Audit Manager Interview Questions

1.1The audit manager mandate - leading engagements, developing the team, and delivering quality assurance

1.2Audit manager vs senior auditor - the shift from doing to leading, reviewing, and managing

1.3Managing multiple engagements - workload, prioritisation, and quality across a portfolio of audits

1.4The audit manager as a business relationship owner - client management and trusted adviser positioning

2.1Strategic audit planning - risk-based plan development, audit universe, and resource allocation

2.2Engagement-level planning - materiality, risk of material misstatement, and defining the audit approach

2.3Audit committee engagement - presenting the audit plan, discussing risks, and getting input on areas of focus

2.4Planning documentation - ensuring the audit file evidences a rigorous and responsive planning process

3.1Complex accounting areas - revenue recognition, leases, business combinations, and impairment in an audit context

3.2Accounting estimates - auditing management judgements, challenging assumptions, and assessing reasonableness

3.3Going concern - the audit procedures, red flags, and disclosure requirements

3.4New and emerging accounting standards - how the audit manager stays current and updates the audit approach

4.1Hot review and cold review - the quality review process and what the manager is looking for

4.2Significant risks - how managers ensure these areas receive appropriate audit focus

4.3Audit documentation standards - what makes an audit file that can withstand regulatory inspection

4.4Root cause analysis of audit quality findings - why deficiencies occur and how to prevent recurrence

5.1Controls-based audit approach - how reliance on controls changes the substantive testing program

5.2IT general controls - access management, change management, and their relevance to the financial audit

5.3System-generated evidence - testing the reliability of reports and data extracted from client systems

5.4Integrated audit - combining financial and IT audit to provide comprehensive assurance

6.1Audit completion procedures - subsequent events, management representations, and analytical review

6.2Audit adjustments - proposed adjustments, management's response, and aggregate uncorrected misstatements

6.3Auditor's report - the opinions, emphasis of matter paragraphs, and other reporting responsibilities

6.4Management letter - findings, recommendations, and following up on prior-year points

7.1Client relationship management - building trusted relationships that survive difficult audit conversations

7.2Audit committee reporting - what the manager presents, how findings are communicated, and handling pushback

7.3Managing audit conflicts - disagreements on accounting treatments and when to escalate

7.4Regulatory and regulatory inspection preparation - ICAEW, FRC, and managing external quality reviews

8.1Managing and developing audit seniors and assistants - coaching, feedback, and performance reviews

8.2On-the-job training - how audit managers build technical knowledge in their teams

8.3Recruitment and retention - the audit manager role in attracting and keeping good people

8.4Building a high-performance audit team culture - quality, accountability, and professional scepticism

9.1Sector knowledge - financial services, real estate, manufacturing, and the sector-specific risks the manager must understand

9.2Group audits - component auditor instructions, group reporting, and managing quality across teams

9.3Forensic accounting awareness - fraud indicators, response procedures, and when to bring in specialists

9.4ESG assurance - the growing area of non-financial reporting assurance and what it requires of audit managers

10.1Technical questions - complex accounting, audit standards, going concern, and quality procedures

10.2Leadership questions - managing a team, delivering a difficult audit, and developing junior staff

10.3Client and commercial questions - winning and retaining audit clients, pricing, and commercial awareness

10.4Salary negotiation, partnership track discussion, and questions to ask about the firm culture and quality environment