The first standard of fieldwork indicates that, “the auditor must adequately plan the work and must properly supervise any assistants.”

Working remotely doesn’t negate the need for this preparation and is certainly not an excuse to not do it. It’s critical that when completing a remote audit, auditors actually spend more time—not less—preparing and planning for the audit. With less in-person communication and more complexity, planning is the key to success and technology can help facilitate that planning.

The first standard of fieldwork indicates that, “the auditor must adequately plan the work and must properly supervise any assistants.”

To successfully prepare fo ra remote audit, consider taking some of the following steps:

• Treat audit preparation as a year-long process
• Remind clients to keep schedules and reconciliations up-to-date all year
• Maintain an open line of communication with your client
• Set a main and backup point of contact within your client’s organization
• Stay up-to-date on the latest accounting standards
• Learn from past audits—from the current client as well as from past audits with other clients
• Make a list of issues you typically run into and share with the client so they can be proactive about avoiding them
• Set up an FAQ list for your client to avoid wasting time on commonly asked questions
• Develop a timeline and make specific assignments
• Ensure you have the right technology in place before the audit begins
• Create or update your PBC list
• Clear your schedule of unnecessary or extraneous meetings that are not business-critical