Create audit reports

I have the quarter-end trial balance and the working papers from the audit team. Send the audit report on the two subsidiaries to Maria in external reporting and to David, the audit partner, for signature, in that order, with a Friday COB deadline — but first check that every variance over 5% has an explanation and that the control exceptions section lists the remediation owner and target date.

Before I file the audit report with the board, make it easy for non-technical directors to accept: put a one-paragraph executive summary with the clean/qualified opinion up top, surface the three highest-risk adjustments and their monetary impact, make the control exceptions findable, and flag any draft wording that invites legal pushback.

We have an unexplained 12% revenue variance between my working paper and the tax schedule for the manufacturing division. The audit partner expects a clean report; the tax manager has been slow to respond; if we disclose it we risk a qualification. I cannot tell whether this is a timing issue or a recording error. What is the likely diagnosis and the best next move within 48 hours?

Over the last four quarters we keep issuing post-report adjustments that force us to reopen prior audits. It costs us credibility with the board and doubles review time. Which habits in our data collection, sign-off chain, or sampling choices are most likely causing this, and what one change should we make this quarter to stop it from happening again?