IFS has announced its approach to remote auditing. Currently broker companies that are already IFS Broker certified can take advantage of the option for performing of their next certification audit remotely.
We believe that remote audits add value to all participants in the auditing and certification process whenever it is feasible and can be performed in an adequate manner. It brings in more efficiency for certified companies, decreases the risk of spreading COVID-19, and additionally improves auditors’ work-life balance.
If you would like to take advantage of our special conditions for your next remote IFS Broker audit, please contact us here .
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Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has made remote auditing more feasible.
To provide full guidance on the approach to remote auditing, IFS Management have designed an additional audit protocol on how to conduct an IFS Broker remote audit to ensure a robust audit process by applying remote ICT for the evaluation of IFS Broker Version 3 requirements.
The remote option is voluntary and needs to be agreed well in advance between the certification body and the company subject to IFS Broker certification (e.g. if a scheduled IFS on-site audit cannot take place due to Corona virus (SARS-CoV-2) travel / access restrictions or if the nature of a broker is decentralised and runs without a centralised office (co-working spaces, “shared office”structures), or when “face-to-face” methods are not essential for the effectiveness of conducting the audit).
Prior to audit preparation and as a pre-requisite, the certification body shall conduct a risk assessment to determine whether it is feasible to apply the remote audit option.
The following factors shall be considered, but are not limited to:
- adequate cooperation from the auditee (e.g. access to an IT system, availability and capability of the auditee to use technology such as remote ICT);
- resources including access to sufficient, adequate and appropriate information and communication technology, including IT support for the ICT platform, if necessary;
- the limitation of the site’s willingness to share the information remotely.
Source: IFS Management GbmH
