Management System Auditing Services Compliant with ISO 19011

Business Management Systems Limited provide auditing services which are compliant with ISO 19011, that support continual improvement, organisational resilience, capability, sustainability and compliance.

Management system auditing services aligned to ISO 19011 are designed to provide organisations with systematic, independent, and documented evaluations of their management system performance. ISO 19011 supplies the internationally recognised framework governing how audits should be planned, conducted, reported, and followed-up, as well as the requirements for auditor competence and behaviours. While ISO 19011 is not certifiable in itself, it defines the benchmark for how professional auditing services should be delivered and governs the lifecycle of management system auditing in a consistent and reliable manner.

Organisations engaging auditing services compliant with ISO 19011 can expect structured leadership, a strong process approach, risk-based planning, objective evidence-driven conclusions, and transparent reporting. These services apply across all relevant management system standards, including—but not limited to—ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001, ISO 27001, and integrated system environments.

Audit Scope and Objectives

A management system auditing service compliant with ISO 19011 begins by establishing the purpose and objectives of the audit programme. These typically include:

• Assessing conformity with the applicable requirements of relevant management system standards.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of implemented processes and controls.
• Identifying strengths, weaknesses, risks, and opportunities for improvement.
• Providing assurance to leadership, stakeholders, regulators, or certification bodies.
• Enabling continual improvement across the management system.

The scope is defined in terms of functions, processes, departments, sites, standards, and time periods. This ensures clarity on boundaries and avoids ambiguity during execution.

Audit Principles Applied in Service Delivery

Audit services following ISO 19011 must be grounded upon the principles specified in the standard. These principles underpin the integrity and validity of audit outcomes and define how auditors are expected to behave and operate. Key principles include:

1. Integrity – Ethical behaviour, honesty, and accountability are mandatory at all stages of the audit.
2. Fair Presentation – Findings must be communicated truthfully and accurately, without suppression or distortion.
3. Due Professional Care – Auditors must apply diligence, sound judgement, and technical capability appropriate to the task.
4. Confidentiality – Information provided by the auditee must be protected and not misused.
5. Independence – Impartiality is critical. Audit results must not be influenced by internal or external pressures.
6. Evidence-Based Approach – Conclusions must be grounded in verifiable data, not assumptions or opinions.
7. Risk-Based Thinking – Audit planning and activity must consider potential risks to audit objectives, accuracy, and performance.

Auditing services committed to ISO 19011 emphasise these principles through rigorous governance, professional conduct, and transparent communication.

Audit Programme Management

ISO 19011 requires auditing services to support organisations in developing and maintaining a structured audit programme. This covers the strategic aspects of audit delivery, not just the execution. Services normally include:

• Establishing annual or multi-year audit schedules.
• Allocating competent resources.
• Defining audit methods and monitoring audit effectiveness.
• Continually reviewing audit outputs for improvement.

Audit programme development also incorporates risk-based prioritisation, enabling organisations to focus resources on areas with the greatest strategic or operational significance. For example, high-risk or nonconforming processes may be audited more frequently than stable and mature activities.

Audit Planning and Preparation

ISO 19011 specifies the need for thorough planning to ensure effective audits. Auditing services typically produce a detailed audit plan outlining:

• Audit objectives, scope, and criteria.
• Audit methods (on-site, remote, hybrid, sampling).
• Audit team assignments and roles.
• Documents and records requiring review.
• Time allocation for interviews, testing, and reporting.

This planning period ensures auditees are fully prepared and avoids unnecessary disruption to business operations.

Audit Execution

During delivery, auditors collect and evaluate objective evidence to determine the degree of conformity of the auditee’s processes and system. Execution follows ISO 19011’s process structure:

• Opening meeting to confirm expectations and logistics.
• Document and record review to verify intent and implementation.
• Observation, sampling, test-checking, and interviews.
• Triangulation of evidence to support findings.
• Real-time communication of potential nonconformities.

Auditors retain professional scepticism throughout the process and ensure that the audit remains focused on relevant requirements, performance, legal obligations, and organisational context.

Audit Findings and Reporting

ISO 19011 emphasises that audit results must be documented clearly, objectively, and constructively. Findings are generally categorised into:

• Conformity – Evidence demonstrates implementation and effectiveness.
• Nonconformity – Requirements of the standard or system have not been met.
• Observation / Opportunity for Improvement – Suggestions for enhanced performance.
• Strengths – Notable positive performance characteristics.

A closing meeting communicates the draft findings and allows clarification. Final reports provide an authoritative record, enabling leaders to make informed decisions.

Audit Follow-Up

Audit services compliant with ISO 19011 consider follow-up to be an integral part of the audit lifecycle. This may include:

• Verification of corrective actions.
• Review of root-cause analysis and preventive action.
• Gap closure validation.
• Reporting improvements to the audit programme.

Follow-up ensures that audits drive genuine improvement rather than simply observe compliance status.

Auditor Competence Requirements

ISO 19011 mandates that auditors must be competent not only in auditing techniques, but also in the specific disciplines being audited. Competence includes:

• Education, training, and qualifications.
• Practical experience in management systems and relevant industry sectors.
• Technical capability to evaluate controls, processes, and risks.
• Behavioural attributes such as communication, professionalism, and diplomacy.

Auditing services must be able to demonstrate that auditor selection, evaluation, and development processes align with ISO 19011 expectations.

Remote and Integrated Auditing

Modern auditing services aligned to the evolving framework of ISO 19011 incorporate:
• Remote audit technologies.
• Integrated audits across multiple standards.
• Hybrid delivery models.

These services are becoming increasingly relevant, enabling greater efficiency and accessibility without weakening rigour or evidence quality.

Benefits of ISO 19011-Aligned Auditing Services

Organisations working with auditors who apply ISO 19011 benefit from:

• Robust evaluation of management system effectiveness.
• Strengthened governance and risk management.
• Reduced nonconformance levels.
• Improved operational consistency and process control.
• Greater insight into improvement opportunities.
• Enhanced stakeholder and regulatory confidence.

Ultimately, ISO 19011 supports continual improvement—driving organisational resilience, capability, and compliance in equal measure.

Get in touch

If you would like to talk to us about having Business Management Systems help you to attain one or more of these international standards, please do not hesitate to get in touch via this website or by phone on 01527 919 011. We would be happy to talk with you about what we can help you to achieve and which standards would be most suitable for – and beneficial to – your business or organisation.