How to Send a Pre-Audit Questionnaire for Internal Audit?

What is a Pre-Audit Questionnaire?

A pre-audit questionnaire is a document an auditor uses to gather essential information about a company's processes, software, and internal controls before the audit officially begins. It is the first step in an internal audit, helping the auditor understand the current situation and prepare key documentation for the audit:

• It's an efficient way to collect relevant data before the audit starts.
• It helps the auditor arrive fully prepared, avoiding unnecessary and irrelevant questions.
• It helps the audited parties prepare.

What Does a Pre-Audit Questionnaire Include? (Example)

• Process or Activity Being Reviewed
• Date of the Internal Audit
• Audit Location
• Objective, Subject, and Scope of the Internal Audit
• Standard or Regulation Being Audited
• Audited Parties

How to Prepare a Pre-Audit Questionnaire?  

1. As an auditor, open the audit records
2. Go to the records settings
3. Select "Online Questionnaires"
4. Select a questionnaire from the template and customize it to your needs

How to Send the Audit Questionnaire? 

1. As an auditor, open the audit records
2. Create or select the specific audit for which you want to send the questionnaire
3. In the left menu, select "Online Questionnaires" and choose the Audit Questionnaire (it may be named differently)
4. Send the questionnaire to selected individuals or share it as a link. 

What are the Benefits of an Audit Questionnaire for a Company?

The questionnaire helps audited individuals prepare – they will know what to expect. It serves as important preparation and an "early warning." For people within the company, the questionnaire also plays a significant psychological and organizational role, helping to alleviate the fear of the unknown:

• Significant Time Savings: Instead of lengthy questioning about the company's basic structure or software used, the auditor has this information beforehand in a structured format.
• Reduced Stress: When employees and managers see the areas of questioning in writing, their stress levels decrease. They know exactly what to expect.
• Awareness of Current Status: The questions prompt managers to reflect on their own processes even before the auditor steps through the door.
• Last Chance for Correction: If the questionnaire includes a question like "When was Policy X last updated?", it provides an ideal impulse for the company to quickly locate or update a forgotten document.