How collaboration with auditors supports the quality and compliance?
05 March 2026How collaboration with auditors supports the quality and compliance of processes at METRO GSC?
As is commonly known, audits of various types are carried out in order to improve the performance of specific areas of a company. However, for audits to effectively support the business, close cooperation with the auditors conducting them is essential. This exchange of information is the key to success.
Collaboration with auditors in our organization provides a real guarantee of quality and compliance of financial processes, as it is based on regular external audits and flexible internal audits. These audits verify not only compliance with applicable standards and regulations, but also the actual effectiveness of preventive and detective controls performed on a daily basis by operational teams and Internal Control Finance.
What does cooperation between GSC teams and internal and external auditors look like?
Our cooperation with internal and external auditors resembles a well coordinated partnership in which everyone knows their role and flexibility appears only where it is truly necessary. External audits take place regularly, twice a year, and verify whether the preventive controls presented by operational teams and the detective controls demonstrated by the ICF team actually deliver the expected results. These controls are expected to prevent errors or effectively detect them, while also being properly documented. The process can be intensive, but the focus is on conclusions and lessons that can be used in the future.
Internal audits appear less predictably and take a deeper look into procedures, processes, and standards. GSC teams respond to questions, provide documentation, and explain why a given process operates in a specific way. This takes place without unnecessary stress, as it is more of a partnership based discussion than a formal examination.
How does audit support the quality and accuracy of financial processes?
In the financial environment, audit functions like a well trained sense of balance. It may not be visible on a daily basis, but when something starts to become unstable, it immediately signals the need for correction. In practice, financial audit at METRO GSC verifies whether daily activities truly follow established rules, procedures, and best practices. It also checks whether preventive and detective controls are not only formally in place, but actually work effectively and are properly documented.
Another important aspect is financial process control, which thanks to audit evolves from a routine obligation into an intelligent filter. It identifies errors before they escalate, highlights process gaps, and helps teams understand where actions can be faster, simpler, or safer. Auditors act not as strict judges, but as experienced partners who can propose improvements and suggest solutions that enhance the quality of financial data.
Finally, financial process monitoring becomes a continuous improvement cycle supported by regular audits. Risks are identified earlier, data used for global reporting becomes consistent and reliable, and the organization gains confidence that finance operates in a unified and coordinated way, even when activities span the entire year and multiple markets at the same time.
What procedures and standards are reviewed during an audit?
During audits at METRO GSC, operational procedures are reviewed, including the full flow of accounting, financial, and administrative processes. This covers activities from the first system entry through to month end closing, ensuring that audit standards in GSC are not just a slogan but a real daily practice. Another area of review includes preventive and detective controls. Some operate preventively during processes, while others verify activities after completion. Auditors assess whether these controls are effective, performed regularly, and properly documented, without any creative interpretation of reality.
Documentation is also reviewed and must be complete, consistent, and easy to reproduce, as well organized records often prove more valuable during an audit than even the best explanations.
How do GSC employees prepare for audits and what do they gain from them?
At METRO GSC, audit preparation does not begin a week before the auditors arrive. It is an ongoing process, as audits review past activities and strong daily routines provide the best protection. Employees consistently ensure accurate execution and documentation of controls. Shortly before an audit, they organize files, collect evidence, and work closely with the ICF team, which coordinates the entire audit process.
Meetings with auditors are intensive and focused, sometimes comparable to a marathon, but they conclude with valuable insights. From audits, including financial audits at METRO GSC, teams gain a deeper understanding of processes, practical ideas for improvements, and a strong sense that quality is not a theory, but an everyday practice.
How does collaboration with auditors affect global reporting and financial compliance?
Collaboration with auditors at METRO GSC functions like a regular technical inspection for financial processes. It may not be done for pleasure, but it provides reassurance afterward. Thanks to systematic internal and external audits, teams identify minor inconsistencies early, before they develop into global issues. Auditors’ recommendations help standardize procedures and reporting data across the organization.
As a result, global reporting is consistent, clear, and compliant with applicable standards. Financial audit at METRO GSC becomes a development tool rather than a purely controlling mechanism. Ultimately, the numbers communicate a single message, financial compliance remains aligned with regulations, and teams gain confidence that their work has a real impact on METRO’s global financial stability.
