As a result of the global pandemic, more people are working from home, which has dramatically changed how people connect and communicate at work. This transition has been especially challenging for internal audit teams, which rely greatly on effective communication and coordinated efforts to fulfill their responsibilities. The virtual world has created new obstacles, but it has also simplified the process of creating fresh ways to build new connections and rekindle old ones (Bäker & Pull, 2021). This is due to the fact that the virtual world offers more opportunities. We will look at how internal audit departments might work more successfully in the digital age in the sections that follow.

Within Internal Audit Departments: Navigating the Virtual Terrain

Regular Check-Ins and Updates:

A function that requires competent communication must allow the option of remote work. To stay informed and motivated, team members must receive regular progress reports and status updates. During these meetings, participants will be given a platform to share knowledge, evaluate the audit's progress, and collaborate on addressing any difficulties that may arise.

Leveraging Collaborative Tools:

Use a variety of technical and collaborative tools to enable document exchange and improve communication. Microsoft Teams, Slack, and Trello are examples of technological applications that have been shown to improve project management and create successful team collaboration. This promotes a common understanding among all stakeholders (Christ et al., 2021).

With Auditees: Nurturing Transparent Communication

Transparent Communication:

The creation of trust with the individuals or entities subject to an internal audit is critical for the audit process to be carried out effectively. It is critical to create and maintain open lines of communication to ensure that all persons subject to the audit are fully aware of the audit's objectives, procedures, and expected outcomes. In order for the relationship to be effective, any questions or issues must be addressed as soon as possible (Lois et al., 2020).

Leveraging Collaborative Tools (Continued):

Collaborative technology benefits all stakeholders, not just corporate teams. They have the power to improve one's communication effectiveness with auditees. During the auditing process, these platforms can be used to effectively communicate crucial information to auditees, such as deadlines, deliverables, and changes.

Effective Virtual Collaboration: Making It Work

Leveraging Video Conferencing:

Although email and instant messaging can be useful networking tools, face-to-face communication is frequently viewed as the best approach. Video conferencing should be prioritized in order to foster a greater sense of connectivity among participants. Analyzing participants' facial expressions and body language may improve the sensation of connection in virtual face-to-face interactions (Bäker & Pull, 2021). This behavior can also be observed during virtual meetings.

Interactive Auditing:

It is prudent to consider the use of interactive auditing approaches that actively involve auditees in the auditing process. Implementing collaborative document evaluations, interactive seminars, and brainstorming sessions can significantly increase auditor and auditee participation and create collaboration throughout the auditing process. As a result, the audit will have greater precision and comprehensiveness..

The Human Element: Recognizing Individual Contributions

**Recognition and Appreciation:**
Maintaining awareness of individual employees' contributions might be challenging in a digital work environment. The diligent work of the audit team, as well as the cooperation of the individuals whose accounts are subject to audit, merits acknowledgment and gratitude. Regularly acknowledging individuals' achievements, appropriately attributing recognition, and expressing gratitude are all essential methods for demonstrating appreciation (Christ et al., 2021).

Professional Development Opportunities:

Enable employees to enhance their educational and training endeavors by offering a range of alternatives, including online modalities, to provide accessibility and flexibility. One effective approach to fostering skill enhancement among employees is through the implementation of various strategies, such as organizing webinars, facilitating participation in virtual training sessions, and enrolling them in certification programs. The strategies as mentioned above can be utilized by individuals to enhance their level of expertise. Through the allocation of resources toward an individual's professional development, the business effectively communicates its appreciation and acknowledgment of the contributions made by each employee (Bäker & Pull, 2021).

Balancing Flexibility and Structure: Tailoring Your Approach

Flexibility:

The fundamental benefit of remote work lies in its inherent flexibility. However, achieving success in this context requires effectively managing the interplay between personal and professional responsibilities. In order to preserve elevated levels of accountability and efficiency, it is imperative to establish unambiguous objectives and protocols. However, it is crucial to incorporate adaptability in order to accommodate the extensive range of life conditions that team members may encounter.

Structured Communication:

Developing an effective communication plan necessitates the incorporation of well-defined deadlines, structured reporting schedules, and regular check-ins. With the establishment of this framework, all individuals involved will persist in their contributions to the investigation, ensuring its continued progress and adherence to its intended trajectory (Christ et al., 2021)

With Auditees: Transparent Collaboration

Collaborative Auditing:

Auditors should be encouraged to communicate with the persons or firms they are auditing during the auditing process. Participants' sense of shared responsibility will be increased if they work together to identify potential dangers and devise risk-mitigation strategies (Lois et al., 2020).

**Feedback Loop:**
Establish a feedback channel with the audited individuals to solicit their feedback and recommendations on the auditing process. Their ideas and remarks may generate useful data and improve the overall quality of the audit.

Conclusion: Strengthening Connections in the Virtual Realm

Internal auditing departments face numerous new challenges as a result of the virtual world, but it also provides opportunities for creativity and participation. Internal audit departments are more likely to thrive in the virtual world if they value individual contributions, keep honest and open channels of communication, create rapport with the people they audit, and strike a balance between structure and adaptability.

Even when everything is done online, effective collaboration still relies significantly on face-to-face contact. If long-term success is to be achieved both inside and outside the audit department, a culture of trust must be established, new connections must be developed, and old ones must be actively cultivated.

What changes has your company's internal audit division made in response to remote work?

References

Bäker, A., Breuninger, S., & Pull, K. (2021). Pushing performance by building bridges: Human and social capital as mechanisms behind the mobility-performance link. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 129, 103613.

Christ, M. H., Eulerich, M., Krane, R., & Wood, D. A. (2021). New frontiers for internal audit research. Accounting Perspectives, 20(4), 449-475.

Lois, P., Drogalas, G., Karagiorgos, A., & Tsikalakis, K. (2020). Internal audits in the digital era: opportunities risks and challenges. EuroMed Journal of Business, 15(2), 205-217.

Building Bridges in a Virtual World: Fostering Connections Within Internal Audit Departments