Getting an audit notice can be stressful. Whether it’s a financial audit, compliance review, or internal assessment, your response sets the tone for the entire process. A well-crafted email shows professionalism and cooperation while protecting your interests.
The right response can streamline the audit process, build trust with auditors, and help achieve favorable outcomes. These 15 email templates will guide you through various audit scenarios with proven approaches that work.
Audit Response Email Samples
These carefully crafted templates cover different audit situations you might face. Feel free to customize them to fit your specific circumstances.
1. Acknowledging Receipt of an External Audit Notice
Subject: RE: Notice of External Audit – [Company Name] – Acknowledgment and Preparation
Dear Mr. Patterson,
Thank you for your notification dated May 12, 2025, regarding the upcoming external audit of our financial statements for the fiscal year 2024-2025.
We acknowledge receipt of your audit notice and confirm our readiness to participate in this process. Our team has started gathering the requested documentation and will have everything prepared before your arrival on June 3, 2025.
For coordination purposes, I will serve as your primary contact throughout this audit. Please direct all communications and requests to my email or contact me directly at (555) 123-4567.
We’ve reserved the conference room on the 4th floor for your team’s use during the two-week audit period. Should you require any additional resources or have specific technological needs, please let me know by May 25 so we can make appropriate arrangements.
We look forward to a productive and smooth audit process.
Best regards,
[Your name and designation]
Financial Controller ABC Corporation
Phone: (555) 987-6543 Email: yourname@abccorp.com
2. Responding to an Internal Audit Notification
Subject: Internal Audit Response – Marketing Department – Full Cooperation Confirmed
Hello Ms. Rivera,
I received your internal audit notification for the Marketing Department scheduled for next month. Thank you for providing advance notice and the detailed scope document outlining the areas of focus.
Our entire team has been informed of the upcoming audit, and we’re committed to providing full cooperation and transparency throughout the process. We view this as a valuable opportunity to improve our departmental procedures and ensure alignment with company policies.
I’ve designated Sarah Chen as our department’s audit liaison. She has extensive knowledge of our operations and will ensure timely responses to all information requests. Sarah can be reached at extension 2345 or sarah.chen@company.com.
We’ve already begun compiling the requested marketing campaign documentation, budget reports, and vendor contracts from the past fiscal year. If there are any additional materials you’ll need beyond what was specified in your initial notification, please let us know as soon as possible.
Would it be helpful to schedule a preliminary meeting to discuss your expectations and answer any initial questions we might have? We’re available this Thursday or Friday afternoon if that works for your team.
Thank you for your guidance in this important process.
Sincerely,
[Insert sender’s name and role]
Marketing Director Global Innovations Inc.
Office: Room 405, East Wing Phone: (555) 234-5678 Email: marketing.director@globalinnovations.com
3. Request for Audit Timeline Extension
Subject: Request for Extension – Tax Audit Timeline – Reference #TA-2025-4872
Dear Auditor Johnson,
I am writing regarding the tax audit notification (Reference #TA-2025-4872) received on April 30, 2025, which requests documentation submission by May 20, 2025.
While we take this audit seriously and are committed to full compliance, I respectfully request a two-week extension for the following reasons:
1. Our Chief Financial Officer, who oversees our tax documentation, is currently recovering from an unexpected medical procedure and will return to the office on May 18.
2. We recently migrated to a new financial management system, and retrieving some of the historical records from the previous system requires technical support from our vendor.
3. Several key financial reconciliation documents from Q3 are stored in our off-site facility and require additional time to retrieve and properly organize.
We propose a revised submission deadline of June 3, 2025, which would allow us to provide complete and well-organized documentation for your review. This timeline would ensure accuracy and thoroughness without compromising the quality of materials provided.
If this extension is granted, we commit to adhering to the new deadline without further delays. Should you require partial documentation by the original date, we can prioritize specific items per your guidance.
Thank you for your consideration. I’m available at (555) 888-9999 to discuss this request further.
Respectfully,
[Your name and designation]
Tax Compliance Manager Fairview Industries
Direct: (555) 888-9999 Email: tax.manager@fairview.com
4. Providing Requested Audit Documentation
Subject: Submission of Requested Audit Documentation – Audit ID: FY25-108
Dear Audit Team,
Please find attached the documentation requested in your notice dated April 8, 2025 (Audit ID: FY25-108). This submission includes:
1. General ledger transactions for Q1-Q4 FY2024-25 (Excel format) 2. Bank reconciliation statements for all corporate accounts (PDF) 3. Fixed asset register with depreciation schedules (Excel format) 4. Minutes from board meetings related to financial decisions (PDF) 5. Vendor payment approval workflows and authorization matrices (PDF) 6. Employee expense reimbursement policy and sample approvals (PDF)
All files have been organized according to your requested naming convention and contain the data for the specified time period (January 1, 2024 – December 31, 2024). The documents are provided via the secure file transfer portal as instructed.
A few notes regarding the submission: – The fixed asset register includes a tab explaining our depreciation methodology changes implemented in March 2024 – Bank statements for our secondary foreign currency account (Documents #12-15) include translation worksheets showing conversion to USD using month-end rates – Two vendor contracts (Apex Solutions and Green Supply Co.) were renewed mid-year with revised terms, so both versions are included with effective dates clearly marked
Should you have any questions about the provided documentation or require additional information, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly. Our team remains available to clarify any aspects of the submitted materials.
Kind regards,
[Sender’s name and designation]
Senior Accounting Manager Pacific Regional Trust
Office: Suite 300, Financial District Phone: (555) 432-1987 Email: accounting@pacifictrust.com
5. Addressing Preliminary Audit Findings
Subject: Response to Preliminary Audit Findings – Project Governance Review
Dear Mr. Watkins,
Thank you for sharing the preliminary findings from your project governance audit conducted last week. We appreciate the thoroughness of your review and the constructive feedback provided.
After careful consideration of the points raised, I’d like to offer the following responses and clarifications:
Finding #1: Inconsistent Project Approval Documentation We acknowledge the inconsistency in our approval documentation. We’ve already implemented a standardized project approval template that addresses all seven required criteria. All pending projects have been updated to this new format, and we’ve scheduled a team training session for May 20 to ensure proper usage going forward.
Finding #2: Outdated Risk Assessment Methodology You correctly identified that our risk assessment framework hasn’t been updated since 2022. We’ve engaged our risk management consultants to help revise our methodology. The updated framework will be finalized by June 15 and will incorporate the industry best practices you recommended, particularly regarding cybersecurity and supply chain vulnerabilities.
Finding #3: Incomplete Stakeholder Communication Records While we maintain detailed records of formal stakeholder communications, we recognize the gap in documenting informal consultations. We’ve added a quick-capture communication log to our project management software where team members can easily record all stakeholder interactions. This has been operational since Monday, and adoption is being monitored daily.
We’ve also attached supplementary documentation that may address some of the minor concerns noted in your report. Please review these at your convenience.
Our team would appreciate the opportunity to discuss these responses before your final report is issued. Would you be available for a 45-minute meeting next Tuesday or Wednesday afternoon?
Thank you again for your professional approach and valuable insights.
Warm regards,
[Your name and role]
Director of Project Management Office Integrated Systems Ltd.
Building 4, Innovation Park Phone: (555) 777-8383 Email: pmo.director@integratedsystems.com
6. Disputing Audit Findings With Evidence
Subject: Formal Response to Audit Finding #2023-F7 – Expense Categorization
Dear Ms. Thomas,
I am writing in response to Finding #2023-F7 in your recent audit report dated May 5, 2025, which states that our department incorrectly categorized $145,000 of software development expenses as capital expenditures rather than operating expenses.
After careful review of the relevant accounting standards and our specific circumstances, we respectfully disagree with this finding based on the following evidence:
1. The expenses in question relate to our customer relationship management system development, which meets all criteria for capitalization under FASB ASC 350-40: – The software is for internal use – The application development stage costs are clearly identifiable – The project has been authorized and budgeted as a capital project – The useful life extends beyond one year (estimated at 7 years)
2. Our technology review committee conducted and documented the required feasibility analysis prior to development (attached as Exhibit A).
3. The questioned costs specifically relate to design, coding, and testing activities during the application development stage, not preliminary project or post-implementation stages, as evidenced by our detailed time tracking records (Exhibit B).
4. Our independent external auditors reviewed these same transactions during our annual financial audit and confirmed our treatment was appropriate (see Exhibit C – Deloitte review notes).
We’ve attached comprehensive documentation supporting our position, including: – Original project approval with capitalization justification – Detailed breakdown of development activities with associated costs – Technical documentation showing the system’s multi-year functionality – Confirmation from our accounting firm endorsing our treatment
Based on this evidence, we request reconsideration of Finding #2023-F7. We welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter further and can arrange a meeting with our technical accounting specialists to review the supporting documentation in detail.
Thank you for your consideration.
Respectfully,
[Sender’s name and position]
Chief Financial Officer Nexus Technologies
Executive Suite 500 Phone: (555) 123-7890 Email: cfo@nexustech.com
7. Requesting Clarification on Audit Requirements
Subject: Request for Clarification – Compliance Audit Requirements (Ref: CA-2025-0542)
Dear Audit Committee,
I am preparing for the upcoming compliance audit scheduled for June 15-19, 2025 (Reference: CA-2025-0542), and need clarification on several requirements listed in the audit preparation document we received last week.
Specifically, I would appreciate additional information on the following items:
1. On page 3, section 2.4, the document requests “all third-party assessment reports from the past fiscal cycle.” Could you please specify which types of assessments this includes? Does this cover only security assessments, or does it extend to financial audits, quality control reviews, and customer satisfaction surveys as well?
2. The sampling methodology described on page 7 mentions a “statistically significant sample size based on transaction volume.” Could you provide the specific formula or parameters you’ll use to determine sample size? This would help us prepare the right quantity of records in advance.
3. For the employee training documentation requested on page 12, the requirement states “evidence of effectiveness.” Beyond completion certificates and test scores, what specific metrics or documentation would satisfy this requirement?
4. The audit scope includes “all material vendors,” but this term isn’t defined. Is there a specific annual spend threshold that constitutes “material” for this audit purpose?
5. Regarding physical security controls listed in Appendix B, will the audit team require access to our facilities outside of normal business hours? If so, we’ll need to make special security arrangements.
Your clarification on these points will help us prepare more effectively and ensure we meet your expectations during the audit. If a brief call would be more efficient to address these questions, I’m available any morning this week between 9 AM and 11 AM.
Thank you for your assistance.
Best regards,
[Your name and designation]
Compliance Director Highland Healthcare Systems
North Tower, Suite 840 Phone: (555) 456-7890 Email: compliance@highlandhealthcare.org
8. Proposing an Audit Process Improvement
Subject: Suggestion for Streamlining the Annual IT Security Audit Process
Dear Mr. Rodriguez,
Thank you for leading our recent IT security audit. While the process was thorough, I’d like to propose some improvements that could enhance efficiency for both your audit team and our IT department in future assessments.
During our post-audit review, we identified several opportunities to streamline the process without compromising audit quality:
1. Automated Evidence Collection We noticed your team spent approximately 40 hours manually gathering system logs and configuration files. We’ve developed a secure, read-only audit portal that could automatically compile 85% of the requested technical evidence. This would reduce manual collection time and ensure consistency in format and organization.
2. Staggered Document Submission Schedule Rather than providing all documentation at once, we suggest a staggered submission schedule aligned with your team’s review timeline. This approach would allow us to focus on quality for each batch and give your team time to review materials before moving to the next audit section.
3. Pre-Audit Workshop We propose a 2-hour workshop two weeks before the audit to review scope, expectations, and technical terminology. Our last audit revealed some misunderstandings about specialized systems that required additional explanation, extending the process by several days.
4. Standardized Response Templates We’ve drafted standardized templates for common audit inquiries based on past audits (attached for your review). These templates ensure we provide complete information on first request, reducing follow-up questions.
5. Dedicated Virtual Communication Channel Creating a dedicated Slack channel or Microsoft Teams space for the audit period would replace the 47 separate email threads from our last audit and provide a searchable history of all communications.
I’d welcome the opportunity to discuss these proposals further. These changes could potentially reduce the audit duration by 30% while increasing the quality of information exchanged.
Looking forward to your thoughts.
Sincerely,
[Sender’s name and designation]
IT Governance Manager Quantum Solutions Group
Tech Center Building, Suite 350 Phone: (555) 321-9876 Email: it.governance@quantumsolutions.net
9. Responding to a Surprise Audit Notification
Subject: Response to Unscheduled Quality Control Audit – Immediate Action Plan
Dear Quality Assurance Team,
I acknowledge receipt of your surprise audit notification delivered this morning. While unexpected, we welcome this opportunity to demonstrate our compliance with quality standards and identify any areas for improvement.
Despite the short notice, we have taken immediate steps to accommodate your audit team:
1. All manufacturing operations will continue as normal so you can observe our standard processes in action.
2. I’ve assigned Maria Chen (Production Supervisor) and Daniel Garcia (Quality Control Specialist) to assist your team throughout the audit. Both are fully knowledgeable about our operations and have access to all relevant documentation.
3. Our quality management documentation has been organized in Conference Room B, including: – Current production protocols and batch records – Equipment maintenance and calibration logs – Staff training and certification records – Previous audit findings and corrective action reports – Customer complaint logs and resolution documentation
4. We’ve cleared the schedule for all key personnel you requested to interview. They will be available at your convenience throughout your visit.
5. The requested samples from production batches #45892, #45893, and #45901 have been set aside for your inspection in the QC lab.
While we strive to maintain continuous compliance, we value the fresh perspective your team brings and view this audit as a growth opportunity. Please let me know if you need anything else to conduct a thorough assessment.
Thank you for your professional approach. We look forward to receiving your feedback.
Best regards,
[Your name and role]
Operations Manager PrecisionMed Manufacturing
Building 3, Industrial Park Phone: (555) 789-4561 Email: operations@precisionmed.com
10. Following Up After an Inconclusive Audit
Subject: Follow-up to Grant Expenditure Audit – Additional Information and Next Steps
Dear Grant Compliance Team,
I’m writing regarding the inconclusive findings in your preliminary audit report of our NSF grant expenditures (Grant #NSF-2025-ENG-1457), received yesterday.
We understand your team was unable to verify the allocation methodology for shared research equipment and personnel costs between this grant and our other active projects. After reviewing your report, we’ve prepared additional documentation to address these specific concerns:
1. Equipment Usage Allocation We’ve compiled detailed equipment logs showing hourly usage of the shared electron microscope, including user ID, project code, and session duration. These logs correspond directly to the cost allocations in our financial system. Additionally, we’ve included the equipment scheduling software reports that automatically calculate usage percentages by grant.
2. Personnel Time Tracking For the four researchers who split time between multiple grants, we’ve retrieved the original signed time certification forms that were apparently missing from the audit sample. These bi-weekly certifications detail exact hours allocated to each project, signed by both the researchers and their supervisors.
3. Indirect Cost Calculation We’ve prepared a step-by-step calculation worksheet showing how our 42.7% indirect cost rate was applied to this grant specifically, with clear identification of excluded equipment purchases over $5,000 as required by NSF guidelines.
4. Cost Transfer Justification For the two questioned cost transfers that occurred in September 2024, we’ve located the detailed justification forms and approval emails that explain why these expenses were reassigned to this grant after initial posting.
All these documents have been uploaded to your secure portal under reference #GCA-2025-1457-SUPP. We’ve also scheduled our Grant Accounting Specialist, Dr. James Wong, to be available for a virtual meeting any day next week should you wish to discuss these materials in detail.
We’re committed to proper grant management and appreciate the opportunity to provide this clarifying information. Please let us know when we might expect your final determination based on these additional materials.
Thank you for your thorough review of our grant compliance.
Sincerely,
[Sender’s name and position]
Research Administration Director Metropolitan University
Research Administration Office Phone: (555) 222-3333 Email: research.admin@metrouniversity.edu
11. Thanking Auditors After Completion
Subject: Appreciation for Your Professional Audit Approach – Q1 2025 Financial Review
Dear Mr. Roberts and Audit Team,
Now that you’ve completed the Q1 2025 financial audit of our organization, I wanted to express our sincere appreciation for your professional approach and valuable insights throughout the process.
Your team conducted the audit with remarkable efficiency while maintaining thorough attention to detail. We particularly valued:
1. The clear communication of expectations at the initial planning meeting, which allowed us to prepare exactly what was needed
2. Your team’s willingness to work around our month-end closing schedule, minimizing disruption to our operations
3. The daily status updates that kept us informed of progress and any additional information requirements
4. The preliminary findings discussion that gave us an opportunity to provide context before formal conclusions were drawn
The constructive recommendations regarding our accounts receivable aging analysis and inventory valuation methodology are already being implemented. Our controller has developed an action plan addressing each point raised in your management letter, with targeted completion dates over the next 60 days.
This audit experience has genuinely strengthened our financial processes. We look forward to demonstrating these improvements during your next review.
Please extend our thanks to Auditors Chen, Washington, and Patel for their professionalism and courtesy throughout the engagement.
Warm regards,
[Your name and designation]
Chief Executive Officer Greenfield Community Foundation
Foundation Headquarters Phone: (555) 111-2222 Email: ceo@greenfieldcf.org
12. Responding to a Regulatory Compliance Audit Finding
Subject: Corrective Action Plan – FDA Inspection Finding FDA-483 Items (Inspection: 1234567)
Dear Dr. Williams,
Thank you for conducting the recent FDA inspection of our manufacturing facility on April 10-14, 2025. We take the observations noted in Form FDA-483 very seriously and appreciate the opportunity to address them.
Below is our detailed corrective action plan addressing each observation:
Observation 1: Inadequate Validation of Sterilization Process We acknowledge the finding that our ethylene oxide sterilization validation lacked sufficient biological indicators in challenging locations. Our corrective actions include:
– Immediate: We’ve suspended production of affected product lines pending revalidation – Short-term (30 days): Full revalidation of the sterilization process with placement of biological indicators at the 12 locations identified in your report, conducted under our revised validation protocol SOP-VAL-121, effective May 1, 2025 – Long-term: Implementation of automated monitoring system for sterilization parameters with continuous data logging and exception alerting – Preventive: Comprehensive review of all other validation protocols to ensure sufficient biological indicator placement
Observation 2: Incomplete Complaint Investigation Procedures We recognize the deficiencies in our complaint handling process, particularly for non-critical complaints. Our remediation plan includes:
– Immediate: Review of all complaints received in the past 6 months to ensure proper investigation using our enhanced procedure – Short-term (45 days): Revision of SOP-QA-087 “Complaint Handling and Investigation” to include risk-based assessment criteria for all complaint categories – Long-term: Implementation of new complaint management software with mandatory investigation steps and management oversight – Preventive: Monthly quality metrics reporting on complaint closure rates and investigation timeliness
Observation 3: Environmental Monitoring Documentation Gaps We acknowledge the missing daily documentation for cleanroom environmental monitoring. Our corrective actions include:
– Immediate: Implementation of supervisory verification of environmental monitoring documentation completeness at end of each shift – Short-term (15 days): Creation of electronic environmental monitoring forms with required fields that prevent incomplete submissions – Long-term: Installation of automated environmental monitoring system with continuous data recording for critical parameters – Preventive: Addition of documentation review to weekly quality assurance walkthrough checklist
We commit to completing all short-term actions before June 15, 2025, and long-term actions by August 30, 2025. Weekly progress reports will be generated and reviewed by executive management until all items are closed.
We would appreciate the opportunity to discuss our corrective action plan with you and welcome any additional guidance you may offer.
Respectfully,
[Sender’s name and position]
Vice President of Quality & Regulatory Affairs MedTech Innovations, Inc.
Corporate Headquarters Phone: (555) 567-8901 Email: regulatory@medtechinnovations.com
13. Coordinating an Audit Schedule with Multiple Departments
Subject: Internal Audit Schedule Coordination – Q3 2025 Process Review
Dear Department Heads,
The Internal Audit team has scheduled our Q3 2025 Process Review Audit for July 7-25, 2025. This comprehensive audit will cover operational workflows across all departments with the goal of identifying efficiency opportunities and ensuring policy compliance.
Based on initial discussions with the audit committee, the following departments will be included in this review:
– Finance (accounts payable, expense processing) – Human Resources (onboarding, benefits administration) – Operations (order fulfillment, quality control) – IT (access management, change control) – Customer Service (complaint resolution, satisfaction measurement)
To minimize disruption to daily activities while ensuring a thorough review, I propose the following schedule:
Week 1 (July 7-11): Finance and IT – Finance: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM daily – IT: 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM daily
Week 2 (July 14-18): Operations and Customer Service – Operations: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM daily – Customer Service: 1:30 PM – 4:30 PM daily
Week 3 (July 21-25): Human Resources and Follow-up Sessions – Human Resources: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Mon-Wed) – Follow-up sessions as needed: Thursday and Friday
For each department, the audit will include: 1. Initial interview with department head (1 hour) 2. Process observation and document review (2-3 hours daily) 3. Staff interviews (scheduled in 30-minute increments) 4. Closing discussion to review preliminary findings (1 hour)
To help us finalize this schedule, please: 1. Confirm your department’s availability during the proposed timeframes 2. Identify any key personnel who will be unavailable during this period 3. Suggest alternative times if the proposed schedule creates significant challenges 4. Designate a point person from your team to coordinate with the audit staff
Please respond with this information by June 10 so we can distribute the final schedule by June 17, giving everyone adequate preparation time.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact me directly.
Thank you for your cooperation in this important organizational assessment.
Best regards,
[Your name and title]
Director of Internal Audit Atlas Corporation
Corporate Headquarters, 12th Floor Phone: (555) 444-3333 Email: internal.audit@atlascorp.com
14. Requesting Post-Audit Meeting for Clarification
Subject: Request for Post-Audit Discussion – Security Compliance Assessment
Dear Security Audit Team,
Thank you for completing the security compliance assessment of our cloud infrastructure last week. We received your final report yesterday and have begun reviewing the findings and recommendations.
While the report is comprehensive, our security team has several questions regarding the technical implementation of some recommended controls. We believe a post-audit discussion would be valuable to ensure we correctly interpret and prioritize your recommendations.
Specifically, we would like to discuss:
1. Finding #SC-04: Multi-factor Authentication Implementation Your report recommends expanding our MFA beyond privileged accounts to include all user accounts with access to customer data. We’d like to discuss implementation approaches that balance security with user experience, particularly for our field staff who often work in areas with limited connectivity.
2. Finding #SC-11: Cloud Resource Tagging Strategy We need clarification on the recommended tagging structure and how it integrates with your suggested automated compliance checking tools. Our current tagging approach serves multiple purposes (cost allocation, environment designation, data classification), and we want to ensure any changes satisfy all requirements.
3. Finding #SC-15: API Security Controls Your recommendation for additional API gateway controls references NIST standards but doesn’t specify which particular controls would address the identified vulnerability. We’d appreciate guidance on which specific controls would be most effective for our architecture.
4. Finding #SC-23: Backup Verification Procedures While we agree with enhancing our backup verification, we’d like to discuss the feasibility of your recommended testing frequency given our data volume and recovery time requirements.
We propose a 90-minute virtual meeting next week with our security implementation team and your auditors. We’re available Tuesday through Thursday between 10 AM and 3 PM Eastern Time.
If possible, we’d appreciate having the auditors who assessed these specific areas join the call to provide their first-hand insights.
Thank you for considering this request. Your guidance will help us implement effective remediation strategies.
Regards,
[Sender’s name and role]
Information Security Officer Horizon Financial Services
Security Operations Center Phone: (555) 876-5432 Email: security@horizonfinancial.com
15. Implementing Audit Recommendations Status Update
Subject: Quarterly Status Update – Implementation of Audit Recommendations (Ref: IA-2024-Q4)
Dear Audit Committee Members,
I’m pleased to provide this quarterly update on our progress implementing the recommendations from the Q4 2024 Internal Audit (Reference: IA-2024-Q4). This report covers the period from February 1 to April 30, 2025.
Overall Implementation Status: – Total Recommendations: 23 – Completed: 16 (70%) – In Progress: 5 (22%) – Not Started: 2 (8%)
Key Accomplishments This Quarter:
1. Procurement Process Improvements (High Priority) All five recommendations have been successfully implemented, including: – New vendor onboarding process with enhanced due diligence procedures – Automated three-way matching for all purchases over $10,000 – Revised approval matrix with dual control for purchases exceeding department budgets – Implementation verified by testing 50 random transactions processed in April
2. Data Governance Framework (Medium Priority) Four of six recommendations completed: – Data classification policy finalized and published – Data stewards appointed for each department – Data inventory completed for critical systems – Remaining items (user access reviews and data retention implementation) are on track for completion by June 30
3. Business Continuity Planning (High Priority) Three of four recommendations completed: – Updated business impact analysis reflecting new cloud infrastructure – Revised recovery time objectives approved by executive team – Tabletop exercise conducted on April 12 with documented lessons learned – Full disaster recovery test rescheduled to May 25 due to resource constraints
Areas Requiring Additional Attention:
1. Legacy System Security Controls (High Priority) Implementation of compensating controls for the unsupported financial reporting system is behind schedule due to unexpected technical challenges. We’ve engaged external consultants and developed a revised approach with new completion date of July 15.
2. Contract Management System (Medium Priority) The planned implementation of automated contract monitoring alerts has been delayed due to vendor software issues. We’re evaluating alternative solutions and will provide a revised timeline at the next committee meeting.
The two “Not Started” items relate to the planned CRM replacement project, which has been rescheduled to Q3 2025 based on business priorities. We’ve documented this decision with appropriate risk acceptance by the Executive Committee.
We remain committed to addressing all audit findings and continue to track progress through our monthly management review process. The complete detailed tracking spreadsheet is available in the committee’s shared repository.
I welcome any questions or feedback on our implementation progress.
Sincerely,
[Your name and position]
Chief Risk Officer Evergreen Enterprises
Risk Management Department Phone: (555) 345-6789 Email: risk@evergreenenterprises.com
Wrapping Up: Effective Audit Responses
The right approach to audit communications can make a significant difference in how smoothly the process goes. By using these templates as starting points, you can create professional, thorough responses that address auditors’ needs while protecting your organization’s interests.
Remember that transparency, timeliness, and professionalism are key elements of successful audit responses. When you respond promptly and thoroughly to auditors’ requests, you demonstrate your commitment to compliance and continuous improvement.
Adapt these templates to your specific situation, and you’ll be well-equipped to handle any audit scenario that comes your way.