Management system auditors play a crucial role in ensuring organizations adhere to standards and regulations. In a world of increasing complexity and global interconnectedness, these professionals are faced with evolving challenges and opportunities. In this blog article, we will explore how management system auditors can diversify their skills and enhance their credibility to tap into growth opportunities within their field.
Diversification: the path to versatility
Management system auditors often find themselves dealing with various standards and certifications, each with its own set of requirements and nuances. This can be a daunting task, especially when organizations hold multiple certifications simultaneously. To address this challenge, auditors can pursue diversification in their skill set.
Diversification involves obtaining qualifications in multiple management system standards, enabling auditors to be more versatile and efficient. For instance, auditors can seek certifications in ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, and other relevant standards. This versatility allows auditors to conduct audits across different management systems, making their roles more effective and resource efficient.
Building credibility: the trust factor
In an increasingly globalized business landscape, trust is paramount. Auditors must not only possess technical skills but also establish credibility that instills confidence in their clients and stakeholders. Certification is a valuable tool to build this trust.
Certified auditors demonstrate their competence and commitment to their profession. Clients and organizations can rely on their expertise to ensure compliance with industry standards and regulations. Additionally, certification programs often require ongoing professional development, ensuring auditors stay up to date with the latest industry trends and best practices.
For example, the BSI (British Standards Institution) offers auditor qualifications that encompass various standards, such as quality, information security, and health and safety. These qualifications provide auditors with a mark of trust, indicating their proficiency in auditing and their commitment to continuous improvement.
The BSI auditor qualification: a path to credibility
BSI offers a structured auditor qualification program designed to help auditors enhance their credibility and skills. This program includes three levels: Practitioner, Professional, and Certified Professional. Each level offers a progression path for auditors to gain expertise in auditing and process improvement.
- Practitioner level: This entry-level stage equips auditors with foundational knowledge and skills in auditing practices. It provides the necessary groundwork for becoming a proficient auditor.
- Professional level: At this stage, auditors delve deeper into auditing techniques and process improvement. They learn to audit for both conformance and effectiveness, adding more value to their audits.
- Certified Professional level: This is the highest level, where auditors demonstrate proficiency in auditing and process improvement. Certified Professionals are recognized as experts in their field, instilling confidence in their clients and employers.
Driving effectiveness beyond compliance
Auditors are no longer mere compliance watchdogs; instead, they now play a crucial role in driving improvements and effectiveness within organizations. Auditors need to ask themselves more than just whether the organization complies with regulations. They must also question whether the processes audited can be optimized for efficiency and effectiveness. This transformative approach transcends the traditional boundaries of compliance audits, focusing instead on the continuous enhancement of operations.
- Value-add auditing: challenging the status quo.
Value-added auditors are those who bring a fresh perspective to the table. They pose questions like, "Can this process be executed more efficiently?" or "Are there untapped opportunities for improvement?" These auditors go beyond the routine task of confirming compliance; they are catalysts for effectiveness. By daring to challenge the status quo and actively seeking process improvements, value-add auditors become instrumental in an organization's success story.
- The PDCA audit cycle: a pillar of audit methodology
Auditors also play a vital role in the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) audit cycle in auditing processes. While planning and execution (Do) are essential phases, the true test often lies in the "Check" phase. This stage necessitates a thorough assessment of whether tasks were conducted correctly. Auditors must scrutinize process data, identify trends, and pinpoint areas ripe for improvement.
- Elevating auditors for process improvement
The British Standards Institution (BSI) offers specialized auditor qualifications that place a strong emphasis on both compliance and process improvement. BSI's step 2 qualification, designed to equip auditors with the skills required to approach audits from a process improvement perspective. This qualification empowers auditors to be champions of positive change within organizations, transcending the conventional role of conformance auditors.
Embracing digital transformation
Digital transformation has brought about a seismic shift in auditing practices, with remote audits, virtual audits, and immersive audits becoming the new norm. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated this transformation, compelling organizations to adopt remote audit options. Beyond efficiency gains, these changes have a positive environmental impact, as they reduce carbon footprints associated with travel. Auditors must remain adaptable, embracing modern technologies and techniques to navigate this evolving digital landscape effectively.
In BSI, we are embracing immersive technology solutions, which harness augmented reality and state-of-the-art hardware and software. These solutions deliver an audit experience that closely mirrors the real world, even when audits are conducted remotely. Immersive technology accelerates audit response times, enhances transparency, and streamlines data sharing, making it an indispensable tool for auditors navigating the digital frontier.
Lead and champion risks management
Auditors play a pivotal role in helping organizations navigate through complex challenges. The task at hand is nothing short of critical: identifying, assessing, and managing risk. This multifaceted role is not just about financial scrutiny; it encompasses an integrated approach that considers various aspects of an organization's operations.
The value of an audit hinges on the auditors' ability to identify the right risks – those that can significantly impact an organization's stability and success. Failing to spot these risks can have dire consequences, making the auditor's role even more crucial.
Types of risks
A comprehensive understanding of risk is essential for auditors. To provide a snapshot of the vast landscape of business risks, it is imperative to highlight a few key categories:
- Strategic risk: This type of risk pertains to an organization's long-term goals and decision-making processes. For instance, if a company introduces a radically different product, it runs the risk of customer rejection, a prime example of a strategic risk.
- Financial risk: The importance of financial health has become acutely evident, particularly in the wake of the pandemic. Organizations with high debt burdens or cash flow concerns are treading on financial risk territory. This encompasses aspects like accounts payable, accounts receivable, and overall financial processes.
- Operational risk: Whether it is a breakdown in machinery, workforce shortages, or compliance issues such as health and safety regulations, operational risks are a constant concern for businesses. The auditor's role extends to evaluating how these risks are managed within an organization.
- Reputation risk: A company's reputation is invaluable, and even a minor misstep can have profound consequences. Consider a company marketing an organic product but failing to ensure the organic status of all its ingredients. Such lapses can result in reputation damage.
- Information security risk: In today's digital age, safeguarding sensitive data is paramount. Auditors must assess the security of systems and data, including issues related to personal data protection and data breaches.
Identifying and assessing risks
Auditors rely on established guidelines and standards to effectively identify and assess risks. Two critical references in this context are ISO 31000:2018, which provides a framework for risk management, and ISO 31010:2009, which offers risk management techniques.
These standards delve into various aspects of risk management, encompassing risk identification, evaluation, recording, and reporting. It is essential for auditors to be well-versed in these techniques to engage in informed discussions with top management during audits.
Understanding the intricacies of risk management techniques, such as the Monte Carlo simulation, is particularly vital. If an auditor encounters unfamiliar terminology during discussions with management, it can hinder their ability to probe further and ascertain the importance of specific risks.
For management system auditors, acquiring knowledge of risk management techniques is not just a value addition but a necessity. Auditors often rely on the statements and assessments provided by top management to guide their audits. Without a solid understanding of risk management techniques, auditors may find it challenging to dig deeper and validate these assessments effectively.
Moreover, specialized qualifications in risk-related fields, such as business continuity or greenhouse gas management, are becoming increasingly valuable. As organizations focus on becoming environmentally sustainable and socially responsible, auditors with expertise in these areas are in high demand.
In summary, diversifying skills through certifications in various standards can enhance auditors' versatility and effectiveness. Building credibility through recognized qualifications is essential for establishing trust with clients and organizations. Auditors must also embrace a transformative approach that goes beyond compliance and focuses on driving effectiveness and efficiency within organizations. The digital transformation of auditing practices and the adoption of immersive technology are reshaping the profession, requiring auditors to adapt and stay ahead. Furthermore, managing risks across various categories, from strategic and financial to operational and reputation risks, underscores the critical role auditors play in safeguarding organizational success. As the demand for auditors with expertise in specialized risk-related fields continues to grow, auditors who invest in acquiring these skills will be well-positioned to unlock new growth opportunities within their profession.
Not sure which qualifications is suitable for you? Talk to our training advisor today! Contact us >>
