Issue #11 Clarity with Chinmay

The 5 Audit Lessons I Wish Someone Had Told Me Sooner

Jun 23, 2025

When I got my first audit job, I thought I was ready. I had the degree. The prep. The mindset.

But nothing teaches you like the work itself. I fumbled through walkthroughs, stressed over reviews, and made mistakes that could’ve been avoided.

This newsletter is for anyone in their first 6–12 months. Because if I could go back, these are the 5 lessons I’d tattoo to my desk.

1. Communication is not optional - t’s your edge.

Audit moves fast. Multiple controls, parallel workstreams, rotating priorities.

But the one thing that keeps you grounded? Clear, proactive communication.

I used to wait until someone asked me for updates. Or worse, I’d assume they already knew. What I didn’t realize is: your managers, seniors, and even peers are juggling just as much as you are.

Don’t make them guess where your work stands. Keep them in the loop. Even a 2-line Teams message or an end-of-day update helps.

What I do now?

Drop weekly status summaries
Flag delays before they cause friction
Ask when I’m unclear, not after I’ve made a mistake

2. Your work quality speaks for you.

It doesn’t matter how many certifications you have. Or where you studied.

If your workpapers are sloppy, rushed, or inconsistent; it speaks louder than your CV ever will.

In the first few months, I thought “getting it done” was enough. But the truth is, “done well” is what sets you apart.

I’ve seen juniors with half the experience get noticed simply because their work was clean, structured, and review-ready.

What I started doing differently?

Use the “would I be okay if this was shown to the client?” test
Create a personal checklist for documentation
Review my work at least once before sending

3. Proactivity builds your reputation faster than speed.

I made the mistake of trying to impress by taking on more. But eventually, I lost track of follow-ups. Delayed evidence. Missed deadlines.

People remember if you’re slow. But they really remember if you’re all over the place.

I learned it’s better to own fewer tasks but stay on top of them like clockwork.

How I stay proactive now?

Maintain my own tracker even if the team already has one
Set reminders to follow up after walkthroughs
Prepare ahead for what’s coming next week, not just today

4. Ownership means finishing what you start.

This one hit hard.

I used to assume once I sent a request or passed something along, my job was done. It wasn’t.

Taking ownership means following the task through to closure. It means asking: Is this truly done? Or does someone still need something from me?

Your manager should never have to chase you down for updates. When you truly own your work, people notice and they trust you more.

Audit habit I built:

After sending a request, I track the follow-up
When I finish testing a control, I check: is the documentation final? Did I close the loop?
If I’m blocked, I raise it quickly not quietly

5. Don’t just test the control. Understand the risk.

Early on, I only looked at controls from the surface. Definitions. Screenshots. Evidence.

But I didn’t ask why the control existed. Or what risk it was trying to mitigate.

That mindset shift—from task to purpose—changed everything for me.

Now I see controls as part of a bigger system: The business process, the impact of failure, the risk to operations or compliance.

Now I ask before I test:

What’s the risk here?
What’s the bigger picture this control fits into?
Why does this control exist in this specific way?

Why These Lessons Matter

Because your first year sets the tone.

If you master these five - Communication, quality, proactivity, ownership, and risk awareness— You won’t just survive audit.

You’ll stand out in it.

These aren’t things I learned from a training.

They’re lessons I picked up from quiet mistakes, kind mentors, and some tough feedback.

Clarity with Chinmay