Case Studies in Internal Auditing.

Abstract The article presents case studies in internal auditing. The following qualifications appear to be those most needed by an internal auditor; first, he must be an experienced accountant. Many graduates of good accounting and business courses in schools and universities want to step at once into the internal audit department. The recent graduate will do better in the long run by first obtaining considerable experience in clerical, accounting, and operating positions. This seems especially true when thinking of a job like internal auditing, which deals mostly with the things that go wrong, not with those that go right. Second, only a man who can think quickly on the spot and is willing to make decisions on his own will ever be a good internal auditor. Persistence and patience are other necessary qualifications. Finally, the utmost ability to be tactful, diplomatic and personable is needed. An auditor spends much of his time interviewing and questioning all kinds of people. He must get results without antagonizing, and without saying one word that might be harmful to himself, his department, or his company.