Expert: Don Sadler - 7/18/2006

Question
who is a lead auditor and what is a management representative

Answer
These are both terms used when referring to different parties in an audit.  While these are general terms, they are probably most commonly used when speaking of EMS Audits.  EMS is Environmental Management System which is a set of processes and practices enabling an organization to reduce its environmental impacts and increase its operating efficiency. (See link below)  Since I don’t know the context of your question, I will answer both generally and EMS specific.

General terms defined:

       Lead Auditor - the person (auditor) leading the audit team - providing technical guidance and project (engagement) management but not necessarily administrative supervision.

       Management Representative - Any person representing management’s interest.

Terms defined from an EMS perspective:

       Lead Auditor - the person responsible for selecting the audit team and ensuring that the audit team conducts and completes the audit as planned. Typically an EMS audit is performed not by regular financial auditors but by technical specialists.  It is more of a checklist compliance audit and the lead Auditor provides technical guidance and project (engagement) management.

       Management Representative - the specific management representative responsible for ensuring that the EMS is established, implemented, and maintained in accordance with facility-specific requirements.



EMS= http://www.epa.gov/ems/