Secil Group Drives Audit Innovation with TeamMate Across Global Operations

Secil Group's Journey to Audit Transformation

Secil Group, a prominent player in the global cement and construction materials industry since 1930, faced the challenge of managing a diverse and international internal audit scope with a lean team. Led by Teresa Costa, who built the internal audit function from the ground up, the company sought to move beyond manual processes. Their decision to adopt TeamMate Audit in 2022 marked a significant step towards digital transformation, aiming to enhance efficiency and the overall impact of their audit activities across Portugal, Lebanon, Angola, Cape Verde, Spain, The Netherlands, Tunisia, and Brazil.

Streamlining Operations and Enhancing Efficiency with TeamMate

The implementation of TeamMate Audit brought about substantial improvements in the Secil Group's audit operations. A key benefit was the drastic reduction in time spent on quarterly follow-ups, from several days using manual methods (Excel, Access, email) to just one day. This efficiency gain was attributed to centralized data management and streamlined review cycles within the platform. Furthermore, the tool facilitated real-time collaboration among the four-person audit team based in Lisbon, allowing auditors to release work directly and reviewers to access it immediately. This centralization also significantly strengthened the audit trail, reducing errors associated with manual data handling and improving the consistency and clarity of audit records.

Strategic Planning, Reporting, and Future Outlook

TeamMate Audit has also played a crucial role in refining Secil Group's audit planning methodology and reporting processes. The annual audit plan, developed collaboratively and approved by the executive committee, now benefits from the tool's support in balancing structure with flexibility, incorporating risk assessment, business performance, and control environment considerations. Reporting has become more streamlined, with findings and recommendations finalized directly within TeamMate, ensuring efficient and well-documented revisions. Secil Group's experience underscores that while technology is vital for modern audit, foundational skills like curiosity, critical thinking, and effective communication remain indispensable for auditors to continue adding value in an evolving landscape, particularly as the profession embraces further digitalization and decarbonization.

Key Takeaways for Audit Professionals:

• Digital Transformation is Key: Adopting specialized audit management software like TeamMate can dramatically improve efficiency and reduce manual workload, especially for global operations.
• Centralization Benefits: Centralizing audit documentation and processes enhances the audit trail, reduces errors, and improves consistency across diverse business units.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Involving the audit team in the selection and implementation of new tools fosters enthusiasm and leadership, contributing to a smoother transition and higher adoption rates.
• Value Beyond Efficiency: While efficiency gains are significant, the ability to deliver integrated information and streamline reporting ultimately elevates the audit function's perceived value and impact within the organization.
• Enduring Human Skills: Despite technological advancements, core audit competencies such as critical thinking, curiosity, and effective communication remain crucial for navigating complex environments and providing strategic insights.