Tips and Tricks of the Trade – Kim Flanagan

 

Kim Flanagan is the Chief Operating Officer for New Age HSE Services, a highly respected health, safety and risk consultancy. With over 30 years’ experience in the areas of Health, Safety, Risk, Quality & Environment at an executive level, Kim has built up a long list of #TipsandTricksoftheTrade over the course of his career.

“It is extremely important for an auditor to have tips and tricks,” said Kim. “Tips assist new auditors when they enter the profession, tricks assist auditors in being accurate in their audits and assist in gathering the information required quickly and succinctly.”

“A day of auditing is hard enough and if you don’t have a way of being accurate in gathering the information quickly, you will labour on the questions and may not finish the audit in the required timeframe” he continued. “This really annoys clients, and you won’t be asked back a second time.”

Kim has several tips and tricks that he lives by and applies in every audit, project or job he conducts.

“Most importantly, it’s vital that auditors know their trade, standards and their customers. Audit with empathy and integrity, and live by the Exemplar Global guidelines,” he said.

“Make sure you deliver the bad news along with the good,” Kim continued. “My father used to say, ‘never let the sun set on an argument’. If there is a significant finding offer up a solution, never walk away, be a part of their solution. You will always be asked back.”

“Finally, work your way through the various Exemplar Global grades, you will never regret it.”

According to Kim, auditors who follow these guidelines will most certainly be asked back by their customer or client each and every time.