Attributes of a good auditor

"As soon as the fear approaches near, attack and destroy it."

Chanakya (Indian politician, strategist and writer, 350 BC-275 BC)

ISO 19011 defines an auditor as a person with the competence to conduct an audit. Competence is further defined as the demonstrated ability to apply knowledge and skills.

The list would be virtually endless for attributes of a good auditor and many of the attributes would appear to conflict with one another. Therefore, a selection of a dozen or so only are presented here with some accompanying notes to explain the meanings.

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  Objective
  Auditors who are not objective are lost. At all times they must use only the facts.


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  Persevering (Firm)
  The auditor must achieve the audit's objectives fairly single mindedly, not at all costs, and settle any doubts to their own satisfaction.


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  Polite
  The auditor is always a visitor, a guest. If they do or say things which are against accepted behaviour for guest, they will concern those around them who will react accordingly.


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  Professional
  The auditor has various obligations to their employer (principal), to themselves, to the auditing profession and colleagues and to the audittee. At all times they should be fair, report exactly as they find without fear or favours.
  If the auditor and the audittee part company with mutual respect after an audit where many major deficiencies have been found, and these will prevent the award of a large contract, then it is likely that the auditor has been professional. It is perhaps the summation of all the attributes here.
  


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  Progressive
  Technology changes over quite short periods and auditors who are professional auditors may find it difficult to keep up with the changes unless they actually work in the industry. It is essential they do keep up to date.
  


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  Industrious
  Audits are tiring and an audit of a few days' duration does not stop at 5 pm each day. The evenings in between can require considerable discussion and analysis of the findings. During the audit, the auditor is `on' all the time. Anyone without the wish to work very hard for sustained period should not become a quality Auditor.
  


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  Precise but Practical
  It is easy for an auditor to want every `i' dotted and every `t' crossed, but they have to bear in mind that they are working with human beings and that it is not a natural state to be absolutely perfect.
  


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  Punctual
  Having arranged the audit, it is part of professionalism to keep to the plan and be on time for the various meetings and for the visits to each department. Nothing is sloppier than being late and keeping the audittee waiting.
  


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  Principal
  The auditor should be completely open about their concerns. If they find nonconformity they should discuss it. It is not there to be `pulled out of the hat' at the Closing Meeting.
  The auditor must also keep confidences. They are often privy to much confidential information, often about competitors. They must not break that trust.
  


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  Positive
  It is the auditor's task to make a judgment on the basis of failure of the effectiveness of a quality system. The audit could become a search for failure i.e. Negative.
  The auditor's task is not negative. Nonconformity is an opportunity for improvement and since much of what comprises the audit sample complies with requirements, this fact should be stated.
  


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  Pragmatic
  If an audittee is not better or potentially better after the audit, the audit has been a waste of time and everybody's money. If it has dealt with a lot of very minor items that means the auditor has `nit-picked' their way through it, then it will have been of no benefit and very frustrating to have experienced it.
  


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  Prepared
  Time spent before the audit on preparing and planning is time well spent. Throughout the audit, the Team Leader needs to prepare for the next stage of the audit, whether it is to follow up the `leads' which have become apparent, or whether it is to plan for the review sessions, team meetings or for the Closing Meeting.