Reporting is the final step in an audit and is in many ways the most important. How findings are presented and how recommendations are communicated in reporting can make the difference between an internal auditor's work being useful or forgotten. Considerations include timeliness, relevance, and effectiveness in communicating findings.
While reporting is the final step in the process, it should be considered throughout the engagement. The common components of audit findings included in reporting - condition, criteria, cause, effect, recommendation, and management action plan - require a fundamental understanding of the complete process.
Link to: