Radical Reporting: Communicating Through Change and Writing Better Reports

Before 2020, the role and value of reporting varied enormously among regions, sectors and organizations. The last year has forced everyone to work differently, and in doing so to question “established” practices. One of these is reporting, with some voices suggesting dispensing with it altogether. And yet, is this the solution to any problem?

Decision-makers need reliable information; usually they need it in writing. Throwing reports out isn’t the solution; improving them is. This is all the more critical when organizations across the globe have to respond to change at a pace few of us have ever seen.

In this brief, practical session, Sara I. James discusses how every IA function, whether large or small, can help its organization navigate these choppy waters. By going back to the root of communication – hence radical reporting – Sara will help your IA function better educate, influence, improve, and add value in ways no other function, internal or external, can.

Learning Objectives:

• Define your report readers – your audiences – and their priorities and concerns
• Identify changes to established ways of working that can improve communication
• Understand the connection between clear thinking and clear writing

Outline:

• How can radical reporting help you improve?
• Whether it's a report, cave painting or interpretive dance - who are your readers?
• Clear thinking and clear communication
• Language - the ABCs
• Format

Field: Auditing
Delivery Method: Self Study
CPE Hours: 1.0
Format: Video

About the Presenter:
Sara I. James, PhD, CIA

Sara is an internationally recognized expert in internal audit communications, delivering tailored report-writing and other training to internal audit, risk and compliance teams worldwide (www.saraijames.com).

With over 30 years' academic, teaching, writing, publishing and corporate experience in the US and Europe, she brings a wealth of varied yet specialist expertise to clients and audiences. Clients include multinational blue-chip organizations in sectors as diverse as finance, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and aerospace; national and local government; legal and medical professionals; and charities.

As a member of the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors (UK and Ireland) Technical Guidance Working Group, Sara has produced numerous governance, risk and internal audit advisory pieces. Topics include Covid-19-related working practices; privacy legislation (GDPR); taxation (IR35); auditing cultural and heritage entities; and of course reporting. Sara has also produced articles on clear writing for Audit & Risk magazine and spoken at numerous audit conferences.

Sara is the official rapporteur for the annual international defense internal audit conference. In this role, she is responsible for producing a definitive report that meets Ministry of Defense standards and is read by specialists at NATO, NGOs and multiple national European defense departments.

Finally, Sara has been fortunate to live, study and work in different countries, including the US, the UK, France and the then-Soviet Union, and speaks five languages. These experiences and skills give her invaluable insight into cross-cultural communication and multi-national teams. She is also a recognized internationally scholar on language and literature, and is regularly asked to contribute essays, articles and conference papers.