Leadership & Communication: The Secret Sauce for Practicing RAs

1. Why Leadership & Communication Matter More Than Ever

• Complex Stakeholder Demands: From new regulations to sustainability disclosures, clients rely on RAs for more than just standard audits. You need to lead them through uncertainty.

• Team Dynamics: Audits aren’t done solo. You’ll often coordinate with lawyers, IT experts, fraud specialists, or data analysts. Strong communication keeps everyone on the same page.

Key Insight: Technical skills get you in the door; people skills keep you in the room.

2. Building Your Leadership Skills

1. Set Clear Goals: Make sure your team knows the objectives—whether it’s finishing a specific audit phase or improving report turnaround times.

2. Delegate Wisely: You can’t (and shouldn’t) do everything yourself. Match tasks to each team member’s strengths.

3. Empower Others: Great leaders lift others. Mentor junior staff by offering constructive feedback and recognizing their achievements.

3. Communicating with Impact

• Tailor Your Message: Avoid jargon when talking to clients or non-audit stakeholders. Focus on clarity and relevance.

• Active Listening: Don’t just wait for your turn to speak. Ask follow-up questions and restate key points to show you truly understand.

• Handle Difficult Conversations: Sometimes you have to deliver bad news or challenge someone’s perspective. Be firm but empathetic, and always back up your position with facts.

4. Practical Exercises to Try

• Speak Up in Meetings: Volunteer to present a short audit finding. This helps you practice explaining complex info clearly.

• Shadow a Mentor: Join your supervisor or a senior RA in meetings. Note how they guide discussions and resolve conflicts.

• Practice Real-Life Scenarios: Role-play tough client conversations with a colleague. Switching roles helps you see both sides of the situation.

Conclusion

Strong leadership and communication skills elevate your career and make you a go-to person in challenging situations. Whether you’re running an audit team or advising on a tricky financial matter, these soft skills help you earn trust—and drive real impact.

P.S. We’d love to hear from you! What’s your biggest challenge in leading teams or communicating complex data? Share your thoughts, and we’ll tailor future posts to help you overcome those hurdles.