An audit journal will serve you well if you keep at it throughout the year. Include any new contracts or company policies that will help you stay organised when it is time to meet with your assessor. This will greatly reduce the stress of finding every key piece of documentation that they may be looking for on short notice.

Be realistic about your schedule and when you can be audited with minimal stress. You can control when the appointment is so that you have time to speak to key employees to find the proper information. If you give yourself a couple of extra days or even weeks, you will be better prepared for your appointment.

There is a great deal of fear that surrounds the process of being audited. It is important to keep a line of communication with your assessor. Don’t be afraid to ask them questions about issues you aren’t too sure about. It is better to ask queries during the audit than to provide incorrect information and have problems later.

Having your auditors meet your Board of Executives is a nice idea to keep open communication occurring. This will show the auditor that you are committed to transparency. In turn, it will show the board that you are having an outside source review certain aspect of the company’s transactions. If need be, the members of your board will be able to ask pertinent questions related to their concerns, which will put their minds at ease.