---
title: Creating a Working Paper
description: "A working paper holds the detailed work for one audit: the plan, time spent, observations, assessments and recommendations. Each working paper is linked to an audit report, so it picks up the report's details and the audit entity behind it.…"
url: "https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/creating-a-working-paper/"
updated: "2026-10-30"
category: Working Paper Basics
tags:
  - Add
  - Audit
---

# Creating a Working Paper

A working paper holds the detailed work for one audit: the plan, time spent, observations, assessments and recommendations. Each working paper is linked to an audit report, so it picks up the report's details and the audit entity behind it.

**Note:** **Applies to:** auditors with access to Working Papers. You need an audit report to link the working paper to. See [Creating an Audit Issue Report](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/creating-an-audit-issue-report/).

## Opening Working Papers

1. In the left menu, select **Working Papers**. The page shows charts of working papers by status and planned audits, a calendar, and the list of working papers.

![Working Papers selected in the left menu](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/creating-a-working-paper-01-menu-v2.png)

1. Click the **+** icon at the top right.

![The + icon at the top right of the screen](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/creating-a-working-paper-02-add.png)

## Entering the Details

1. Choose the **Audit Report** the working paper is for. This is required. The report's details, and its audit entity, are pulled into the working paper.
2. Enter a **Name** for the working paper. This is also required.

![The Audit Report and Name fields filled in](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/creating-a-working-paper-03-report.png)

1. Fill in the rest of the details:

- **Start Date** and **End Date** of the audit work.
- **External Audit?** if the audit is carried out by an outside firm, and **Overdue Audit?** if it is late.
- **Stage**, such as Planning, Fieldwork or Reporting, and the overall **Rating**.
- **Audit Firms** carrying out the work.
- **Lead Auditor** (you are added automatically) and any **Assistant Auditors**.

![Start Date, Name, Stage, Rating, Audit Firms and Lead Auditor filled in](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/creating-a-working-paper-04-details.png)

1. Add an **Auditors Statement** describing the work if you have one.
2. Click **Save** at the top right.

![The Save button at the top right of the form](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/creating-a-working-paper-05-save.png)

## After Saving

The working paper opens on its **Overview** tab. Below your details, it shows the linked audit report and audit entity, including the entity's estimated auditing days.

![The working paper Overview tab with the linked audit report and audit entity highlighted](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/creating-a-working-paper-06-overview.png)

Use the other tabs to add the rest of the audit work:

- **Audit Planner**: see [Adding an Audit Plan](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/creating-an-audit-plan/).
- **Observations**: see [WP - Observations](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/wp-observations/).
- **Reviews & Actions**: see [Adding Recommendations & Actions](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/adding-recommendations-actions/).
- **Time Sheets**: see [Adding a Timesheet](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/adding-a-timesheet/).
- **Assessments**: see [Adding an Assessment](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/adding-an-assessment/).
- **Linked Risks**, **Linked Audit Issues** and **Linked Connections**: see [Accessing Linked Records Inside a Working Paper](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/accessing-linked-records-inside-a-working-paper/).

## Related Articles

- [Creating an Audit Issue Report](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/creating-an-audit-issue-report/)
- [Adding an Audit Plan](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/creating-an-audit-plan/)
- [Generating a Working Paper Report](https://support.symbiant.co.uk/kb/generating-a-working-paper-report/)