Optimizing Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Interviewing is a very important skill in the internal audit process. To effectively communicate and ease the concerns of the auditee is as important as an effective audit process. This one-day course will take attendees through the entire interview process, learning best practices for each step and how to manage different personalities.

Financial, Operational, and Information Technology Auditors who would like to maximize the effectiveness of audit interviews.

• Overview of best practices in audit interviewing, including personality types and interview preparation
• Learn the step-by-step audit interview process and learn best practices for each step
• Learn how to listen actively and read physical cues

I. Introductions

II. Stories and Background

III. Types of Information Obtained from Audit Interviews
     a. What an Audit Interview is Not
     b. Direct versus Indirect Information
     c. What are We Looking for

IV. Planning/Preparing for an Audit Interview
     a. Objectives
     b. Questions and Information Requests
     c. Participants
     d. Meeting
     e. Location
     f. Time
     g. Handouts

V. Conducting and Controlling Audit Interviews
     a. Types of Questions to Ask
     b. Physical Settings
     c. Small Talk and Knowing the Room
     d. Interview Tone

VI. Managing Different Personality Types

VII. Handling Challenging Auditees

VIII. Active Listening

IX. Physical Listening

X. Analyzing Interview Results

XI. Documenting Your Interview

XII. Utilizing Interview Results