[003] GLOSSARY

Audit trail

The record of what data was reviewed, what decisions were made, and what evidence supported them.

29 May 2026

Definition

An audit trail is the record of what data was reviewed, what decisions were made, and what evidence supported them.

Why it matters

It lets teams explain how the filing position was reached after the fact.

Example

A signed export and the exception notes are saved with the month-end pack.

Common mistake

Only saving the final workbook and discarding the reasoning behind the decisions.

Control evidence
Review sign-off
Reconciliation report

Frequently asked questions

Why keep an audit trail?: It lets the team explain how the filing position was reached after the fact.
What should be stored with the audit trail?: The final report, the exception notes, and the reviewer approval are usually the minimum set.