................................................138
Building and Motivating Teams .......................................................140
Practical Ways to Build Your Team now (or Once You
Get One).......................................................................................140
Tips for Getting Teams to Perform ..............................................143
How to Delegate ..........................................................................143
Tips for Motivating Others without Money .................................145
How to Create Organizational Change ........................................146
Chapter Summary ............................................................................147
Quiz ..................................................................................................148
Chapter 8 Techniques for Managing the Constituent Relationship ..................151
Techniques for Achieving a Positive First Impression .....................152
Tips for Making Small Talk ........................................................154
Influencing Techniques ....................................................................157
Strategies for Increased Influencing Ability ................................158
Dealing with Different Behavioral Styles ...................................159
Diagnosing Others’ Styles ...........................................................162
Delivering Technical Information to Nontechnical People ..............163
Five Tips for Making the Abstract Concrete ...............................163
Techniques for Delivering Bad News ..........................................165
Tips to Soften the Blow ....................................................................166
Techniques for Overcoming Objections ......................................167
Fundamental Rules for Handling Objections ...................................167
Exercise 8.1: Overcoming Constituent Objections to Issues ............169
Tips for Managing the Constituent Relationship Efficiently .......169
Chapter Wrap-Up .............................................................................170
Chapter Summary ............................................................................171
Quiz ..................................................................................................171
Chapter 9 Chapter Quiz Answers .....................................................................173
Chapter 1: How to Get The Most from This Book ...........................173
Chapter 2: Techniques for Planning Useful Audits ..........................173
Chapter 3: Techniques for Detailed Risk and Control Assessment .....174
Chapter 4: Testing and Sampling Techniques ..................................175
Chapter 5: Documentation and Issue Development .........................175
Chapter 6: Core Competencies You Need as an Auditor .................176
Chapter 7: Techniques for Managing the Audit Team .....................176
Chapter 8: Techniques for Managing the Constituent Relationship......177
Bibliography .........................................................................................................179