Audit Findings Explained: Definition, Types, and Examples

Ever wonder why some companies breeze through audits while others barely survive? The answer isn’t luck. It’s audit findings.

These aren’t just bureaucratic checkboxes. They’re documented truths that expose what’s working—and what’s broken. Think of them as reality checks with teeth.

An audit finding is objective evidence collected during an audit that proves whether your process, product, or system actually does what it claims to do—no sugar-coating, no jargon. ISO 19011:2018 splits findings into conformity (you’re doing it right) and nonconformity (you’re not). Then there are observations—friendly nudges that highlight improvement opportunities before things go sideways.

Why care? Because audit findings reveal strengths, weaknesses, and hidden risks. In regulated industries, they’re survival tools. Smart companies don’t just fix what’s broken—they figure out why it broke, turn insights into action, and make audits a strategic advantage rather than a headache.

What Is an Audit Finding and Why It Matters

An audit finding is a snapshot of truth. It documents what auditors see—good, bad, or somewhere in between. It’s objective, concrete evidence that your processes, products, or systems either meet requirements or fall short.

ISO 19011:2018 guidelines divide findings into two main types: conformities (you’re doing it right) and nonconformities (you’re not). Observations, meanwhile, are early warnings—nudges that suggest improvements before problems become serious.

Why do audit findings matter? Because they’re more than compliance boxes. They reveal operational blind spots, hidden risks, and areas where your controls may fail. In regulated industries, they’re survival tools; in any business, they’re intelligence that drives improvement.

Good findings follow the 5 C’s framework: Criteria, Condition, Cause, Consequence, and Corrective action. Done right, they keep regulators happy, strengthen processes, and give your team a roadmap to fix problems before they become crises.

Types of Audit Findings by Severity

Not all audit findings are created equal. Some are minor speed bumps, others are five-alarm fires that can shut you down overnight. Smart organizations know the difference—and they prioritize accordingly.

These are the types of audit findings by severity:

1. Critical Findings
2. Major Findings
3. Minor Findings
4. Observations
5. Repeat Findings

Types of Audit Findings by Severity

Let’s break down what each one really means.

1. Critical Findings: Immediate Risk to Compliance or Safety

Critical findings are the audit equivalent of a medical emergency. They:

• Signal direct threats of harm, sickness, or death to end users
• Trigger immediate regulatory action
• Require corrective action within days
• Can force shutdowns of processes or production lines
• Often arise from severe safety violations, major process failures, or falsified compliance records

High-stakes issues that demand immediate action.

2. Major Findings: Significant Process or Control Failures

Major findings aren’t immediately life-threatening but serious enough to keep you awake at night. They:

• Show failures in quality system processes
• Usually must be fixed within 90 days
• Make up 64% of findings across global audits
• Often stem from poor documentation, inadequate training, or unauthorized deviations

Serious problems that need prompt corrective action.

3. Minor Findings: Isolated or Low-Risk Deviations

Minor findings seem harmless—like paper cuts—but ignoring them can reveal bigger systemic problems. They:

• Rank low on severity (1-2 out of 5)
• Rarely affect finished product quality
• Can usually wait for routine maintenance
• Show up far more often than major findings
• Often point to minor procedural lapses or documentation gaps that can snowball over time

Low-risk issues that can snowball if ignored.

4. Observations: Low-Risk Notes for Improvement

Observations are audit findings’ gentler cousin. They:

• Highlight improvement opportunities, not violations
• Are called “comments” or “opportunities for improvement” in standards
• Aim to prevent small issues from becoming big headaches
• Are typically considered closed after discussion in the audit wrap-up

Friendly nudges to prevent problems before they escalate.

5. Repeat Findings: When Issues Reappear

Repeat findings are the audit world’s “we told you so.” They:

• Happen when previous issues return, often at higher severity
• Increase financial penalties
• Can lead to operational or regulatory collapse if ignored

Recurring issues that signal systemic failure.

Addressing audit findings promptly isn’t just best practice—it’s survival. Each finding is an opportunity to uncover risks, tighten controls, improve processes, and prevent small issues from escalating. Treat them seriously, act decisively, and strengthen your organization.

Common Audit Finding Examples Across Industries

Want to see what audit findings look like in the real world? Let’s pull back the curtain on how different industries get caught slipping.

Audit Finding Example in Healthcare (HIPAA Violation)

Healthcare gets messy fast when privacy goes sideways. Picture this: a hospital employee leaves a detailed voicemail about a patient’s medical condition. Boom—HIPAA compliance violation for minimum necessary requirements.

The hits keep coming:

• Charging a $100 “records review fee” when only reasonable cost-based fees are allowed
• Handing over a patient’s skull X-ray to local media without authorization
• PHI disclosed in subpoenas without proper checks

The numbers tell the story: as of November 2024, the Office for Civil Rights collected over $144 million from 152 HIPAA violation cases. Real money, real mistakes.

Audit Observation Example in Manufacturing

Manufacturing has its own pain points. Observations often target quality management systems that look good on paper but crumble under review.

Common culprits:

• Outdated procedures
• Incomplete or missing records
• Systems that worked years ago but aren’t updated

These aren’t violations—they’re early warning shots. Smart manufacturers fix workflow inefficiencies and strengthen preventive maintenance before minor hiccups turn into major headaches.

Internal Audit Finding in Financial Services

Financial services consistently stumble on internal controls. Key issues include:

• Inadequate separation of duties
• Inconsistent accounting practices
• Poor compliance documentation

Risk management is especially tricky around customer data protection and transaction monitoring. When money is involved, regulators don’t play.

Auditor General Findings in Public Sector Reports

Public sector audits reveal clear patterns. Florida’s 2022–23 fiscal year shows:

• 6% of entities had material weaknesses in financial statements
• 4% had significant deficiencies in internal controls
• 2% showed noncompliance with GAO standards

Top issues:

• Inadequate separation of duties
• Poor budgetary controls
• Deficient accounting records

Every industry has patterns: healthcare loses control of private information, manufacturing neglects documentation, financial services mishandle risk, and government agencies fail to separate duties.

Smart organizations don’t just defend—they turn findings into improvement roadmaps, strengthening processes, controls, and compliance culture.

How to Write and Structure an Audit Findings Report

You know what separates amateur audit reports from professional ones? Structure. And brutal honesty.

Creating effective audit findings reports isn’t about fancy language or corporate speak. It’s about documenting the truth so clearly that even your CEO can’t ignore it. Here’s how to write reports that actually drive change.

Audit Finding Definition and Criteria (5 C's Framework)

Remember the 5 C's? Here’s how they work in practice:

• Criteria – The standards you’re measuring against (laws, regulations, policies, best practices)
• Condition – What you actually found (missing docs, broken procedures, etc.)
• Cause – Why it’s broken (bad training, lack of resources, nobody cares)
• Consequence – What happens if ignored (fines, shutdowns, lawsuits)
• Corrective Action – Exactly how to fix it (no vague suggestions allowed)

Audit Finding 5 C's

Simple? Yes. Easy? Not so much.

Using ISO 19011:2018 and ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 Standards

ISO standards aren’t bureaucratic noise—they’re your roadmap:

• ISO 19011:2018 – Shows you how to run audit programs that actually work
• ISO/IEC 17021-1:2015 – Requires every finding to be backed by real evidence

Every finding must clearly state conformity or nonconformity. No wishy-washy middle ground. Talk through findings with the auditee before wrapping up—final-report surprises help nobody.

Audit Findings Report Example Format

Your report needs four essential sections:

• Executive Summary – Scope, objectives, big findings, key messages
• Findings Section – Each finding with description, standards reference, root cause, impact, and fix-it plan
• Management Response – Space for acknowledgment or pushback
• Evidence Documentation – Proof that backs up everything you’re claiming

Keep it clean. Keep it clear. Keep it factual.

Linking Audit Observations and Findings to Evidence

No evidence? No finding. It’s that simple.

Evidence forms the foundation of everything—findings, conclusions, recommendations. Quality matters: source, nature, and how you got it. Independent sources beat internal ones every time. Originals trump copies or electronic versions. Smart organizations use electronic quality management systems (eQMS) to track findings from discovery to closure, making everything faster, cleaner, and harder to lose.

A properly structured audit findings report doesn’t just document problems—it becomes the blueprint for fixing them.

Responding to and Resolving Audit Findings

Found some audit findings? Good. Now comes the part where most organizations mess up.

They slap a band-aid on the symptom and call it fixed. Then act surprised when the same issue pops up six months later. Here’s the deal: effective resolution isn’t about quick fixes—it’s about getting to the real problem.

Root Cause Analysis and CAPA Planning

Root cause analysis (RCA) separates smart companies from the ones that repeat mistakes. Skip surface-level fixes and dig deeper with proven methods:

• The 5 Whys technique – Keep asking “why” until you hit the real cause
• Fishbone diagrams – Map all potential causes across Materials, Methods, Equipment, Environment, and People

Once you know what actually broke, build a Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPA) plan that tackles both the immediate issue and prevents future headaches. Make it specific: who does what, by when, and with what proof. Vague CAPAs are worthless CAPAs.

Timelines and Accountability for Resolution

Deadlines aren’t suggestions—they’re requirements:

• Federal regulations often require corrective action within 6 months
• Most entities get 30 days to respond, 60 days for remediation plans
• Critical findings? 7 days. Major findings? 90 days

Assign findings to specific people, not entire departments. Departments don’t fix problems—people do.

Monitoring and Verifying Corrective Actions

Implemented your CAPA? Great. Now verify it works.

• Set up tracking systems—automated or manual
• Schedule regular check-ins to review progress
• Track what’s working and what’s stuck

Trust but always verify.

Lifecycle of an Audit Finding: From Discovery to Closure

Every finding follows the same path:

1. Someone spots it and documents it
2. Relevant people are notified
3. Root cause analysis is performed
4. Corrective actions are implemented
5. Verification confirms effectiveness
6. Formal closure with evidence
7. Ongoing monitoring to prevent recurrence

Lifecycle of an Audit Finding

Document everything along the way. Not just to cover yourself—but because good documentation becomes your playbook for handling similar issues faster next time.

The companies that get this right turn audit findings into competitive advantages. The ones that don’t? They keep fighting the same battles year after year.

Which one are you?

Best Practices for Managing Audit Observations and Findings

Smart organizations don’t just survive audits—they use them to get ahead. Here’s how the winners do it.

Use of eQMS and Audit Management Tools

Paper trails are dead. Electronic Quality Management Systems (eQMS) are where it’s at:

• Centralized repository for all quality-related data and documentation
• Real-time access to records during inspections—seconds, not hours
• Automated scheduling, tracking, and corrective action monitoring
• Analytics that reveal patterns spreadsheets miss

The best platforms track everything from planning to follow-up. Less stress, more efficiency—that’s the goal.

Training Teams on Audit Finding Meaning and Response

Your people make or break audit success. Train them to:

• Understand problems before writing reports
• Tap into their own expertise
• Filter findings by real risk and impact, not just severity labels
• Replace vague language with hard data

Well-trained teams turn audit findings into action, not just paperwork.

Avoiding Repeat Findings Through Continuous Improvement

Repeat findings scream “systemic problem.” Stop them cold:

• Assign real people—not departments—to own each finding
• Build corrective actions into everyday processes with checklists and sign-offs
• Run post-audit debriefs and mid-year progress checks
• Turn every finding into a teaching moment

Continuous improvement stops repeat issues before they snowball.

Aligning with Compliance Frameworks (ISO, FDA, GDPR)

Regulatory alignment isn’t optional—make it automatic:

• Use technology for compliance checks and monitoring
• Build workflows, checklists, and progress reports that actually work
• Stay audit-ready year-round
• Track progress with scoring systems
• Involve leadership—the boss sets the tone

Strong compliance frameworks keep your organization audit-ready and ahead of risks.

The companies that nail audit management don’t treat it like a chore—they treat it like a competitive advantage.

Final Thoughts on Audit Findings and Continuous Improvement

Audit findings aren’t going anywhere. Smart organizations have learned to turn them from compliance headaches into competitive weapons. The numbers speak for themselves: 64% of findings are “major,” HIPAA violations have cost $144M, and 6% of public entities carry material weaknesses. These are real risks—and real opportunities.

The 5 C’s framework isn’t just theory—it’s your roadmap to fixing problems for good, not slapping on band-aids. Winning companies jump on issues immediately, dig into the root cause, assign clear ownership, and follow up relentlessly.

Technology changes the game. eQMS platforms keep companies ahead, while manual processes lag behind. Audit findings reveal more than broken systems—they highlight hidden strengths and competitive advantages.

The winners don’t wait for inspectors. They stay audit-ready year-round, using findings as strategic tools to strengthen controls, improve processes, and drive real business excellence. That’s not just compliance—it’s smart business.

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