Think Before You Test: Applying Critical Thinking in Audit Planning – February 2026

Description

$525 (per person) includes an online webinar for 8 hours of CPE credit

Are your audit plans clear, actionable, and supported by quality evidence to prepare a compelling audit report? This interactive 8-hour webinar will strengthen your understanding of why audit planning is the foundation for successful audit execution and reporting. You’ll learn how to interpret overall audit objectives and design focused sub-objectives and tests to produce sufficient, appropriate audit evidence aligned with internal controls and identified risks.

This dynamic, hands-on workshop is designed for government auditors to make confident decisions and improve audit outcomes. Through collaborative exercises, real-world scenarios, and proven planning techniques, auditors will build a practical toolkit to develop stronger findings and a compelling report message that flows directly from your work.

Major Topics Include:

• Using overall audit objectives to shape your audit report message
• Defining and aligning audit scope and methodologies with performance measures
• Conducting risk assessments to create precise audit sub-objectives and tests
• Recognizing scope creep to stay focused on priorities and avoid rabbit holes
• Evaluating evidence to adjust audit plans when necessary

Whether you’re part of team or an audit leader, do not miss this opportunity to sharpen your critical thinking skills. By the end the course, you will be equipped to navigate the entire audit cycle and shift your mindset from “finish then write” to “write while you work.”

This powerful 8-hour webinar features Frank W. Jones, a governmental auditor, manager, and trainer from the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration with more than 35 years’ experience leading teams to execute complex audits of the Internal Revenue Service. Frank is an award-winning trainer for the Council of the Inspector General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) and routinely delivers engaging presentations at conferences for the audit community.

Learning objectives:

• Recognize the relationship between the four types of overall audit objectives and how each drives the report message from day one
• Identify the steps and key factors to estimate realistic timelines that align with performance measures and planned audit scope and methodologies
• Determine how researchable questions are used to complete a comprehensive risk assessment and design precise audit sub-objectives and tests
• Identify factors to adjust audit plans to support timely completion of field work and delivery of the audit report

Program Level: Basic
Field of Study: Auditing (Governmental)
Who Should Attend: Government auditors who seek to learn new skills and are responsible for executing the planning, fieldwork, and reporting phases of an audit engagement
Prerequisites: None
Advanced Preparation Required: None
Instructional Method: Webinar (Group Internet Based)
Class Size Limit: 40
CPE Credit Hours: 8

Date: February 4-5, 2026 (Wednesday-Thursday)
Time: 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Central

Webinar Leader:

Frank W. Jones, CIA

Frank Jones currently serves as a Management Analyst with the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA) in Atlanta, GA. Frank previously served as an Audit Manager in the Returns Processing and Account Service program and as an Audit Director in the Compliance and Enforcement Operations Program. His auditable areas included IRS’s Small Business/Self Employed and Wage and Investment Income Operating Divisions functional offices that include Examination, Collection, Criminal Investigation, Office of Professional Responsibility, Field Assistance, Electronic Tax Administration, Media and Publications, and Stakeholder, Partnership, Education and Communication. Frank is an auditing instructor for TIGTA and has served as a Council of Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) adjunct instructor since 2009. In addition, Frank regularly presents at Institute of Internal Auditors, Association of Local Government Auditors and the Association of Government Auditors conferences.

Frank began his career with the IRS Inspection Service in 1989 and has been with TIGTA since its establishment in 1998. While with TIGTA, he has participated in several notable customer service reviews where Frank and his team have played the role of taxpayers and conducted anonymous visits to IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers and Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites. For this review, auditors evaluated IRS employees and volunteers’ ability to correctly answer tax law questions and prepare accurate tax returns. During the 2008 filing season, Frank expanded his efforts and his team conducted anonymous visits to unenrolled commercial tax return preparation companies. The results from these reviews were instrumental in the IRS establishing the Taxpayer Assistance Blueprint and Paid Preparer Strategy.

Frank has received CIGIE awards for innovative customer service performance audits, the inaugural Adjunct Instructor Training Award of Excellence (2016) and the Barry R. Snyder Joint Award of Excellence (2024) for his contribution helping redesign the Introductory Auditor Course.   Frank is a mentor with more than 35 years of auditing experience. The unique blend of high energy and positive outlook on life makes his presentations motivational, leaving class participants excited and enthusiastic about the auditing profession. His educational mission is to inspire all students to go from being good to great auditors.

Frank has a BA in Accounting and Finance from Loyola University in New Orleans, Louisiana, and is a Certified Internal Auditor. Frank lives in Stone Mountain, GA with his wife Lori. In his free time, Frank enjoys coaching basketball, reading, playing on-line chess, fantasy football, and spending time with his family.

Questions? You can find our FAQ here.

To see a breakdown of how many polls and minutes of attendance are required for this webinar, see this page.