Proven internal audit strategies and techniques to help you accelerate turnaround times

With the increasing complexity of compliance requirements, organizations must adopt more agile and efficient audit processes. Traditional methods, reliant on manual documentation and scattered data sources, can lead to bottlenecks and delays. 

Internal audits play a crucial role in ensuring regulatory compliance, compliance with brand standards and SOPs, and maintaining operational efficiency within organizations. However, these audits can often be time-consuming, with many companies experiencing turnaround times of six weeks or longer. 

By modernizing internal audit practices through digital tools and streamlined workflows, companies can not only speed up the audit process but also gain deeper insights, enhance accuracy, and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

In this blog, we’ll demonstrate how leveraging technology and implementing strategic techniques can significantly reduce audit cycle times without sacrificing quality, safety, or compliance. 

Understanding the role of internal audits

A well-structured internal audit strategy is fundamental to the overall efficiency of audit processes. It provides a framework for identifying and prioritizing risks, allocating resources effectively, and ensuring that audit activities align with organizational objectives. A strong internal audit strategy is essential for maintaining audit readiness and reducing cycle times, as it enables auditors to focus on high-risk areas and streamline their approach.

Additionally, it serves as a roadmap for continuous improvement, allowing organizations to adapt to changing regulatory landscapes and emerging risks. By establishing clear guidelines and methodologies, a robust strategy enhances consistency across audits, facilitating easier comparison and trend analysis over time. 

Techniques to reduce internal audit turnaround times

To significantly cut down on audit times while maintaining accuracy and compliance, organizations can implement several specific methods and strategies. One of the most effective approaches is transitioning away from paper-based systems and manual spreadsheets, which often require extensive human intervention and are prone to errors. 

Integrating technology as a core part of the audit strategy can significantly speed up processes. Key technological solutions include:

1. Real-time monitoring tools: Implement systems that provide continuous oversight of key risk indicators, allowing for more timely identification of issues
2. Intuitive form builders: Create & implement activities to transform critical processes and SOPs, drawing from a rich centralized library of questions and policies
3. Workflow creation: Employ tools that allow for the creation and customization of audit workflows, ensuring efficiency and consistency
4. Automated and configurable scheduling: Utilize audit management platforms that offer built-in scheduling and assignment features
5. Data analytics: Utilize advanced analytics tools to quickly process large volumes of data and identify patterns or anomalies
6. Reporting and insights: Establish KPIs, measure ongoing performance, and drive targeted actions with centralized reporting & self-service BI

Auditing software can also automatically flag discrepancies, generate reports, and track action items—automating tasks that would typically take hours or even days when done manually. Additionally, the use of data analytics tools can quickly process vast amounts of information, identifying patterns and anomalies that might take an auditor weeks to uncover manually.

Customer success story: Hasbro

Hasbro, a top toy manufacturing company, was implementing generally manual auditing, often performed by third-party auditors who were unfamiliar with the business’s complex systems and mitigation strategies.

Through digitizing audits with CMX1, Hasbro has been able to double its suppliers and reduce the number of auditors. They can now close an audit within 48 hours, including two review cycles.

By leveraging CMX1's platform, Hasbro also gained real-time visibility into its audit process, allowing it to identify and address non-conformities quickly. The automated workflows and centralized data repository have streamlined communication between internal teams and suppliers, leading to more effective collaboration and faster resolution of issues. 

This digital transformation not only enhanced the overall quality of their audits but also helped Hasbro ensure consistent compliance across their expanded supplier network, ultimately supporting their commitment to product safety and quality.

Practical tips for accelerating internal audits

To significantly reduce audit turnaround times while maintaining the quality and thoroughness of your internal audit processes, consider the following actions:

1. Break down large audits: Instead of conducting a single audit with over 100 questions,  multiple, targeted audits focus on specific areas or processes. This approach allows for more frequent, less disruptive audits and enables quicker identification of issues in particular areas.
   
   
2. Utilize a centralized question library: Maintain a centralized repository of audit questions that can be easily updated and reused across different audits. This not only saves time in audit preparation but also ensures consistency across various audits and departments.
   
   
3. Automate report generation: Implement software that can automatically generate detailed reports with findings and areas of focus, reducing the time spent on manual report creation. This automation can significantly cut down on post-audit processing time and provide stakeholders with timely insights.
   
   
4. Implement continuous auditing: Utilize technology to perform ongoing monitoring and analysis of organizational processes, transactions, and controls. This approach can help identify issues in real time, reducing the scope and duration of periodic audits.
   
   
5. Focus on high-risk areas: To identify and address high-risk areas early in the audit process, consider implementing data analytics tools that can quickly analyze large volumes of data to pinpoint potential issues. Additionally, real-time monitoring systems can help flag anomalies as they occur, allowing for immediate intervention.
   
   
6. Enhance collaboration across teams: Improved communication and teamwork can significantly reduce delays in internal audits. A few methods to implement are:

• • Cross-functional teams: Form audit teams with members from various departments to bring diverse perspectives and expertise
  • Collaborative platforms: Utilize tools that facilitate real-time communication and document sharing among team members and stakeholders
  • Regular check-ins: Implement frequent status updates and touchpoints to ensure alignment and address any bottlenecks quickly

Implementing a robust internal audit strategy to achieve faster results

A robust internal audit strategy is vital for faster audit turnaround times while maintaining quality, safety, and compliance. By adopting the techniques and technologies discussed, organizations can significantly reduce their audit cycle times, potentially from weeks to hours.

To implement these strategies effectively:

1. Assess current processes: Evaluate existing audit procedures to identify areas for improvement and automation
2. Invest in technology: Select and implement audit management software and analytics tools that align with your organization's needs
3. Train your team: Ensure auditors are well-versed in new technologies and methodologies to maximize efficiency gains
4. Continuously refine: Regularly review and adjust your audit strategy based on results and changing organizational needs

By embracing these strategies and leveraging technology, organizations can transform their internal audit function into a more agile, efficient, and value-adding component of their operations. The benefits extend beyond just faster audits—they also improve risk management and resource allocation and drive more timely insights for decision-making.

To learn more about how CMX1 can help you streamline your internal audit strategy to cut turnaround times and drive efficiencies, request a demo.