Published: 08 June 2023
Chief audit executives frequently have difficult conversations about audit engagements, reports, findings and ratings. Many CAEs lean into these interactions without a structured approach, which increases the risk of not being able to resolve disagreements amicably.
Many CAEs don’t intentionally go into difficult conversations with a mindset of compromising that is open to better solutions that are tolerable for both audit and management.
CAEs should take more time building empathy and anticipating management’s objections to audit’s recommendations or difficulties in implementing them.
Some CAEs leave management to deal with recommendations on their own, without offering additional support on how to implement a solution. This lowers the likelihood of implementation.
To intentionally overcome management’s barriers and objections to audit recommendations, CAEs should:
Prepare to reach a solution audit and management can both accept by estimating the mutual acceptability
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