Getting your team on board for a business audit

Let’s be brutally honest. The only thing more daunting than preparing for a business audit is getting your team on board to help.

So how do you do it?

The answer lies in looking at it through the eyes of your employees. Today’s post will take that foundation and show you ways to get your team on board and make the audit process as smooth as possible.

Let’s go!

First things first

If you are new to business audits, the first thing to do is understand why they can be hard on employees.

Stress levels go up for audits because they usually involve detailed scrutiny of financial records, usually by strangers. For some, that’s the business equivalent of going through their closet. No one wants to be told they are doing something wrong.

That anxiety is compounded if there are fears that negative findings will lead to some penalty.

There will also be disruption to everyday workflows. Auditors need information, including documents and interviews. This is time-consuming and can potentially put everyone behind in their regular work.

And the process can drag on for weeks, even months, depending on the audit’s complexity and the company’s size.

Finally, there’s the cost. Time is money, and the weeks and months that were mentioned are not inexpensive. That may not resonate with every employee, but it will with some, pouring salt in the proverbial wound.

Antidotes for anxiety

For every anxiety, there’s a foil.

One of the greatest is time. Planning far in advance allows more time for open communication, which can help quell rumors and encourage a culture of transparency.

It also helps with delegating tasks so that one department doesn’t bear the brunt of the work. Finally, it allows time for employees to know what to expect of the auditors, ask questions, and even get some rudimentary training on how to approach the audit most efficiently.

These are all helpful, but they are surface-level treatments. To get employees on board, you must use the reasons behind the audit to do one thing.

Tell employees what’s in it for them

Business audits are designed to help companies; when a company is doing well, its employees can do well, too. So let them know that audits can do multiple good things for them.

First and foremost, it can improve job security. Audits improve business health and reduce the chances of layoffs.

It can also improve workflows, clarify job roles, and highlight areas where training and development are needed. All of these things hold the promise of a better working environment and the opportunity for career development.

Culture can also improve. Communicating about financial health and operational practices creates a positive work culture where employees feel ownership and responsibility. Just be sure to have a plan to expand on this culture so employees truly feel like their voices are heard.

One way is to give them input on improvement initiatives resulting from the audit.

You could even tie in financial incentives. Quell any rumors about punishment, and if financially feasible, set up performance incentives tied to improved efficiency or cost savings.

Putting it all together

Internal audits aren’t easy, but they can be rewarding for all stakeholders. Knowing where the potential pitfalls lie and addressing them with a systematic plan is the key to a business audit that can serve as a transformative moment for your business.