Face-to-face soft skills for entry-level internal auditors : a practice perspective

Abstract

Practising internal auditors, including entry-level internal auditors, need face-to-face soft skills to effectively manage the increased complexity of their profession. Although many studies have highlighted the need for soft skills, none has identified the various categories of face-to-face soft skills required by entry-level internal auditors when interacting with stakeholders. The aim of this article is to determine the views of practising internal auditors on the face-to-face soft skills required by entry-level internal auditors. A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was used for the study. Two data collection methods were employed to address the research objective. First, a document analysis was conducted to compile a preliminary list of face-to-face soft skills categories. In this regard inductive thematic analysis was adopted. Second, a web-based survey, conducted among selected practising internal auditors in South Africa, confirmed the preliminary list of 21 face-to-face soft skills. Cronbach’s alpha statistics were calculated and interpreted for responses to all Likert-scale questions. The findings indicate that both practitioners and the Institute of Internal Auditors should augment the existing list of imprecise soft skills to include the identified 21 face-to-face soft skills. If this is done, entry-level internal auditors’ face-to-face soft skills will be enhanced.