Post-Audit Surprises: Prepare, Don’t Panic
- Jon Allen
- Oct 1
- 1 min read
Here’s the curveball: post-audit deductions can arrive months—even two years—after the sale. If your documentation is messy, those “closed” periods reopen with painful surprises.
Build a post-audit defense now
Retention policy: Keep POs, invoices, price agreements, promo terms, POD/BOL, and item/pack specs for at least the retailer’s audit horizon (often up to 24 months).
Single source of truth: Centralized, real-time item/price data improves accuracy and audit readiness.
Calendar it: Time-box periodic “evidence drills” so you can assemble proofs fast when claims land.
OTIF & compliance never sleep: Shifts to targets and fines echo through post-audits; keep a change log tied to each period.
Fictional example (for illustration only)
A frozen entrées brand gets a wave of post-audits 18 months after launch. Because their broker kept price/pack proofs and promo agreements tidy, the team reverses the majority quickly. (Fictional example.)
CFO dashboard must-haves
Post-audit claims by vintage
Win rate and cycle time
Preventable vs. policy-driven
EBITDA impact after recoveries
Woodridge Retail Group helps suppliers codify retention standards and keep proofs at the ready. Woodridge Deductions are powered by HRG.
