Sam Mansour, CPA

Sam and Abdullah tackle the audit review bottleneck crisis that leaves partners reviewing work papers late into the night. Sam explains how the problem starts at the preparer level with incomplete work papers, continues through rushed senior reviews, and ultimately creates massive stress when everything piles up at the partner level right before deadlines. From implementing internal milestone deadlines to creating common review comment libraries, this conversation reveals why treating the external deadline as your actual deadline is setting your firm up for failure, and what to do about itLearn more at https://mansouradvisory.com/Connect with Samhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-mansour-cpa-2a755b271Connect with Abdullahhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullah-mansour-454959108 Earn CPE for Listening to This Podcasthttps://www.earmark.app/This podcast is a production of the Earmark Media

Sam and Abdullah examine why the field work phase causes so many audit delays, even when planning looks solid. From missing documentation and vague responsibilities to last-minute client scrambles, Sam explains how weak leadership and poor communication turn a one-week engagement into a multi-month ordeal, and walks through the daily tracking systems and checkpoint meetings that prevent it.Learn more at https://mansouradvisory.com/Connect with Samhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-mansour-cpa-2a755b271Connect with Abdullahhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullah-mansour-454959108 Earn CPE for Listening to This Podcasthttps://www.earmark.app/This podcast is a production of the Earmark Media

Budget overruns plague audit engagements, often stemming from poor planning, unclear scope definition, and inadequate client management. Sam breaks down the financial and reputational damage of underbidding jobs and explains how firms can protect their margins through strategic scoping, proactive client communication, and realistic time allocation. The discussion covers everything from setting appropriate hourly rates to managing client expectations and avoiding the quality compromises that come with unrealistic budgets.Learn more at https://mansouradvisory.com/Connect with Samhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-mansour-cpa-2a755b271Connect with Abdullahhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullah-mansour-454959108 Earn CPE for Listening to This Podcasthttps://www.earmark.app/This podcast is a production of the Earmark Media

Most auditors know they need to ask questions, but few understand how to ask the right questions effectively. On this episode Sam breaks down why yes-or-no questions are dangerous, how to create an environment where clients feel comfortable sharing critical information, and the specific techniques that can turn a surface-level conversation into a revealing audit insight. From body language to the strategic use of silence, this episode covers the often-overlooked skill that can make or break an audit engagement.Learn more at https://mansouradvisory.com/Connect with Samhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-mansour-cpa-2a755b271Connect with Abdullahhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullah-mansour-454959108 Earn CPE for Listening to This Podcasthttps://www.earmark.app/This podcast is a production of the Earmark Media

Even the most thorough audit work can fail if it's not properly documented. This episode breaks down why documentation is consistently the weakest link in audit files and how poor documentation can turn an excellent audit into a regulatory nightmare. Learn the essential elements of effective documentation, common pitfalls that waste reviewer time and increase firm risk, plus actionable tips for creating work papers that tell a clear story from start to finish.Learn more at https://mansouradvisory.com/Connect with Samhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-mansour-cpa-2a755b271Connect with Abdullahhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullah-mansour-454959108 Earn CPE for Listening to This Podcasthttps://www.earmark.app/This podcast is a production of the Earmark Media

Audit checklists are essential tools, but they can quickly transform from helpful guides into dangerous crutches that stifle critical thinking and mask serious deficiencies. Sam reveals how time pressures, inadequate budgets, and firm culture create environments where auditors blindly check boxes without truly understanding what they're testing, sometimes allowing fraud to go undetected for years. This conversation explores the balance between efficiency and thoroughness, offering insights on how firms can foster genuine analytical thinking while still maintaining audit quality and meeting client expectations.Learn more at https://mansouradvisory.com/Connect with Samhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-mansour-cpa-2a755b271Connect with Abdullahhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullah-mansour-454959108 Earn CPE for Listening to This Podcasthttps://www.earmark.app/This podcast is a production of the Earmark Media

Risk assessment drives every aspect of an audit, yet many firms treat it as a mere compliance checkbox rather than the strategic foundation it should be. Sam reveals why rushed planning and copy-paste approaches from prior years lead to deficient audits and missed material misstatements. This episode explores how top-performing firms approach risk assessment as a mindset, emphasizing collaboration, customization, and the critical connection between identified risks and targeted audit procedures.Learn more at https://mansouradvisory.com/Connect with Samhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-mansour-cpa-2a755b271Connect with Abdullahhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullah-mansour-454959108 Earn CPE for Listening to This Podcasthttps://www.earmark.app/This podcast is a production of the Earmark Media

Risk assessments treated as checklists, poor documentation habits, and shallow client walkthroughs are among the most common pitfalls that derail audit engagements. Join hosts Abdullah, and Sam Monsour as they explore real-world examples of how these mistakes lead to uncomfortable client callbacks and missed fraud, while explaining why thinking like a reviewer and slowing down the planning phase can transform your audit quality. The discussion covers everything from asking the right challenging questions to establishing good organizational habits that prevent costly errors down the road.Learn more at https://mansouradvisory.com/Connect with Samhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sam-mansour-cpa-2a755b271 Connect with Abdullahhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/abdullah-mansour-454959108 Earn CPE for Listening to This Podcasthttps://www.earmark.app/This podcast is a production of the Earmark Media