In our recent report, A Fresh Perspective on Audit, 86% of respondents said they would keep their audit even if the requirement wasn’t there. The value a good audit brings is clear, but what separates a good audit from one that’s truly top-tier? Start with these five key questions to ask your auditor:
The five questions
- What emerging risks or opportunities do you see on the horizon?
- What are the hard truths you need to tell us about our data quality or financial controls?
- Can you explain how you reached these conclusions in straightforward terms?
- How will you ensure team continuity and senior-level involvement year on year?
- How are you using AI and technology to streamline our audit?
1. What emerging risks or opportunities do you see on the horizon?
Ask the question directly to get the insights that will impact your business the most.
Auditors work across many businesses in your sector and know how your peers handle the same problems, but most clients never ask them what they see. Commercial understanding matters to 91% of leaders when choosing an auditor, and more commercially relevant insight is the single biggest improvement they want from their audit. Yet only 32% say they get commercially valuable insight frequently.
2. What are the hard truths you need to tell us about our data quality or financial controls?
Give your auditor permission to be candid about your shortcomings to save time and money in the long-run.
91% of leaders trust their auditor to be honest even when the news is difficult, and 88% say a willingness to be honest when the message is hard is what they want from an auditor. That trust will pay off, so make sure you establish that in the relationship early.
3. Can you explain how you reached these conclusions in straightforward terms?
Demand plain language to get insights you understand and can act on.
The audit process shouldn’t be a black box. 45% of leaders want a more transparent relationship with their auditor, specifically to understand how conclusions are reached. Your understanding of the audit and what it means, will be crucial to making decisions that move your business in the right direction
4. How will you ensure team continuity and senior-level involvement year on year?
Ask who will actually be on your account, and who was on it last year.
Walking a new audit team through your business every year is a drain on management time. 84% of leaders say continuity in dealing with the same people year on year, drives their satisfaction, and 87% want a personal, hands-on approach from senior members of the team.
5. How are you using AI and technology to streamline our audit?
Understand how your audit firm is using technology to maximise their time and pass on efficiencies to you.
82% of leaders expect AI and technology to make audits cheaper, and they want their own firm to get there faster. 45% put better use of technology in their top three improvements, second only to more commercial insight. Find out how it’s used and ensure human oversight throughout.
If you think you could be getting more from your audit, contact us to see how we can help
Click the link to download the full report.
A Fresh Perspective on Audit is built on interviews with 207 senior decision-makers and expert opinion from both the auditor and auditee perspective. This is an independent research study commissioned by Azets and conducted by Reputation Leaders. Research was conducted in August 2026 across the UK, Ireland and Sweden.