Leading during 'Business as Unusual': Covid-19 and audit leadership

Reviewing, adapting and communicating are some of the ways to effectively manage your goals

Covid-19 has disrupted life, business and the workplace in unprecedented ways. Thanks to technology, business has adapted to these new circumstances and continued almost as usual. This technology-driven remote 'workstyle', or at least many of its elements to a lesser or greater degree, will likely outlast the pandemic to become a normal mode of working and doing business.

New challenges abound both in the short and long-term for audits and audit leaders.

The article highlights a few practical considerations for you as an audit leader on the execution of your audit plans in terms of workflow and team management.

Short-term

Communicate: Maintain clear and consistent lines of communication with your audit teams about the situation. Ask after their health and well-being; reminding them to protect themselves and their families. Manage their anxieties and prevent the spread of unfounded fears. Adhere to guidelines from public health agencies and the organisation.  

Review and adapt constantly: The pandemic has proved that neither audit plans nor ways of working are static. Constantly scrutinise and evaluate those plans and reprioritize any upcoming audits based on their importance, regulatory requirements and ease of execution in disrupted conditions. 

Long-term