When the audit request list hits your inbox, what’s the first feeling that hits you? If you’re like most of the operators I talk to, it’s a mix of confusion and pressure.
I’ll be honest, even working in a financial firm, audits always felt mysterious to me.. Why the intense scrutiny? What’s the real goal?
Speaking with an expert like Kari Maue from GBQ, it suddeny makes sense. With twenty years guiding restaurants through audits, she doesn’t see a scary compliance exercise.
She sees it as a team sport. Her most important point: auditors aren’t the opposition. They want to be rowing in the same direction as you, toward the same finish line.
That shift matters. When alignment replaces anxiety, the audit stops being a costly burden and starts strengthening your business.
Let’s talk about how that shift happens, and how getting your teams on the same page both smooths the audit and cuts the cost.
This is where misalignment becomes expensive fast. In an industry of razor-thin margins, a misaligned financial team turns ordinary audit challenges into expensive setbacks.
Fragmented ownership, unclear roles, and missing reconciliations cause delays. Delays mean more billable hours, late fees, and pressure from lenders. From an auditor’s perspective, this inefficiency has a direct and simple equation.
Kari explains, “The number one thing is that it adds a lot of time for us to work through a bad audit, and time equals money. So it also transitions into significant additional billings..”
Missed deadlines and poor reconciliations trigger costly surprises. “It also could lead to not meeting the bank deadlines, which could cause additional fines or penalties from the bank, to get debt covenant waivers processed, attorney fees for those covenants. So, it really could lead to just significant additional spending.”
Misalignment hurts your back office and creates problems that threaten your growth and stability.
Day-to-day pressure pushes teams to focus on the P&L, but the real audit trouble often lives—and hides—on the balance sheet. This oversight creates a major blind spot, which Kari sees as a fundamental flaw in financial health.
As Kari put it, “A lot of times things can get lost on the balance sheet, and until you can ensure that all of those balance sheet accounts are properly reconciled and/or reconciled timely, you really can’t say that your P&L is solid.” Regular, monthly reconciliations prevent issues from piling up out of sight.
Up-to-date records make audits run smoother and faster. You’ll face fewer surprises and corrections, and your team won’t scramble at the last minute. Most operators do not realize that, according to Kari, 75 to 80% of audit prep comes down to reconciling accounts. Do it right and you save time and money.
Clean reconciliations mean fewer auditor questions and quicker results. They also help you spot cash flow gaps or vendor errors before they grow. You’ll trust your numbers during audits and throughout the year.
Restaurant audits move faster and cost less when everyone is truly aligned. A smooth audit depends on unified teams with clear roles.
Kari put it simply, “One person owned the entire process, took responsibility for making sure we received what we needed, had our questions answered, and that things were delivered timely.”
When you funnel all audit requests and answers through a single, knowledgeable point of contact, auditors avoid confusion.
You won’t need to chase seven different people for missing information. The audit stays on track and you avoid costly delays.
Teams that “speak the same language” cut down on rework. With shared industry experience, both restaurant operators and auditors quickly understand the risks and requirements unique to hospitality.
As Kari described, “We just started; we’re talking the same language from both the restaurant side of things but also the accounting side of things, and that really helps.”
Clear ownership and honest communication make audits work for you.
Managing tight margins demands both speed and accuracy. Automation delivers the speed, gathering data and reducing manual entry, but it can’t replace human judgment for accuracy.
Software can flag exceptions, organize audit requests, and provide dashboards that show real-time status for every balance sheet account.
Still, experienced people catch inconsistencies, provide context, and ensure data actually reflects business reality.
Efficient audits use technology to track progress, then rely on seasoned professionals for review and decision-making.
Combining automation with expert oversight delivers cleaner audits, fewer surprises, and confidence in the numbers. Technology helps you get there faster, but people still make the call that matters.
The real payoff of alignment comes when surprises stop derailing your audit and your growth plans.
Aligned teams consistently deliver audits that close faster and with less cost. Accountants, managers, and auditors working from the same playbook means no last-minute scramble or confusion over support requests.
Kari shared, “Near the end of the audit that we most recently worked on together, I spoke with one of the owners and he stated that this was one of the easiest audits and it exceeded his expectations.”
Solid financials keep the bank happy and open other doors. Operators who maintain clean records get better lending terms, create space for expansion, and move forward with confidence.
Knowing your numbers are right shifts decisions from crisis management to strategic planning. Instead of living out of the bank account, you get to ask, “How do we grow next?”
Alignment puts operators fully in control.
Smooth audits start with strong, consistent habits. Start by reconciling accounts monthly, not just at year-end. This limits surprises and keeps your balance sheet clean.
Assign one person as your audit liaison so all questions and support flow through a single, knowledgeable contact. Use technology like dashboards or audit portals to track progress, but never skip the human review. Experienced team members need to verify exceptions and add context.
“I would say a good one is a company that regularly reconciles their books. That performs deposit verifications, cash reconciliations,” said Kari. These steps mean less stress, lower costs, and audits that help you grow.
Restaurant audits can feel intimidating, but they do not need to inspire dread. Operators, accountants, and auditors working toward the same goal changes everything. Audits become a chance to improve your business, not just check boxes.
Alignment across your back office means fewer surprises, clearer communication, and insights you can actually use.
As Kari put it, “We are ultimately working on the same side. We’re on the same team. We all have the same goal in mind, that we want this audit to be wrapped up by, whatever the date is, so that it’s on time.”
To take the fear out of your next audit, get your teams aligned and working together. For more insights, listen to the full episode of The Financial Advantage with Kari Maue.
