CFO Series: How to Survive an Audit and Avoid Pitfalls!

Overview

If the word “audit” makes your team groan, you’re not alone. Whether it’s an internal review, a regulatory exam, or a full-blown financial audit, most finance and accounting teams face scrutiny from multiple directions. This seminar helps participants understand what auditors are really looking for, how to align your goals with theirs, and what you can do to make the audit process smoother, less stressful, and more productive. You’ll learn what to expect during each phase of the audit-planning, fieldwork, and reporting and walk away with practical strategies to improve your communication, documentation, and overall preparedness. Whether you’re supporting an external audit, prepping for compliance testing, or working with internal auditors, this session will help your team respond with clarity, confidence, and professionalism. We will show you how to streamline the audit process so it is easier for you and for the auditors, which saves time and money.

Highlights

The major topics that will be covered in this course include:

Types of audits: external, internal, compliance, regulatory, objectives of each audit type, and how they differ
Aligning management’s role with auditor expectations
What to expect in the planning phase
Fieldwork survival tips and communication best practices
Documentation dos and don’ts
Responding to findings and building effective action plans
Avoiding common audit pitfalls

Prerequisites

None, preferably at least six (6) months of professional financial statement analysis experience and/or at least six (6) months of professional experience in preparing or reviewing accounting processes and reports; experience working with internal clients or external clients and business leaders.

Designed For

Financial leaders, financial managers, CEOs, CFOs, controllers, accountants, board members, advisors, and consultants; CPAs in public practice and CPAs in industry; business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals who are interested in realizing more value from the organization.

Objectives

After attending this presentation, you will be able to...

Distinguish between internal, external, and compliance audits
Identify audit objectives and how to support them during engagements
Prepare effectively for the planning and fieldwork phases
Improve communication with auditors and reduce common audit friction
Respond confidently and constructively to audit findings