Note To My Younger Self

It is not uncommon for auditors to ask “Why” as part of the information gathering process.

• “Why is the process designed this way?”
• “Why did actual expenditure exceed the budget?”
• “Why did the chicken cross the road?”

While it is easy to ask “Why” and await a response that goes verbatim into the audit working paper, it takes a thinking auditor to weigh the validity of the client’s response and consider if this could have been done differently. Being relatively fresh to the client’s business entails that you are better able to identify blind spots and provide a third-party perspective. A long-standing practice does not necessitate a right and logical practice; while a representation by the Chief Financial Officer does not necessitate a full and truthful representation. In fact, I remember disagreeing with a senior at work as he had instructed me not to ask too many questions during fieldwork and just follow the SALY (Same as Last Year) principle.

However, you should not let your lack of experience or pressure from your supervisors inhibit you from asking the right questions. Instead, you should always think logically and exercise professional skepticism. You could play it safe by settling with the initial response, or you could potentially make a difference by probing further and challenging the status quo. Start your question with “Why Not” and be ready to offer practical alternatives and justifications. This is how you add value to the business and earn yourself the coveted “Trusted Advisor” badge.

In my first year as an auditor, I spent hours on a Saturday night trying to reconcile two reports. Despite being unable to match the figures, I did not go to my senior as I was afraid of being judged as incompetent. To some extent, my ego had prevented me from seeking help. However, after a few more hours of hard pressing on the calculator, I gave up and called my senior - it turned out I was missing a page!

As a young auditor, you may think that there is nothing insurmountable at work. After all, you aced the interviews and impressed the interviewers with your achievements. You are here to make a difference and show what you can contribute to the firm. Asking for help would be a display of weakness. However, embracing a growth mindset and asking “How?” is an even stronger show of strength. Besides getting to the answers quicker, it shows that you acknowledge your shortcomings, and that you are willing to work on it to improve. In fact, asking “How” opens you to new learnings and accelerates your professional growth. Steve Jobs’ famous “Stay hungry, Stay foolish” quote during a commencement speech at Stanford University could not have been more apt.

I remember attending a sharing session by a business leader a few years ago. When asked what the secret to his success was, he replied “Volunteer for whatever jobs that nobody wants to do and let your success shine doubly bright”. It was honest advice, yet a practically tough one as well.

When you have settled well in your role and achieved success, it is difficult to exit the highway for an off the beaten path adventure. However, the rewards gained might far exceed the initial discomfort and pain.

So, there’s an audit engagement in a far-flung developing country? Raise your hand and say “Me!”

What about that remote audit engagement that’s 16 hours behind your time zone? Raise your hand again and say “Me!”

And what about that complicated litigation support engagement involving a potential multimillion-dollar claim? Enough said.

Do not let the fear of the unknown hinder your career development. Learn to go beyond your comfort zone, and embark on that solo mini-adventure. Watching the sunrise from a mountain beats watching it on YouTube, because the reward and sense of accomplishment would be much more gratifying.