ISO Consultants vs. Auditors: Key Differences

At S&J Auditing & Consulting, we specialise in providing ISO consulting services across a range of different, in-demand ISO Certification Standards. Our consulting services are tailored to helping organisations across a range of different industries in developing and implementing Management Systems that are fully compliant with their relevant ISO Certification Standards.

However, the process of attaining Certification demands zero bias to ensure that all Certification requirements have been met and that all barriers to Certification have been adequately addressed. This is why ISO consultants cannot be authorised to act as certification auditors – to ensure that there’s no conflict of interest.

This isn’t to say that ISO consultants cannot offer ISO audit services, however. So, what ISO auditing services can our ISO consultants at S&J provide? Our team is here to answer this question alongside outlining in greater detail all the other key differences between ISO consultants and ISO auditors, as well as what you can expect as a business owner when communicating with these two distinct types of ISO professionals.

ISO Consultants: What do we do?

With a high-level understanding of the ISO Standards across all documentation (i.e. both Certification Standards and their supporting standards), ISO systems consultants effectively act as a bridge between your organisation and a fully compliant ISO Management System.

In your preliminary consultation, our ISO consultants will inquire which Certification Standards you’re looking to utilise in the development and implementation of your Management Systems. We’ll also record your business operational and growth goals to ensure that your Certification strategy helps you meet all relevant internal performance indicators.

For instance, if you’re looking to reach environmental targets, our ISO consultants can make sure your Environmental Management System is not only conformant with the ISO 14001 Standard, but that the EMS itself is optimised to deliver the prioritised performance results.

To recap, you can expect your ISO consultants to perform these key responsibilities in their collaboration with your organisation:

Key responsibilities of ISO Consultants

• Conduct a gap analysis to assess the current processes and systems within an organisation and identify any gaps between these gaps and ISO guidelines.
• Develop a tailored Certification strategy that includes all required documentation to ensure the compliance of ISO Management Systems (i.e. organisational roles and responsibilities, outlines of company policies and procedures, audit reporting documents, etc.).
• Develop and aid in the facilitation of staff and management training to ensure the full support of staff and stakeholders in Certification initiatives.
• Offer support in the implementation of ISO Management Systems to ensure ISO compliance across day-to-day operations.
• Conduct expert internal audits to further ensure ISO compliance prior to external Certification Audits.
• Identify areas of non-conformance and suggest corrective actions or improvements.
• Ensure all Business Management Systems are fully compliant with all relevant ISO Standards prior to both Certification Audits and Surveillance Audits.
• Aid in the establishment of internal audit and management review timelines to ensure ongoing compliance following Certification and Surveillance Audits.
• Provide ongoing support with maintaining Certification following your Certification Audit.
• Provide general expert advice in all matters relating to Certification to the ISO Standards and ensuring the ongoing compliance of ISO Management Systems.

When should you contact an ISO Consultant?

If you’re looking to enjoy the dynamic benefits of ISO 14001, ISO 9001, or ISO 45001 Certification, or any of the other Certification Standards we specialise in here at S&J Auditing & Consulting, you can begin by booking a preliminary consultation with our ISO systems consultants. Using our systemic approach to Management System implementation, our ISO consultants can help you attain Certification within a defined timeframe.

You should contact our ISO consultants if you have any additional questions about the Certification journey and what it entails for your organisation, or if you’re ready to commence on your pathway to Certification.

Want to know more about what you can expect when working with our ISO consultants at S&J Auditing & Consulting? Then check out our FAQ page for more information, or have a look at our sample ISO 14001 audit checklist for greater insights into our detailed approach.

ISO Auditors: What do they do?

Firstly, there are two different types of ISO auditors, these being internal auditors and external auditors. The main difference between these two is that ISO internal auditors are actually consultants like us here at S&J Auditing & Consulting (or members of your staff who’ve opted to step into a compliance officer role or a similar role). These people will be responsible for conducting internal audits to ensure the ongoing compliance of your ISO Management Systems. The results of these audits will be shared amongst business leaders and discussed in management reviews to help facilitate the continuous improvement of ISO Management Systems using the PDCA methodology for evidence-based improvements.

Contrastingly, external ISO auditors can refer to Certification Auditors or Surveillance Auditors, who conduct audits on behalf of a Certification Body, otherwise known as a Conformity Assessment Body (CAB). These Certification Auditors are authorised to confirm conformance to ISO Certification Standards and provide an organisation with confirmation of Certification.

In Australia, the Joint Accreditation System of Australia and New Zealand (JASANZ) is the national accreditation body that accredits CABs. To qualify for accreditation, a prospective CAB must not provide ISO consulting services, as the provision of these internal consulting services signals a conflict of interest as auditors would not be able to remain impartial. This is why we as consultants at S&J are unable to provide Certification Audit services, but can support you and your business in preparing for your Certification Audit.

Key responsibilities of ISO Internal Auditors

• Collaborate with top management and ISO consultants to develop an internal audit schedule and supporting audit checklists.
• Conduct on-site and remote internal audits (that includes reviewing documentation, observing organisational processes and procedures, and conducting interviews with staff).
• Identify potential non-conformities and record findings in internal audit reports.
• Submit internal audit reports to business leaders in anticipation of regularly scheduled management review meetings.
• Participate in management review meetings to contribute to PDCA improvement strategising, and the rollout of corrective actions.
• Monitor correction actions and verify the effectiveness of those actions in follow-up internal audits.
• Attain any required internal auditor qualifications and certifications (i.e. complete an Exemplar Global approved internal auditor training course).
• Stay up to date with amendments to all relevant ISO Standards and internal auditing techniques.

Key responsibilities of ISO External Auditors

• Perform on-site Certification Audits (that includes reviewing documentation, observing organisational processes and procedures, and conducting interviews with staff).
• Perform on-site surveillance audits to ensure ongoing ISO compliance of Certified organisations at periodic intervals.
• Identify all non-conformities and deviations from ISO requirements and record findings in audit reports.
• Categorise areas of non-conformities (i.e. major, minor, observations, etc.).
• Recommend corrective actions that the organisation must take to address all detected non-conformities.
• Recommend certification (during Certification Audits) or improvements (during Surveillance Audits).
• Ensure Certification Audits are all conducted without bias/conflicts of interest.
• Attain auditor qualifications and certifications and stay up-to-date with amendments to all relevant ISO Standards, auditing techniques, and industry best practices.

When should you schedule with an ISO Auditor?

As internal auditors are typically either members of your staff or ISO consultants, scheduling with these individuals can be done as required. Contrastingly, Certification Audits should only be scheduled and conducted once your ISO Management Systems have been fully implemented, and a preliminary internal audit process has confirmed that all potential non-conformities have been addressed.

Ensuring all non-conformities have been addressed prior to your external Certification Audit can naturally strengthen your chances of attaining Certification promptly and help your organisation avoid failing a Certification Audit.

Book your ISO consultation with our team at S&J Auditing & Consulting

Understanding ISO Standards typically requires extensive study and real-world experience in navigating the development and implementation of ISO Management Systems. This is why ISO consultants are worth their weight in gold – we’ve seen behind the curtain, and we know the easiest, hassle-free pathways to ensuring your organisation not only attains Certification to ISO Standards but can maintain ISO compliance over the long term.

If you want to know how ISO Certification Auditors think and what you can expect from your Certification Audit, our ISO consultants can speak with great authority. We use our extensive experience and working knowledge of Certification processes to ensure your organisation is in the strongest possible position prior to your Certification Audit. 

Whether you want to learn how to get ISO 9001, 14001 or 45001 Certification for your organisation or are even looking to learn more about the benefits of Certification to any of the ISO Standards we specialise in, our ISO consultants are here to help.

Kickstart your ISO Certification journey by reaching out to our ISO consultants and auditors at S&J Auditing & Consulting today.