What does auditing primarily involve in the context of compliance?

Auditing, in the context of compliance, primarily involves reviewing past compliance with established standards. This process is integral to ensuring that an organization adheres to relevant laws, regulations, and internal policies. Through audits, compliance professionals assess whether the organization has effectively implemented its compliance programs and whether it has met its obligations.

This retrospective analysis allows organizations to identify any deficiencies or areas for improvement in their compliance programs. By examining records, documentation, and processes used in previous periods, auditors provide insights into the effectiveness of compliance measures and highlight any areas where compliance may have failed or where practices may need to be strengthened.

Although forecasting future compliance challenges and evaluating current employee performance are important aspects of a comprehensive compliance strategy, they do not represent the core function of an audit. Similarly, conducting training on compliance standards is critical to maintaining a culture of compliance but is more focused on employee development rather than the assessment and review function that auditing serves. Thus, the comprehensive review of past compliance is fundamental to ensuring ongoing adherence to established standards.