EBA Audit Management and Follow-up

A structured EBA audit management process covers five phases: First, preparation with setting up an examination office, analysing the audit history and identifying risk areas. Second, examination support with coordinating document requests, interview preparation and centralised request management. Third, findings analysis with root cause assessment and prioritisation. Fourth, remediation implementation with defined responsibilities, timelines and resource planning. Fifth, follow-up with effectiveness testing, status reporting and preparation for potential subsequent examinations.

Prioritisation uses a multi-dimensional assessment model: regulatory criticality (F1 to F4 by severity), operational impact on business processes and interdependencies between findings. Findings are grouped by root cause clusters rather than symptoms to address systemic weaknesses. Tracking uses a centralised system with progress measurement, escalation mechanisms for delays and regular status reporting to senior management and supervisory authorities.

The examination office acts as the central coordination point between examiners and specialist departments. Core tasks include: receiving and managing all document requests with quality assurance, coordinating and preparing examiner interviews including briefing interview participants, monitoring deadlines and escalating delays, ensuring consistent communication with examiners and documenting the examination process for internal follow-up.

Sustainable remediation requires three elements: First, a root cause analysis that goes beyond the immediate finding to identify structural, procedural or cultural underlying causes. Second, integrated remediation management with clear responsibilities, measurable milestones and continuous monitoring that detects deviations early. Third, effectiveness testing after measure completion through independent tests, sampling and process controls that demonstrate the actual improvement effect.

Preparation for a follow-up examination starts immediately after concluding the previous one. Key steps are: documenting all implemented measures with effectiveness evidence, building a structured knowledge database of examination experiences and successful solution approaches, conducting internal examination simulations on expected focus topics and regularly updating examination documentation. A forward-looking examination calendar considers regulatory developments and the institution-specific risk profile.