- The first portion of your audit is the planning stage. A few things take place during this crucial portion of the audit. First, the parties being audited are notified of the audit. The most professional way to inform them is by written letter, however, a quick note or e-mail will do just fine. This is also the time to spell out the parameters of the audit to the parties, explaining why the audit has been initiated, and what will be examined. Open the floor for questions or concerns that the party being audited may have; you want to be sure that you address them all before the auditing begins.
- The fieldwork stage encompasses all the review, research and communication that will be necessary to write an informational and unbiased audit report. This part of the procedure may be drastically different for each type of audit, however, it boils down to the auditor getting his hands dirty to get the best information possible. Numbers should be examined, involved parties should be communicated with and a comprehensive list of findings should be created to use in a report later. Keep your findings organized so that you can easily compile your findings to process your report.
- The audit report represents the auditor's findings. Hard facts and figures are discussed, such as earning reports or productivity numbers, and the auditor makes analytical observances. The auditor should conclude the report with her recommendations to the person who ordered the audit. Do not take this portion of the auditing procedure lightly; much weight is placed on the recommendations and findings of an auditor. Because of this, an auditor must be held solely responsible for her research, findings, facts and figures, and must be willing to put her name behind it as a reliable source. A clean audit is worth its weight in gold in the business world, and as an auditor, following proper procedure can ensure that you are able to present one.
