Should Internal Audit Checklists be Controlled Documents?

M

Meggsy

#1
Hi Guys; - As per the subject heading, should I make Audit Checklists Controlled Documents?

Thanks in advance
 
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somashekar

Staff member
Super Moderator
#2
Hi Guys; - As per the subject heading, should I make Audit Checklists Controlled Documents?

Thanks in advance
NO NO NO ... Its a ready reconer for the auditor and the auditor must be free to make more check points than the checklist contents. You must encourage the auditor to make his own checklist and you will see that as auditing standards mature these checklists will slowly become redundent.
 
J

Jeff Frost

#3
Hi Guys; - As per the subject heading, should I make Audit Checklists Controlled Documents?

Thanks in advance
The basic form should be controlled but the actual checklist for each process is subject to change and should not be controlled.
 
M

Meggsy

#4
I agree that checklists shouldn't even be required, but managers are asking for them... so... what's a girl to do? :confused:

Our Internal Audit Procedure is written such that "Checklists may be used, however the auditor can used another method if preferred", plus I also have a spot for "additional requirements" at the bottom of each checklist so the auditor can add their own flavour.

I think I'll just stock them all in a folder and not control them.

Thanks :thanks:
 

somashekar

Staff member
Super Moderator
#5
I agree that checklists shouldn't even be required, but managers are asking for them... so... what's a girl to do? :confused:

Our Internal Audit Procedure is written such that "Checklists may be used, however the auditor can used another method if preferred", plus I also have a spot for "additional requirements" at the bottom of each checklist so the auditor can add their own flavour.

I think I'll just stock them all in a folder and not control them.

Thanks :thanks:
Meggsy .. you can do a lot. First let the checklist and the audit report not be a combined document if they are combined as of now. Make a set of audit questions that typically needs to be asked as a checklist and provide them to the auditors (managers) and encourage them to go beyond it since they are trained to do the internal audits. The best way one can acquire good auditing techniques after the IA training is by quickly conducting audits Try to use this list here and feel free to modify it for your requirement. Hope you will feel better .... :) <<< Good luck >>>
 

Attachments

#6
I agree that checklists shouldn't even be required, but managers are asking for them... so... what's a girl to do? :confused:
That is interesting. Why are they asking for them?

Anyway, there are many ways to do this, but I'll tell you what I do: I still go by the old school, preparing a unique checklist for each audit (I find them to be too good as tools go to omit them). Thus the form as such is not controlled, but I do add the completed checklist as an appendix to the report, so it is a record in our system. I should also add that our entire audit system (Planning, checklists, reports, improvement actions and follow up) is handled in an Access application we cobbled together many years ago, so we regard the entire database as a record.

Just food for thought.

/Claes
 
#7
I'm with Claes on this one. Why would a manager ask for one? Are they hoping to get a 'jump' on the internal auditors by looking at the checklist? If so, then I'd look at the way you are planning your audits or something similar.

When people feel the need to 'prepare' for an internal audit, there's something going on which needs to be addressed! If, for example, you are auditing from ISO 9001 (or a similar standard) then the terminology is strange to management, so they need to see the checklist so they can interpret and prepare for the audit.

Tell us more and we can help you improve your process, past this symptom...
 

ScottK

Not out of the crisis
Staff member
Super Moderator
#8
Managers like audit checklists so they know what to prepare for and have copy of the checklist in their hands as the audit is performed.

Most of the customers I host give me a copy of their checklist up front.
They are pretty vague and leave a lot of room for further exploration.
Even our CE marking body has a standard controlled checklist for the directives. It in no way hinders their effectiveness and I use it for internal directive audits.

I use checklists in internal audits. But they change from audit to audit so they are not controlled as a form.
I control the template, but part of the auditor's job is to create a checklist for each audit based on the standards and past audits.
 
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J

JaneB

#9
Why are they asking for them?
Good question. While I agree to some extent that preparation 'shouldn't' be necessary, an organisation often doesn't reach that level of maturity for some time (some, alas, never do)

I've found managers often ask for checklists or the like in circumstances such as:
  • internal audit only just beginning
  • new managers, inexperienced with/new to the whole idea of internal audit, and thus a bit nervous or apprehensive
  • organisation with a command & control, fear-based culture, where mistakes are punished - what manager would not want to prepare as much as possible in such a culture?
  • someone who's had bad experience with audit in the past; this might be anything from audits always done to a rigid checklist, audit with incompetent auditor, poorly defined scope, no procedure to being punished based on poor results

Often, they're just seeking an idea of what might be covered - not so much to 'cover up' or 'prepare', as to understand what will happen. A good explanation beforehand, opening meeting, etc etc can do much to help. As Andy says, it's a symptom of something. What?
 
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D

donaokka

#10
The basic form should be controlled but the actual checklist for each process is subject to change and should not be controlled.
Yes,jeff is right, the form should be controlled by doucument center; but this action-internal audit should not controlled;
 
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