12. When Speed Replaces Accuracy
- Ann Desseyn
- Nov 22, 2025
- 2 min read
In the final hours of an audit — especially in multilingual environments — precision begins to erode. Schedules tighten. Teams hurry. Clarifications are skipped. Everyone wants the audit to finish on time.
Under this pressure, auditors often accept answers at face value to “keep things moving,” and teams agree quickly to avoid delays. The problem is simple but dangerous:
Speed hides non-compliance better than silence.
This is time-pressured confirmation — the final hidden risk that undermines the reliability of multinational audits.
Why Audits Become Vulnerable Under Time Pressure
1. Rapid audits push cooperation over accuracy
When the clock is running out, teams stop questioning and start agreeing. Politeness and efficiency take over, and essential details go unchallenged.
2. Clarification steps are skipped
Auditors may accept vague statements or loose interpretations they would normally probe deeper. Questions such as “Show me” or “Walk me through it” are replaced by “Okay, noted.”
3. Evidence is accepted without validation
Time pressure turns quick explanations into “good enough” evidence. Records aren’t checked, processes aren’t observed, and assumptions slip through unnoticed. The final hours of an audit are often when the largest errors enter the record.
Why This Risk Is Magnified in Multilingual Contexts
Multilingual audits already require more time for:
translation
cultural clarification
aligning definitions
walking through misunderstandings
When time runs short, all of these safeguards disappear. Misinterpretations multiply. Ambiguous language gets accepted. Reliability collapses.
The Consequences of Rushed Confirmation
Time-pressured confirmation can lead to:
missed non-conformities
incorrect closing statements
weak or contradictory CARs
failure to identify systemic issues
false sense of compliance
post-audit disputes
reputational and financial risk for the organisation
A 5-minute shortcut can create a 5-month corrective action nightmare.
Examples Auditors Will Recognise
You’ve likely seen time-pressure distort the truth when:
Someone says “It’s done” but no record is shown.
Teams say “Yes, yes, yes” the moment the auditor looks at the clock.
A process owner tells the translator “Just tell them it’s fine.”
A non-conformity is downgraded to avoid a late meeting.
The closing meeting starts before half the evidence is verified.
Rushing creates compliance theatre — not compliance reality.
What Auditors Should Do Immediately
To counter the effects of time-pressure:
1. Pause and re-check critical points
Even a 2-minute verification can reveal issues hidden by speed.
2. Protect time for clarification
Plan buffer time for translation, misinterpretations, or walk-through confirmations.
3. Prioritise evidence over schedule
Finishing on time is good. Finishing accurately is non-negotiable.
Time spent verifying is always cheaper than time spent correcting a failed audit.
The Insight
Time creates pressure — and pressure creates shortcuts. Hidden Risk #12 reminds auditors that reliability collapses when speed becomes the goal instead of clarity. The final minutes of an audit matter as much as the first — sometimes more.
