During an exit interview, senior management disagrees with some of the facts presented in the draft audit report and wants them removed from the report.
Which of the following would be the auditor's BEST course of action?
Click on the arrows to vote for the correct answer
A. B. C. D.A.
The BEST course of action for the auditor in this situation would be to option C - Escalate the issue to audit management.
Explanation:
The purpose of an audit is to assess the accuracy and completeness of the information presented in the audited area. Therefore, it is essential that the audit report accurately reflects the audit findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
In this scenario, senior management is disagreeing with some of the facts presented in the draft audit report and wants them removed from the report. It is natural for auditees to be defensive when audit findings are presented. However, the auditor must remain objective and impartial throughout the audit process.
The auditor should first review the objections raised by senior management to ensure that they are valid and relevant. If the objections are not supported by evidence, the auditor can explain the basis for the findings and try to resolve the objections through discussion.
If the objections are valid and supported by evidence, the auditor may need to revise the audit report to reflect the new information. However, the auditor should exercise caution in revising the report and ensure that the changes do not compromise the accuracy or completeness of the findings.
If the objections cannot be resolved through discussion, the auditor should escalate the issue to audit management for further review. The audit management can review the objections raised by senior management and the evidence supporting the audit findings and determine the appropriate course of action.
In summary, the auditor's primary responsibility is to provide an accurate and complete assessment of the audited area. The auditor should remain objective and impartial, review any objections raised by senior management, and escalate the issue to audit management if necessary.