Interviewing Skills for Auditors - Yellow Book Series (Course Id 1676)

Auditing (Governmental) - Auditing (Governmental) for Course Id 1676

Interviewing is one of the auditor’s most common tasks. And handling an interview well is vital to having a successful auditor/auditee relationship.

This self-study course focuses on the basics of how to develop effective interviewing skills and build rapport with the people you interview – whether they are employees at an audit client or witnesses during a fraud examination.

Topics in this course include relationship building, verbal and nonverbal communication, planning and scheduling an interview, asking and responding to questions, steps in conducting an interview, and documenting an interview and follow-up. 

The AICPA’s fraud standards and the GAO Performance Audit requirements under GAGAS for detecting fraud are also covered.

NASBA QAS - Text - Technical - NASBA Registry - 1676

Course Learning Objectives

• Identify the competencies of a good interviewer
• Indicate behaviors that are not conducive to a positive interview
• Identify concepts that can help the interviewer maintain a trustful, pleasant relationship with the client
• Differentiate among body language cues
• Classify evidence into one of three types
• Define chain of custody
• Identify the requirements for uncovering fraud in the audit standards
• Evaluate the pros and cons of various styles of conducting interviews
• Identify the steps of conducting an interview
• Identify negative listening behaviors
• Identify ways to keep the interview on track

Chapter 1
Why Auditors & Fraud Examiners Conduct Interviews

Chapter 1: Why Auditors & Fraud Examiners Conduct Interviews

Building Relationships and Rapport

The interviewer as a Facilitator

Why Conduct an Interview?

Get in the Habit of Asking for Evidence

Conduct Focused, Meaningful Interviews

How the Text Is Organized

Study Questions for Chapter 1

Chapter 2: Interviewing Competencies

16 Deadly Interviewing Sins

Twelve Competencies

1. Analyze Background Materials

2. Assure Preparation of the Meeting Site

3. Establish and Maintain Credibility

4. Manage the Emotional Environment

5. Demonstrate Effective Listening Skills

6. Demonstrate Effective Presentation Skills

7. Demonstrate Effective Questioning Skills

8. Respond Appropriately to Participant's Needs for Clarification and Feedback

9. Provide Positive Reinforcement

10. Record Results in a Clear Manner

11. Resolve All Outstanding Issues

12. Evaluate Interviewer’s Performance

Study Questions for Chapter 2

Chapter 3: Relationship Building & Rapport

Here Are Eight Characteristics of a Good Interviewer

Begin by Smoking the Peace Pipe with the Interviewee

Benefits of Establishing a Relationship & Rapport with the Interviewee

Getting in the Interviewee’s Shoes

The Client’s Bill of Rights

Keep Several Tasks Going at Once

To Build Trust, Keep the Following in Mind

Stay Calm…Imagine a Nice Blue/Green Color

Your Authority—Keep It

How to Establish a Trusting Relationship

Understand the Natural Trust Cycle

Do Not Spew Forth Judgments!

People Feel Positively Toward You When You…

Tips from an Experienced Investigator

Study Questions for Chapter 3

Chapter 4: Non-Verbal Communication

Attending Skills

Call It Intuition

What Do You Do with All of This Non-Verbal Information?

Study Questions for Chapter 4

Chapter 5: Asking and Responding to Questions

Purchasing Card System Article

What Could Go Wrong?

Next, Think of What Process and Controls There Should Be

What Should the Process Look Like?

Controls Next

What Is Actually in Place?

Prepare Six Open-Ended Questions

Advanced Considerations Regarding Questions

The Flip Side of Questions—When They Are Pointed at You!

Responding to Questions Designed to Entangle/Entrap You

Fend off Verbal Attacks

Special Consideration for Fraud Examinations

Study Questions for Chapter 5

Chapter 6: Audit & Investigation Evidence

Investigation Evidence

Study Questions for Chapter 6

Chapter 7: An Auditor’s Due Diligence Regarding Fraud

Interview Questions for Management (Head of the Entity, CFO, etc.)

Interview Questions for the Audit Committee

Interview Questions for the Internal Audit Director

Interview Questions for All Others

This Interview Is Going to Be Particularly Touchy

The Fraud Triangle

Study Questions for Chapter 7

Chapter 8: Planning and Scheduling

Planning an Interview

Scheduling an Interview

Study Questions for Chapter 8

Chapter 9: Steps to Conducting an Interview

1. Break the Ice

2. Brief the Interviewee

3. Obtain Background Information from Auditee

4. Size up the Situation and Auditee

5. Ask Interviewee If They Have Any Questions

6. Ask Questions

7. Summarize

8. Close

9. Document and evaluate

Steps to Conducting an Interview—Preliminary Work

Corpus Interviewa (the body of the interview)

Finishing the Interview

Study Questions for Chapter 9

Chapter 10: Listening

Common Listening Mistakes

Scenario #1

Scenario #2

To Be a Better Listener

The Power of the Pause

Study Questions for Chapter 10

Chapter 11: Documenting the Interview

Document While the Interview Is Fresh!

Options for Organizing Your Memo

The Little Things Make a Huge Difference—Source, Purpose, Procedures, Results, and Conclusions

Defining and Matching the Elements

An Example

Empathy or Self-Interest—Whatever Works!

Last Step: Client Verification

Study Questions for Chapter 11

Chapter 12: Keeping the Interview on Track

Properly Disposing of Information outside of the Scope of Your Audit

What to Do If the Discussion Slides off Track...

Larry the Big Talker

What is the Assertiveness Model?

Tips for Using the Model

The Parking Lot

Study Questions for Chapter 12

Bibliography

Glossary