Provider Audit Playbooks

You signed the contract months ago and assumed the supplier was following it. Now scopes have shifted, invoices feel heavier, and no one can point to the clause that allows it. A lightweight audit restores clarity before things derail.

What a quick audit checks

• Scope vs. delivery – Is what you are receiving exactly what the statement of work promised?
• Timeline drift – Which milestones moved, who approved it, and where is the evidence?
• Commercial exposure – Are rate cards, change fees, and acceptance criteria still aligned with the contract?

Start with a one-hour review

1. Collect three artefacts: latest signed contract, most recent delivery plan, and the past two invoices.
2. Highlight the “must haves” in the contract (scope, SLA, approval process). Anything unclear goes on a questions list.
3. Compare line by line: for each deliverable, note “On scope / Out of scope / Missing evidence”.
4. Log variances with owner and due date. Keep it visible to both your team and the supplier.

Keep it painless and regular

• Run the checklist every six weeks—often enough to spot leakage, light enough to avoid friction.
• Share the summary in writing; it signals that a paper trail exists.
• Celebrate items back on track. Audits are not “gotcha” moments; they are checkpoints.

When to bring in help

If the supplier pushes back on evidence or the audit list keeps growing, it is time for an independent review. We facilitate a focused contract audit, draft the remediation plan, and mediate the follow-up meeting so you can get back to delivery.