- Impending audits intimidate CIOs and business executives – and for good reason.
- A failed audit can result in punitive fines and injunctions that disrupt continuing operations until violations are resolved.
- These highly visible failures are best prevented through auditor-enterprise collaboration and pragmatic audit management.
Our Advice
Critical Insight
- Shift the audit paradigm: auditors need to be enabled, not resisted.
- Auditors provide a value-added service that you are paying for. Establishing an effective relationship and enabling the audit team can ensure you get value from the engagement. However, you must also be vigilant in mitigating the risk of damaging findings.
Impact and Result
- Effective audit management means acting with kindness to establish an effective relationship and taking vigilant, calculated steps to reduce the risk of adverse findings.
- Clarify the audit scope and prepare documentation in advance.
- Start off on a positive note and enable the auditor.
- Manage audit logistics to minimize business disruption.
- Dispute unwarranted findings.
- Continuously improve your auditability.