A Day in the Life of an ISO Auditor: Adventures in Compliance

Love us or loathe us the life of an auditor is as varied as it busy.

Ah, the glamorous life of a management system auditor—a role that some might think involves poring over pages of dense documents in dark corners, but let me assure you, it’s much more exciting (and sometimes unintentionally hilarious) than it sounds! Buckle up and join me for a lighthearted journey through a typical day in the life of a management system auditor.

Not every day is the same so some timings may differ according to travel, traffic and chauffeuring the little one to numerous sports and other clubs!

05.30 AM – 06:30 AM: Rise and Shine (depending on travel)

The sun rises, the birds chirp, and my trusty alarm reminds me that another audit day has begun! After a quick breakfast, dog walk, and the obligatory cup of coffee, it’s time to jump in the car and navigate the great British transport infrastructure. Google maps becomes my Oracle. As any regular commuter will tell you, what should normally be a 45-minute journey can very easily become a 2 hour plus exercise in calmness and meditation. The words ‘Go on then’ become some kind of twisted tag line.

08:00 AM – 08:45 AM: Arrival at the Client’s Office

I always like to get to my destination early even if this means finding a local Costa (other coffee shops are available). This time allows me to organise other audits I have booked in. I normally send out an audit plan at least a month before. This also gives me time to book extras such as hotels and flights if required.

I descend into the labyrinth of the corporate jungle armed with my trusty laptop, a keen analytical mind, and a steady supply of pens (branded of course!). After exchanging pleasantries with the receptionist, I head to the meeting room for the opening meeting. The room buzzes with nervous excitement—will today unearth hidden troves of non-conformances or reveal an impeccably run operation?

As an auditor, my role is to find compliance with the standard, not to find Nonconformity. Obviously, along our compliance journey, we may sometimes find areas of compliance woe, but we should never dig & dig & dig until we find something! This is an issue that some clients, and even some auditors forget.

I love meeting new people and seeing new places (some would call me nosey – I prefer inquisitive.)

9:00 AM: The Opening Meeting

Here we go! I meet with the management team, where we embark on a journey through the objectives and scope of the audit. “Remember, we’re here to help!” I reassure them. The hope is to ease tensions, though it usually results in an assortment of wary smiles and one or two deer-in-headlight expressions.

There is literally nothing to worry about. Us auditor are just people – we are here to help you gain certification. Yes we have to remain impartial but we are genuinely here to help.

10:00 AM: Document Dive

With pleasantries exchanged, it’s time to don the metaphorical scuba gear and plunge into the depths of the company’s documentation. My task? Unearthing nuggets of compliance gold and occasionally encountering a rare species—compliance unicorns. These are the flawless processes that are as elusive as they are mythical.

12:30 PM: Lunch Break

One of the day’s highlights! Whether it’s sampling the local cuisine at a nearby café or bonding over sandwiches in the lunchroom, this is the perfect opportunity to recharge and gather intel—oops, I mean insights—on the company culture from the ground up.

Some companies are so generous when it comes to lunch, others not so much and that’s fine. You don’t have to provide lunch for the auditor and I always ensure I have some breakfast biscuits in my bag just in case.

Some clients pride themselves on providing the best quality lunch around and some – a bacon butty!! However, whatever it may be it is truly appreciated and welcome – just don’t feel obliged.

1:00 PM: Onwards to Interviews

In the afternoon, it’s time for interviews, where I engage with staff members in delightful exchanges ranging from regulatory requirements to personal anecdotes about office pets. Each conversation offers a glimpse into the functioning of the organisation, like pieces of a complex puzzle that eventually form a comprehensive picture.

I’m not here to catch people out. These interviews are facilitated to understand if the workforce are aware of the management system and the processes associated with it.

3:30 PM: Facility Tour

Onto the “audit adventure” aspect of the day! Strap on those safety goggles and embark on a tour of the facility. This is where I simultaneously try to absorb operational processes while avoiding stepping anywhere I shouldn’t. Pro tip: Wearing comfortable shoes is non-negotiable for the frequent dodging of forklifts and hunting for elusive compliance clues. Safety first of course.

As I touched on before I’m ‘inquisitive’ and the site tour is really exciting especially if it’s at a manufacturing facility and I get to go ‘behind the scenes’

4:30 PM: The Closing Meeting

As the day winds down, it’s time to wrap things up with a closing meeting. With management gathered again, I present my findings with tact and diplomacy. If I’ve done my job well, they leave not only with a list of findings but also with a roadmap to improvement—because who doesn’t love a happy ending?

Normally an audit can be conducted in a day however some audits occur over multiple days so this closing meeting may be a brief wash-up of the days activities and a look forward to the second day.

05:00 PM – 5:30 PM: The Day’s End

With another successful audit under my belt, it’s time to head home or to my lonely hotel room if I’m staying over. I leave with a sense of accomplishment, knowing that today’s work will help the company thrive and, more importantly, have been an ally in their quest for compliance excellence.

06:00 PM – 07:30 PM: Return Home / Check In

I Walk through the door greeted by my two insane pooches or Check in to the Premier Inn and ensure I can get a good time for my evening meal. My wife tells me my day revolves around food – no it doughnut!

The evening is spent typing up notes from the audit or planning the next one whilst watching a good Netflix series in the background.

So there you have it—a day in the life of a management system auditor. It might not be the stuff of Hollywood blockbusters, but for those of us who revel in the unexpected and thrive on creating order from chaos, it’s a role that provides both challenge and cheer.

Don’t forget most of us are only human! Be gentle 🙂

Until tomorrow’s adventure beckons, dear readers, may your processes be smooth, and your audits even smoother! If you need help with your compliance – get in touch https://csc2.co.uk/services/