Curiosity Didn’t Kill the Auditor

Curiosity killed the cat… but it just might save the auditor!

My three-year-old is a relentless question machine. From the endless “why’s” while I’m trying to get him dressed in the morning, to the cross-examination over every ingredient on his plate — he challenges me daily. And it made me stop and think: when do we lose that fearless curiosity?

Somewhere along the way, many of us stop asking “why.” Is it life experience that dulls the edge? Or do we simply grow comfortable in what we already know?

For auditors, curiosity isn’t just a charming trait — it’s a superpower. Encouraging it, especially in junior team members, opens the door to real understanding. When we ask the deeper questions, we uncover not just what a business does, but why it does it that way. That depth of insight is the foundation of a strong risk assessment — and it allows us to design audits that truly fit the client, not just the checklist.

So maybe curiosity didn’t kill the cat after all. In our profession, it could be what keeps us sharp, relevant, and effective.

Curiosity isn’t just an individual trait — it’s something we can nurture. When we encourage juniors to ask those “awkward” questions, or give space in planning meetings to challenge assumptions, we’re not slowing the audit down — we’re strengthening it.

The real magic happens when curiosity becomes part of a firm’s culture. Too often, juniors are told to just get through the checklist — but the real value comes when they pause to say, “hang on, why is it done this way?” As leaders, we can model that behaviour, celebrate it, and make sure it’s recognised.

In the end, a culture of curiosity doesn’t just create better audits — it creates better auditors.