Write reports that pinpoint risks and generate action
For:Internal Auditors
Level: Juniors to leaders
Time:1 day
Internal auditors need to provide clear findings and actionable recommendations. Your organisation’s leaders rely on you when they are deciding how to manage risks and enhance performance.
Strong report-writing skills are an essential part of your work as an internal auditor. Your executive summaries need to state the most significant issues in a business area. Your reports need to describe the key risks in the controls, processes and culture. Your ratings need to be supported by strong evidence that is delivered with the appropriate level of detail. Your recommendations need to be practical as well as rigorous.
This programme is designed to meet internal auditors’ specific needs. It will help you and your team write clear reports that analyse a business area’s problems and sell the benefits of addressing them properly.
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Your team will be able to:
- Write clear, persuasive reports that work for senior management, function leaders and regulators
- Answer their audiences’ most pressing questions and help them make good decisions
- Enable your organisation to strengthen its risk management, controls and governance
Content for Report Writing for Internal Auditors
You and your team will learn about:
Excellence in business writing
- Readers’ choice – acknowledging that people always have a choice about whether they read and act upon your reports or not
Relevance
Planning what you’re going to say
- Purpose – defining what you want to achieve
- Audience – considering your audiences’ needs, especially for people who don’t share your expertise
- Message – clearly stating your main findings and recommendations
- Structure – building your argument using an enhanced outline
- Content – identifying what to add in and cut out to fit your audience’s interests
Readability
Making your writing work for your readers
- Skim-readable – using reader-friendly layout and message sub-headings
- Bite-sizeable – using short paragraphs and short sentences
- Clear – explaining technical terms and using simple words
- Vivid – using mostly active voice and powerful verbs for actions
- Concise – deleting unnecessary words
Writing findings for action
- Analysis – describing problems and risks, and their impact on a business area
- Recommendations – providing actionable advice so leaders can make effective decisions
- Options – explaining options thoroughly
- Sensitivities – handling contentious issues carefully
Writing persuasively
- Executive summaries – sharing the most important findings and recommendations at the top of your report
- Scope – briefly describing the background and parameters of your report
- Openings – capturing your audience’s attention
- Flow – improving flow using sub-headings, signposts and connectors
- Closings – finishing with a compelling call-to-action
Reviewing and editing your reports
- Preparation – getting draft reports ready for review by project leaders
- Key messages – checking that risks and root causes are properly explained
- Proofreading – using a game-changing technique and Microsoft’s tools to efficiently spot mistakes in your own work
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Testimonials
“One of the best trainings I’ve had since I became an auditor. Tailored to the context and supported with facts and research.”
“Very clear content, useful in real life and directly applicable”
“Margaret is a great communicator. She brings the topic to life and makes it interesting and easy-to-follow”.
Participants, London Stock Exchange Group
Your training programme will include implementation resources and support to help your team make fast progress with their writing skills.
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My training draws on my 25 years’ experience as a business writer, presenter and communications professional.
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I’m based in London and work with clients
across the UK and internationally.
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If you’d like to have a chat about Report Writing for Internal Auditors for your team, please send me a message.