The Audit Academy: A guide to getting started in auditing
The Audit Academy’s three-part training series is specifically designed to develop both professional and personal skills. In the early years of their careers, participants are familiarized with the basics of auditing and receive a comprehensive introduction to the various aspects of this demanding activity.
Focus on specialist topics
The specialist content of the Audit Academy covers a wide range of important areas, including the principles of auditing, risk-oriented auditing, auditing the internal control system (ICS) and the use of specific software such as CaseWare. Special topics are also covered, including going concern, the basics of company valuation and sustainability reporting.
The training series is divided into three parts, each of which builds on different levels of experience and expertise. Starting with Audit Academy I, young professionals receive a sound introduction to the basics of accounting and auditing, auditing business processes and the fundamentals of IT auditing. This lays the foundation for a successful career in auditing and enables participants to develop the necessary skills in their first year of work.
In the second part, Audit Academy II, the acquired knowledge is deepened. The focus here is on an in-depth look at accounting and auditing, further examination of ICS and business processes and the practical application of audit software.
Audit Academy III focuses on the development of leadership qualities as an audit manager. Participants learn how to plan and conduct audits effectively and are introduced to the role of a manager within the audit team.
Focus on personal development
The Audit Academy not only places great emphasis on teaching technical content, but also on developing participants’ personal skills. In addition to topics such as business etiquette, presentation training and the role of the audit manager, the curriculum also includes aspects such as leadership as an audit manager and communication training, including basic training and dealing with difficult situations with clients.
All in all, the Audit Academy offers a holistic series of training courses that help young professionals in auditing to grow both professionally and personally and prepare for a successful career. By combining in-depth specialist knowledge and practical skills, the training series lays the foundation for a successful career in auditing at Rödl & Partner.
How well was the technical content aligned with the daily work of an audit assistant?
The teaching of the individual training contents in Audit Academy I is based on the process flow of a final audit, so the technical topics can be transferred one-to-one to everyday work.
Which presentation was the most valuable for you?
From a purely technical point of view, the lectures “Implementation of the risk-oriented audit approach” and “Introduction to the internal control system/audit of business processes” were the most valuable. The two lectures convey the fundamentals on which every audit is based and thus give you an understanding that is necessary for every audit. However, lectures that go beyond the technical level, such as the communication training, also offer assistance that is valuable in day-to-day work, for example when communicating with clients.
Have you been able to make valuable contacts through the Audit Academy – and if so, have you already benefited from these contacts?
During the two weeks of Audit Academy I, all audit assistants from the first year of their career come together for the first time in Germany. In addition to the professional training, the concept of the Audit Academy with the supporting program offered, such as the Franconian evening, a city tour, etc., is therefore an excellent opportunity to network with colleagues at the same career level. In my professional practice, the contacts I made during the training were particularly helpful when dealing with cross-team or interdisciplinary issues; for example, I was able to visit my colleagues in Cologne in their office. Overall, I can only recommend everyone to take the opportunity and network as much as possible during the two weeks of Audit Academy I.