Before generating the report, ensure your audit work is complete:

• Verify all procedures in the work program are completed
• Check that all procedures have been reviewed and approved
• Ensure all findings have been documented and validated
• Confirm management has provided responses to findings (or note if responses are pending)
• Verify the audit executive summary or conclusion has been prepared

Tip: Generate a status report in SmartHubs to verify all procedures are complete before starting report generation.

In your audit project, locate the Reports section:

• Go to your Audit Project in SmartHubs
• Click "Reports" or "Generate Report"
• You'll see options for different report types and formats

Choose the appropriate report template:

• Standard Audit Report: Comprehensive report with all sections
• Executive Summary Only: High-level summary for board presentation
• Findings Report: Detailed findings and recommendations only
• Management Letter: Informal letter format for management
• Custom Template: If your organization has created custom templates

Best Practice: Use the Standard Audit Report template for most audits to ensure consistency and completeness.

Customize the report content:

• Report Sections: Select which sections to include:
  • ☑ Executive Summary
  • ☑ Scope and Objectives
  • ☑ Methodology
  • ☑ Findings and Observations
  • ☑ Management Recommendations
  • ☑ Conclusion
  • ☑ Appendices (procedures, statistics)
• Finding Filters: Include findings by risk level or category
• Data Elements: Choose whether to include procedure details, evidence references, etc.
• Statistics: Include charts showing findings by risk level or category

Personalize the report with organization branding:

• Logo: Upload your organization's logo (typically on title page)
• Header/Footer: Customize headers and footers with organization name
• Colors: Select color scheme (if available in templates)
• Font: Choose professional fonts for body and headings
• Page Breaks: Determine where sections begin on new pages
• Confidentiality Markings: Add confidentiality statements if required

Best Practice: Save your branding preferences as a default template so you don't have to customize for each report.

Generate the report and review it for accuracy:

• Click "Generate Report" or "Create Report"
• SmartHubs will compile your findings, procedures, and data into the report
• The generation process may take a moment for larger audits
• Once complete, a preview will display
• Review the report carefully:
  • Check for correct audit name, dates, and scope
  • Verify all findings are included with correct information
  • Review formatting and page breaks
  • Check for typos or grammar issues
  • Verify statistics and charts are accurate

Export the report to your desired format and distribute:

• Export Formats: Choose from available formats:
  • PDF (recommended for final distribution)
  • Word (.docx for editing if needed)
  • Excel (for data-heavy reports)
• Click "Download" or "Export"
• The file will download to your computer
• Distribute to approved recipients:
  • Audit Committee
  • Board of Directors
  • Senior Management
  • Functional Area Owners
• You can also share the report link in SmartHubs with selected viewers

Security Note: Audit reports contain sensitive information. Ensure proper distribution controls and consider watermarking confidential versions.

The executive summary is critical as many readers will only read this section:

• SmartHubs can auto-generate a summary based on findings
• You can edit the summary to add context or emphasize key points
• Include a brief audit opinion or overall assessment
• Keep to 1-2 pages maximum

SmartHubs formats validated findings in a consistent way:

• Each finding includes Condition, Criteria, Effect, and Cause
• Findings are grouped by risk level or category
• Management responses are included with each finding
• You can add notes or commentary if needed

Optional appendices can include:

• List of audit procedures performed
• Audit statistics (findings by category, time spent, etc.)
• Glossary of terms
• Audit team members
• References to audit standards or methodology

Use SmartHubs' access controls to manage report visibility:

• Share reports only with authorized viewers (board, committee, management)
• Restrict viewer-only access for sensitive reports
• Track who has accessed the report through audit trails
• Consider different versions for different audiences (abbreviated vs. full)

After distributing the report:

• Document management's responses to findings
• Track target completion dates for remediation
• Schedule follow-up reviews to verify corrective actions
• Report remediation status to the audit committee