diff --git a/buildtest/builders/base.py b/buildtest/builders/base.py
index f50756bfe..1c7305492 100644
--- a/buildtest/builders/base.py
+++ b/buildtest/builders/base.py
@@ -244,20 +244,27 @@ def is_local_executor(self):
         # import issue when putting this at top of file
         from buildtest.executors.local import LocalExecutor
 
-        if isinstance(self.buildexecutor.executors[self.executor], LocalExecutor):
-            return True
+        return isinstance(self.buildexecutor.executors[self.executor], LocalExecutor)
 
-        return False
+    def is_slurm_executor(self):
+        """Return True if current builder executor type is LocalExecutor otherwise returns False.
+
+        Returns:
+            bool: returns True if builder is using executor type LocalExecutor otherwise returns False
+
+        """
+
+        # import issue when putting this at top of file
+        from buildtest.executors.slurm import SlurmExecutor
+
+        return isinstance(self.buildexecutor.executors[self.executor], SlurmExecutor)
 
     def is_batch_job(self):
         """Return True/False if builder.job attribute is of type Job instance if not returns False.
         This method indicates if builder has a job submitted to queue
         """
 
-        if isinstance(self.job, Job):
-            return True
-
-        return False
+        return isinstance(self.job, Job)
 
     def start(self):
         """Keep internal timer for test using class :class:`buildtest.utils.timer.Timer`. This method will start the timer for builder which is invoked upon running test."""
@@ -301,6 +308,7 @@ def run(self, cmd, timeout=None):
 
         self.metadata["command"] = cmd
 
+        console.print(f"[blue]{self}[/]: Current Working Directory : {os.getcwd()}")
         # capture output of 'env' and write to file 'build-env.sh' prior to running test
         command = BuildTestCommand("env")
         command.execute()
@@ -889,6 +897,10 @@ def post_run_steps(self):
         such as output, error and test script. We will check state of test and mark job is complete.
         """
 
+        # ensure we are back in stage directory before processing. For batch jobs like Slurm the
+        # current working directory is changed to the submit line which can cause issues for file checks
+        os.chdir(self.stage_dir)
+
         self._output = read_file(self.metadata["outfile"])
         self._error = read_file(self.metadata["errfile"])
 
diff --git a/buildtest/buildsystem/checks.py b/buildtest/buildsystem/checks.py
index 6eca86cdd..42fb6a64b 100644
--- a/buildtest/buildsystem/checks.py
+++ b/buildtest/buildsystem/checks.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ def exists_check(builder, status):
         f"[blue]{builder}[/]: Test all files:  {status['exists']}  existences "
     )
     for fname in status["exists"]:
-        resolved_fname = resolve_path(fname, exist=True)
+        resolved_fname = resolve_path(fname)
         if resolved_fname:
             console.print(f"[blue]{builder}[/]: file: {resolved_fname} exists")
         else:
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ def is_dir_check(builder, status):
         f"[blue]{builder}[/]: Test all files:  {status['is_dir']}  existences "
     )
     for dirname in status["is_dir"]:
-        resolved_dirname = resolve_path(dirname, exist=True)
+        resolved_dirname = resolve_path(dirname)
         if is_dir(resolved_dirname):
             console.print(
                 f"[blue]{builder}[/]: file: {resolved_dirname} is a directory "
diff --git a/tests/cli/test_config.py b/tests/cli/test_config.py
index fa4c4202e..fc15874fb 100644
--- a/tests/cli/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/cli/test_config.py
@@ -13,13 +13,16 @@
 from buildtest.executors.setup import BuildExecutor
 from buildtest.schemas.defaults import custom_validator
 from buildtest.schemas.utils import load_recipe, load_schema
+from buildtest.system import BuildTestSystem
 from buildtest.utils.file import walk_tree
 
 pytest_root = os.path.dirname(os.path.dirname(__file__))
 
+system = BuildTestSystem()
+
 configuration = SiteConfiguration()
 configuration.detect_system()
-configuration.validate()
+configuration.validate(moduletool=system.system["moduletool"])
 
 
 @pytest.mark.cli
@@ -56,7 +59,7 @@ def test_valid_config_schemas():
 
 @pytest.mark.cli
 def test_config_validate():
-    validate_config(configuration)
+    validate_config(configuration=configuration, moduletool=system.system["moduletool"])
 
 
 @pytest.mark.cli
diff --git a/tests/examples/cori/exists.yml b/tests/examples/cori/exists.yml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..8d498cfd3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/examples/cori/exists.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+buildspecs:
+  status_exists_slurm:
+   type: script
+   executor: cori.slurm.knl_debug
+   description: status check based for file and directory
+   sbatch: ['-n 1', '-t 5', '-C knl']
+   run: |
+     mkdir -p a/b/c
+     touch foo
+   status:
+     exists:
+       - a/b/c
+       - foo
+     is_dir:
+       - a/b/c
+     is_file:
+       - foo
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/test_cori.py b/tests/test_cori.py
index 5804c732f..80a4bb7d6 100644
--- a/tests/test_cori.py
+++ b/tests/test_cori.py
@@ -94,6 +94,31 @@ def test_cori_slurm_max_pend():
         cmd.build()
 
 
+def test_cori_slurm_file_exists():
+
+    if not hostname.startswith("cori"):
+        pytest.skip("This test runs on Cori Login nodes ('cori*')")
+
+    bc = SiteConfiguration(settings_file)
+    bc.detect_system()
+    bc.validate(moduletool="environment-modules")
+
+    system = BuildTestSystem()
+
+    cmd = BuildTest(
+        configuration=bc,
+        buildspecs=[
+            os.path.join(
+                os.getenv("BUILDTEST_ROOT"), "tests", "examples", "cori", "exists.yml"
+            )
+        ],
+        buildtest_system=system,
+        poll_interval=5,
+        maxpendtime=120,
+    )
+    cmd.build()
+
+
 def test_compiler_find_cori():
 
     if not hostname.startswith("cori"):