Most university undergraduate and graduate audit classes are geared towards educating prospective auditors but do not provide education for those who will be audit clients and subjected to audits. Future audit clients need to be educated as well as future auditors to ensure that there is a level playing field. Those being audited do not receive the same level of formal education as internal auditors– most client education occurs during the audit itself. The client, once subjected to an audit and faced with the consequences of a failed audit, will learn via trial and error. If left unprepared, managers can suffer financial losses and promotional setbacks; the preparation and education that is needed to be audit ready is lacking. Of interest to accounting, finance or business students and entry-level practitioners, this book provides the audit education and preparation that has been missing. It shows how to interface with auditors, helping to identify issues, exposures and risks, and adequately position current and future managers to achieve successful audits. The book also provides mock audit simulation exercises to further prepare prospective audit clients.
This important new book explains how to use management auditing to determine the efficiency of public utility management systems. The first book to concentrate on such areas as evaluation criteria and audits of operations and personnel, Management Auditing as a Regulatory Tool identifies problems in the auditing process and recommends strategies for improving it. It is an essential guideline for public utility management, auditors, and consulting organizations. The book focuses on nine management audits of major New York state organizations.
This book is an excellent reference for learning and applying basic quality auditing principles. Examples and checklists throughout the book help make this one of the best single-source reference guides. Quality practitioners, registrars, and those preparing for certification exams will find this book to be a useful tool. the new edition expands on established techniques and addresses both internal and supplier auditing as it relates to any quality management system, including ISO 9001, GMP, automotive, and others.
This book discusses the fundamental skills, techniques, and tools of auditing, and the characteristics of a good process safety management system. A variety of approaches are given so the reader can select the best methodology for a given audit. This book updates the original CCPS Auditing Guideline project since the implementation of OSHA PSM regulation, and is accompanied by an online download featuring checklists for both the audit program and the audit itself. This package offers a vital resource for process safety and process development personnel, as well as related professionals like insurers.
Operational Profitability offers CPA firms a unique opportunity to provide valuable new client services, add substantial value to current services, and greatly expand their own revenue base and earnings potential through the use of management audits. A management audit is an in-depth review of the individual parts of a business and how they function and interrelate to produce overall results. Properly executed, the management audit provides the best overview available of how a business works as a single entity. It may also be used to evaluate specific functions within the organization to determine their performance efficiency. The management audit takes into account the unique characteristics of each company, adjusts its standard of measurement accordingly, and reflects the specific nature of its corporate culture. In today's hypercompetitive business environment, the management audit could mean the difference between business success and failure. This manual helps CPAs and their clients understand and regulate the health of businesses by systematically identifying areas that affect profitability most and by offering experience-based solutions for improving efficiency in these areas. Operational Profitability: Demonstrates how a thorough and professional management audit gives clients the information they need to remain competitive, increase efficiency, and improve profitability in every area of business Provides step-by-step guidance on setting up a management audit, establishing standards for effectiveness, and defining goals and expectations Supplies analytical tools for evaluating client operations—financial ratio analysis, the seven causal ratios, the nine secondary ratios that measure effect, cash flow and break-even analysis, capacity analysis, downtime analysis, and more Explains how to develop carefully targeted action plans that help clients make needed improvements—including numerous methods for reducing operating costs throughout the company. For CPA firms with clients in manufacturing and distribution, Operational Profitability provides a blueprint for services that benefit clients, increase firm revenues, and strengthen firm-client relationships. About the authors Add value to services and increase revenue while giving your clients more of what they need Operational Profitability explains in complete detail how to conduct a management audit that will give clients the essential information they need in today's fiercely competitive marketplace. At the same time, it enables CPA firms to expand their range of services, strengthen business relationships, and increase profits. Operational Profitability walks you through all the steps of a management audit that will help your clients identify and improve those areas of their businesses that most affect profitability. It explains The basic techniques of the management audit, what it involves, how to set it up, and how to establish a clear set of organizational goals How to rethink and rebuild an organization from the bottom up How to use a full range of analytical tools for identifying problem areas throughout the company How to assess the way a firm manages inventory, purchasing, production planning, and operations How to evaluate and reduce operating costs.
