Seriously. You’re an auditor, not their in-house fixer.
It happens too often. Auditors find themselves slipping into client work without even realising it.
- Building that fixed asset register?
- Helping with those fair value calculations?
- Trying to reconcile a schedule with a 100k total while the balance in question is 20k?
Ring any bells?
Auditors taking on tasks that aren’t theirs. Correcting client mistakes, tidying up records, or recreating what should have been done beforehand.
You may think it’s helpful, but it’s also risky and as we know, a threat to our independence.
The moment you step into client work, you’ve crossed a line that’s bad for efficiency and audit integrity. You’re also training your client to rely on you for tasks they should own.
Why does it happen?
Sometimes it’s a misplaced sense of duty to your client. You want to get the job done, so you step in and help.
Other times, it’s clients leaning on you, acting like it’s your problem, and you let it happen.
Or maybe it’s been happening so long it’s become a habit.
Somewhere in one of the hundreds of audits you’ve done, you’ve forgotten that your role is to conduct an audit, not to fix their bookkeeping dramas.
But here’s the real problem (so shout “Alexa stop” and read this bit carefully.)
Every time you cross that line you’re jeopardising the integrity of your audit. You’re essentially doing the clients work for them. So now you’re auditing work you’ve done. That raises a whole flurry of red flags around independence and impartiality, which could turn into a real problem when it’s time to issue your report.
It’s a slippery slope. The more you do, the more they’ll expect and the more you’re risking something coming back to bite you.
So, next time you find yourself cleaning up a client’s mess, pause and think, is this really my job? Or am I just making their life easier at the expense of audit quality and integrity?
Here’s the rule.
If they’ve failed to get their house in order, it’s not your job to clean up. Hold the line and hold them accountable.
Auditors who enforce boundaries might be seen as villains in the short term. Don’t let that sway you. Your job is to assess, verify, and report. Anything beyond that? It’s a slippery slope. Plant your feet.
If you’re doing their job, you’re not doing yours properly.
Have a great week ahead.
Regards,
Christiaan
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