Communicating findings to stakeholders

Effectively communicating audit findings to stakeholders is important for understanding and implementing the necessary actions recommended by the audit report. You may have heard the adage, “You catch more bees with honey than you do with vinegar,” and that applies to audit reports as well.

To effectively communicate audit findings, it’s essential to understand each stakeholder’s role and responsibilities within the organization. You can tailor your messages and ensure the information you provide is relevant and actionable for each group instead of speaking generally about something or, worse, using jargon.

Key stakeholders in audit communication

Let’s explore some common stakeholder roles you might encounter when presenting the audit’s results in an organization.

Senior management

Senior management typically sets the overall direction and strategy for the organization. They require high...