Our audits includes a deep understanding of your business and the industry in which you operate, enabling us to design the most effective audit plans. We have vast range of Audits incl Fire Audits to FCPA, IT Security / Internal Audits, Environmental Audits and much more…
Anti-Corruption & Anti-Bribery Audits / Assessments
FCPA Assessment
FCPA assessment is performed by Inquest specialists to evaluate the compliance levels of FCPA program at a targeted company which could be a third party vendor, business channel partners and potential M&As. Absence of regular FCPA assessments may lead to the increased chances of descendants liability and result in the imposition of fines, if any FCPA violations are discovered after the integration.
InQuest Forensic experts perform FCPA assessment of both compliance and business process by effectively utilizing electronic and physical data of targeted companies.
FCPA assessment is performed by Inquest specialists to evaluate the compliance levels of FCPA program at a targeted company which could be a third party vendor, business channel partners and potential M&As. Absence of regular FCPA assessments may lead to the increased chances of descendants liability and result in the imposition of fines, if any FCPA violations are discovered after the integration.
InQuest Forensic experts perform FCPA assessment of both compliance and business process by effectively utilizing electronic and physical data of targeted companies.
Our ABC / FCPA Audits / Assessments include (but not limited to):
- Examine / Analyse the financials (income and expenses).
- Examine / analyse transactional conditions with government-owned clients.
- Examine / Analysis taxes, licenses, and local/national/International statutory/regulatory compliances.
- Investigation of direct or indirect transaction with government entities.
- Investigation of target company’s internal control.
We conduct several other types of anti-corruption audits for our clients, to include:
- Fraud Risk Assessment: Conducting an assessment to identify the organization’s areas of greatest corruption risk so that appropriate controls can be put in place to mitigate this risk.
- Compliance Audit: Conducting an audit to check the framework of policies and procedures, such as Anti-Corruption Policy or Code of Conduct, and verifying if the appropriate controls are in place, and that the employees are adhering to these policies.
- Transaction-Based Audit: Conducting an audit on specific transactions within the organization, such as procurement or sales, to verify that the transactions are properly authorized and recorded, and that there is no evidence of corruption or fraud.
- Third-Party Audit: Conducting an audit on third parties who interact with the organization, such as vendors or contractors, to ensure that the organization is not exposed to any corruption-related risks in its supply chain.
- Forensic Accounting Audit: Conducting an audit on the organization’s financial records to ensure that the records are accurate and complete, and that there is no evidence of fraudulent activities.
- Interview-Based Audit: Conducting interviews with employees to assess the level of awareness and understanding of the organization’s anti-corruption policy, and to identify potential areas of risk and corruption.
To conduct these audits, we appoint our internal auditors as embedded resources or conduct regular audits as independent assignments.
Fire Safety Audits
We conduct fire safety audits for all kinds of building structure (corporate offices, warehouses, banks, hospitals, school / college, commercial building, residential complex, large shopping malls, cinema theatres, large dance halls and other institutes, etc.). We have qualified & experienced fire safety auditors. With a wide network of offices & large pool of auditors, we are able to provide quick and effective audit services in any part of India.
Organisations should get regular fire audits done to ensure compliance with fire safety regulations, identify potential fire hazards, and minimize the likelihood of an accidental fire. Fire audits can help organisations identify fire safety risks that may have been overlooked, such as faulty wiring or improperly stored flammable materials. Regular audits can also build strong preparedness stemming from the most recent and up-to-date fire safety practices.
Additionally, fire audits help to ensure that your organization is prepared in the event of an emergency. They can help identify opportunities for improving evacuation procedures, installing or upgrading firefighting equipment, and implementing fire safety education programs for employees. Regular fire audits, in combination with fire safety training, can lower the number of fire incidents and help minimize the damage caused by a fire.
Organisations should get regular fire audits done to ensure compliance with fire safety regulations, identify potential fire hazards, and minimize the likelihood of an accidental fire. Fire audits can help organisations identify fire safety risks that may have been overlooked, such as faulty wiring or improperly stored flammable materials. Regular audits can also build strong preparedness stemming from the most recent and up-to-date fire safety practices.
Additionally, fire audits help to ensure that your organization is prepared in the event of an emergency. They can help identify opportunities for improving evacuation procedures, installing or upgrading firefighting equipment, and implementing fire safety education programs for employees. Regular fire audits, in combination with fire safety training, can lower the number of fire incidents and help minimize the damage caused by a fire.
Supply Chain Audits
Supply chain audits are assessments conducted on an organization's supply chain to identify quality, ethical, environmental, and social risks and opportunities. Supply chain audits help organizations to assess the risks and activities of suppliers, as well as to identify areas for improvement.
InQuest has qualified and certified supply chain experts deployed across India, UAE and multiple other countries to cater to address dynamic supply chain risks.
InQuest has qualified and certified supply chain experts deployed across India, UAE and multiple other countries to cater to address dynamic supply chain risks.
Organizations should get supply chain audits done for the following reasons:
- Compliance: A supply chain audit helps organizations ensure that their suppliers are in compliance with relevant laws and regulations, such as labor laws, environmental regulations, and trade regulations.
- Risk Management: Supply chain audits help identify potential risks, such as supply disruptions or ethical concerns, that could have a significant impact on the organization’s operations.
- Reputation: A strong audit program can help organizations demonstrate their commitment to ethical and sustainable practices, which can enhance their reputation and brand value.
- Competitive Advantage: Understanding the quality and reliability of suppliers can give an organization a competitive advantage. A pre-selection audit to choose the right supplier and maintaining a system of monitoring the supplier can enhance the product or service delivery.
- Continuous improvement: Supply chain audit programs enable organizations to identify potential areas for improvement in their suppliers’ processes and systems.
Through our Supply chain audits we help organizations to manage risks and ensure that their supply chain is compliant, ethical, and sustainable. This ultimately leads to enhanced reputations and competitive advantages.
Environmental, Social, and Governance Audits
Environmental criteria consider how a company safeguards the environment, including corporate policies addressing climate change, for example. Social criteria examine how it manages relationships with employees, suppliers, customers, and the communities where it operates. Governance deals with a company’s leadership, executive pay, audits, internal controls, and shareholder rights.
Environmental issues may include corporate climate policies, energy use, waste, pollution, natural resource conservation, and treatment of animals. ESG considerations can also help evaluate any environmental risks a company might face and how the company is managing those risks.
Considerations may include direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions, management of toxic waste, and compliance with environmental regulations.InQuest assist organisations in keeping a check on ESG elements through innovative audits and assessment for M & A purpose etc.
Environmental issues may include corporate climate policies, energy use, waste, pollution, natural resource conservation, and treatment of animals. ESG considerations can also help evaluate any environmental risks a company might face and how the company is managing those risks.
Considerations may include direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions, management of toxic waste, and compliance with environmental regulations.InQuest assist organisations in keeping a check on ESG elements through innovative audits and assessment for M & A purpose etc.
Here are some of the most common types of ESG audits/assessments:
- Compliance Audit: A compliance audit is designed to ensure that an organization is meeting its legal obligations related to environmental regulations. This type of audit examines an organization’s environmental permits, licenses, and other documentation to verify that they are right and current.
- Management System Audit: A management system audit evaluates an organization’s compliance with its own management systems, such as ISO 14001, which outlines a framework for implementing an environmental management system.
- Pollution Prevention Audit: Pollution prevention audits focus on identifying opportunities for reducing or eliminating waste and minimizing hazardous materials use in an organization’s processes and operations.
- Environmental Risk Assessment: Environmental risk assessments evaluate an organization’s environmental risks, such as waste disposal, energy use, or chemical handling, and provide recommendations for risk reduction or mitigation.
- Sustainability Audit: Sustainability audits assess an organization’s environmental footprint and overall sustainability efforts, including energy use, greenhouse gas emissions, resource consumption, and waste management.
- Due Diligence Audit: Due diligence audits are conducted before mergers or acquisitions to evaluate the environmental risks associated with a potential acquisition or merger.
These audits can be conducted internally or by an external audit firm, depending on the organization’s internal expertise, objectives, and available resources.
Structural Audits of Buildings
Did you know that a structural audit is government mandated?
For buildings that are between 15 to 30 years old, the statutory requirement is to conduct a structural audit once in 5 years. For buildings over 30 years, a structural audit must be conducted once every 3 years.
For buildings that are between 15 to 30 years old, the statutory requirement is to conduct a structural audit once in 5 years. For buildings over 30 years, a structural audit must be conducted once every 3 years.
Our structural audits comprise of a detailed assessment of a building or infrastructure to evaluate its overall health, stability, and safety. To enhance the overall lifecycle of the building, its components need to be periodically examined so that there is no danger to its inhabitants. Our evaluation includes a thorough inspection of the building’s primary frame, foundation, walls, floors, columns, and roof. It helps identify any weaknesses, defects, or damages that may compromise the building’s structural integrity or pose a threat to its occupants.
The audit report provides recommendations on required repairs, maintenance or renovation work, and can also suggest any necessary modifications to bring the building up to code compliance.
Some of the techniques used by our experts to assess whether your building’s concrete will stand the test of time are as follows:
- Rebound Hammer Test on beams, slabs, etc. to check the compressive strength of the concrete.
- Ultrasonic Pulse Velocity Test to inspect cracks and to test the quality of concrete and natural rocks in the building.
- Core testing consists of a method in which samples are tested in a laboratory to determine strength.
- Chemical tests are performed to check carbonation and pH, water/acid soluble chloride and sulphate contents of the concrete.
- Rebar locators and cover meters are used to check the cover, diameter and reinforcement of steel
- Water permeability test is carried out to check the resistance of concrete under water pressure.
- Half-cell potential test is done to check corrosion or the possibility of it in the steel.
- Some other popular tests in current practice are Leak Testing, Electromagnetic Testing, Laser Testing, Magnetic Particle Testing, etc.
- Earthquake resistance (seismic diagnosis test) and fire readiness (fire fighting system analysis) is measured and analysed by the structural auditors in addition to the above mentioned tests.