The objective of any report is to provide important information to management in the area reviewed. It represents the end result of weeks of reviews, analyses, interviews and discussions. The quality of that report will have an impact on how well the report is understood and accepted. The best information and recommendations may not be acted upon if the report is poorly written. Poor quality reports can result in management:
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Misunderstanding the information
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Getting too little information
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Getting too much information
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Getting incorrect information
Ideally, the audit report should provide management with enough information to understand:
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What was done
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What was found
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What management should do
How well you communicate that information is critical to getting management’s acceptance of your findings and their agreement with your recommendations. A well-written audit report adds value to your clients by providing information that is:
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Accurate
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Objective
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Clear
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Concise
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Constructive
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Complete
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Timely