Highlights from AccelPro Audit - Volume II
With Jeanna Doherty, Dennis McGowan and Tushar Kumar | Interviews by Jessica Stillman and Celeste Headlee
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube
Welcome to AccelPro Audit, where we provide expert interviews and coaching to accelerate your professional development. Today we are featuring a look back at recent interviews with experts in the audit field.
Jeanna Doherty of EY on the Biggest Challenges in ESG Reporting and Assurance
Dennis McGowan of Center for Audit Quality (CAQ) on the Auditor's Role in Detecting Fraud
Tushar Kumar of Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors on Forging Productive Client Relationships
Prior highlight collections from AccelPro Audit: Volume I
Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube
I. On the Biggest Challenges in ESG Reporting and Assurance
With Jeanna Doherty, Partner and ESG Enablement Leader at EY
Jeanna Doherty helps the firm’s clients and client teams understand and prepare to comply with the fast-changing regulations around ESG reporting, both in the US and abroad. In this conversation Doherty shares the biggest challenges she sees companies facing today, as well as her best advice on how auditors can help clients overcome them.
In the course of the conversation she offers her vision of ‘the auditor of the future’ and a thoughtful breakdown of how auditors should think through the process of getting clients from zero ESG reporting to meeting markets’ and regulators’ increasingly stringent demands for non-financial information.
For more on this topic, explore the archive of the ESG collection.
II. On the Auditor's Role in Detecting Fraud
With Dennis McGowan, Vice President, Professional Practice, Center for Audit Quality
AccelPro Audit has previously had guests — former PCAOB board member Jay Brown and academic Luigi Zingales — come out strongly in favor of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board’s proposed changes strengthening auditors’ responsibilities for detecting fraud, known as noncompliance with laws and regulations (NOCLAR). But many in the industry, including the Big Four accounting firms, have serious objections. In this interview Dennis McGowan, of external auditor industry group The Center for Audit Quality, lays out his concerns and the approach he would prefer the PCAOB to take.
This episode also digs into the CAQ’s Anti-Fraud Collaboration and its research findings, the prospect of using AI to better detect fraud, McGowan’s own experience of going through the PCAOB inspection process and how audit firms can continue to be as welcoming as possible to LGBTQ+ professionals.
For more on artificial intelligence, explore the archive of the AI & Tech collection.
III. On Forging Productive Client Relationships
With Tushar Kumar, Financial Advisor at Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors
Tushar Kumar joins internationally recognized journalist, author and NPR host Celeste Headlee to discuss the challenge of surviving and thriving in the financial advising industry and how that applies to other client-oriented roles, including audit.
Tushar offers strategies for gaining and preserving long-lasting client relationships, whether the market is up or down. We also speak about how a supportive, step-based approach to employee training can help your team successfully connect with clients and maintain their own well-being.
Bottom line: in addition to a deep understanding of the industry, it’s soft skills, and particularly good communication, that will bring you business and make you irreplaceable.
For more in the AccelPro Career Tools series, explore the archive of the Career collection.
AccelPro’s interviews and products accelerate your professional development. Our mission is to improve your day-to-day job performance and make your career goals achievable.
Send your comments and career questions to questions@joinaccelpro.com. You can also call us at 614-642-2235.
If your colleagues in any sector of the audit field might be interested, please let them know about AccelPro. As our community grows, it grows more useful for its members.