Building an issues log the audit committee will actually read

Long review memos lose committees. We keep the full working paper for management, then compress the board note to three bands: must-fix before print, judgment items for discussion, and observations for the next cycle.

Columns that help

Each issue lists the page or table reference, the conflicting evidence, the severity, and the owner. Severity is not a style preference — high means a reader of the finance pack could be misled.

What to leave out of the board note

Editorial comments about tone, brand voice, or design. Those belong with the communications team, not the audit committee pack.

Clients who adopt this structure early spend less time debating adjectives and more time clearing genuine finance-link problems.