[Anonymous]

For anyone in public accounting, or not (industry pov is good too), I’d like your opinion on something. I’m on a large client engagement in my firm’s office and my interactions with everyone at the client has been exceedingly pleasant. I mean, I’m generally a pretty nice guy, sarcastic at times, sure, but I wouldn’t consider myself any nicer than your average bear. But I hear HORROR stories about auditors in public accounting that get absolutely reamed by client contacts…do you guys find this to be the case as well? For those of you in industry, what’s your take on auditors? internal? external? Do you view them as helpful? Or do you take offense to their queries about your processes? If so, what do you wish auditors did differently in interacting with you that would make the experience more pleasant? Thanks, all.

[misanthrope87]

It's true, when we first go to a client we have no idea what's going on. It's better on the 2nd year. The young auditors might be fresh out of school and they wouldn't know how to do accounting in the real world… Be nice to us, we're very overwhelmed…>< It's hard for us to absorb so much information in such a short period of time. But, we do our best not to lose client provided documents. We certainly never have asked for something more than twice I'm sure. And it's not common to ask for something twice.

B 2/12 87
A 11/11 90
R 8/11 86
F 5/12 88

[jeff]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCx0pMnNId8

[Peanut]

ahhhhah that just made my day.

AUD 81 (X4) Previous scores 59, 72, 72
REG 80 (X3) Previous scores 59, 60
FAR 75 (X2) Previous score 67
BEC 79 (X2) Previous score 58

[Anonymous]

Yeah, it can be a little rough on new auditors. I have been a Tax Accountant/Auditor for a little over a year now and know what these auditors go through. While losing or altering client documentation should not occur… there is a good reason for the new auditors to seem like they do not know what is going on. That is because the senior accountants for some reason like to give new auditors no training, explanation, or even a clue as to how things work with a new client. This results in the dumb questions and the senior accountants looking so smart. How would you have felt if on the first day you started with the companies you work for if someone had just took you to an office and said “best of luck to ya”. This may not apply to all public accounting firms, but this has been my experience. So, please continue to be nice to the new auditor because they are doing the best they can do with little or no help.

[kandisjoy]

I wish I could see that video at work… if I have time, I'll watch it on my phone on my lunch break. 🙂

@85CPA – Well said. That's why, like I said in my earlier post, I feel pity for these poor fresh auditors. They are annoying to me, but I remember what it was like to be a first year auditor… not fun! I don't see why public accounting firms (in general) treat their employees that way.

@BaseballCPA – I probably would lose my patience if it was more difficult to re-print stuff for them. But it really only takes a minute, thankfully!

FAR: 71, 77
BEC: 70, 82
AUD: 62, 78
REG: 71, 68, 85

CA Licensed 11/2011

[Author]

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