All Countries
Compliance
Audit Retention Policy

Audit Retention Policy Template for Belgium

Create a bespoke document in minutes,  or upload and review your own.

4.6 / 5
4.8 / 5

Let's create your Audit Retention Policy

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Get your first 2 documents free

Your data doesn't train Genie's AI

You keep IP ownership of your information

Key Requirements PROMPT example:

Audit Retention Policy

"I need an Audit Retention Policy for a Belgian pharmaceutical company that handles sensitive clinical trial data, ensuring compliance with both pharmaceutical industry standards and GDPR requirements, to be implemented by March 2025."

Celebrated by
Collaborations with
Investors
Document background
This Audit Retention Policy is designed to ensure organizational compliance with Belgian legal requirements and EU regulations regarding the retention of audit-related documents and records. The policy becomes necessary when organizations need to establish standardized procedures for maintaining audit documentation, particularly in light of the Belgian Company Code's seven-year retention requirement and GDPR compliance obligations. It provides comprehensive guidance on retention periods, storage methods, and disposal procedures for various types of audit documents, while considering both statutory requirements and operational needs. The policy is particularly crucial for organizations subject to regular audits, those in regulated industries, or companies seeking to standardize their audit document management practices across multiple departments or locations within Belgium.
Suggested Sections

1. Purpose and Scope: Defines the objective of the policy and its applicability across the organization

2. Definitions: Key terms used throughout the policy, including types of audit documents, retention periods, and relevant regulatory terms

3. Legal and Regulatory Framework: Overview of applicable laws and regulations governing audit document retention in Belgium

4. Retention Requirements: Specific retention periods for different categories of audit documents and records

5. Storage and Security: Requirements for secure storage of audit documents, including physical and electronic storage methods

6. Roles and Responsibilities: Defines who is responsible for maintaining, protecting, and disposing of audit documents

7. Document Classification: Categories of audit documents and their respective handling requirements

8. Disposal Procedures: Procedures for secure disposal or destruction of audit documents after retention period expires

9. Compliance Monitoring: Procedures for ensuring ongoing compliance with the policy

Optional Sections

1. Digital Transformation Procedures: Procedures for converting physical documents to digital format, used when organization has digital transformation initiative

2. Cross-Border Considerations: Additional requirements for international operations, included when organization operates in multiple jurisdictions

3. Industry-Specific Requirements: Additional retention requirements specific to the organization's industry sector

4. Emergency Access Procedures: Procedures for accessing archived audit documents in emergency situations, included for organizations with critical operations

5. Third-Party Auditor Access: Procedures for providing access to external auditors, included when organization regularly deals with external auditors

Suggested Schedules

1. Schedule A - Retention Period Matrix: Detailed matrix of document types and their specific retention periods

2. Schedule B - Document Classification Guide: Detailed guide for classifying different types of audit documents

3. Schedule C - Disposal Checklist: Checklist for document disposal procedures

4. Appendix 1 - Document Storage Locations: List of approved storage locations and their security features

5. Appendix 2 - Key Contacts: List of key personnel responsible for audit document management

6. Appendix 3 - Compliance Forms: Standard forms used in the audit document retention process

Authors

Alex Denne

Head of Growth (Open Source Law) @ Genie AI | 3 x UCL-Certified in Contract Law & Drafting | 4+ Years Managing 1M+ Legal Documents | Serial Founder & Legal AI Author

Linkedin in social icon imageX social icon image
alex.den.21@genieai.co
Relevant legal definitions
Audit Documentation
Audit Evidence
Audit Records
Audit Trail
Audit Working Papers
Archival Period
Active Records
Authorized Personnel
Company Records
Confidential Information
Data Controller
Data Processor
Digital Records
Document Owner
Document Custodian
Electronic Storage System
External Audit
Financial Records
Final Audit Report
Inactive Records
Internal Audit
Legal Hold
Minimum Retention Period
Official Record
Physical Records
Personal Data
Record Series
Records Disposal
Records Lifecycle
Records Management
Retention Period
Retention Schedule
Secure Disposal
Statutory Audit
Storage Location
Supporting Documentation
Temporary Records
Transfer of Records
Vital Records
Working Papers
Clauses
Purpose and Scope
Regulatory Compliance
Document Classification
Retention Periods
Storage Requirements
Security Measures
Access Control
Data Protection
Confidentiality
Document Disposal
Legal Hold
Roles and Responsibilities
Digital Records Management
Physical Records Management
Audit Trail Requirements
Emergency Access
Cross-Border Transfers
Third-Party Access
Compliance Monitoring
Policy Review
Breach Reporting
Force Majeure
Amendment Procedures
Implementation Timeline
Training Requirements
Relevant Industries

Financial Services

Banking

Insurance

Manufacturing

Retail

Healthcare

Technology

Energy

Telecommunications

Professional Services

Real Estate

Construction

Transportation

Logistics

Public Sector

Education

Relevant Teams

Internal Audit

Compliance

Finance

Legal

Information Technology

Records Management

Risk Management

Quality Assurance

Operations

Information Security

Relevant Roles

Chief Financial Officer

Compliance Officer

Internal Audit Manager

External Auditor

Risk Manager

Records Manager

IT Security Manager

Data Protection Officer

Financial Controller

Quality Assurance Manager

Legal Counsel

Document Control Specialist

Audit Committee Member

Corporate Secretary

Operations Manager

Industries
Belgian Company Code (Code des sociétés/Wetboek van vennootschappen): Requires companies to maintain accounting records and supporting documents for 7 years. Sets requirements for statutory audits and retention of audit-related documentation.
Belgian Income Tax Code: Requires retention of tax-relevant documents and audit trails for at least 7 years for tax audit purposes.
EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): Governs the processing and retention of personal data that may be included in audit documentation, requiring data minimization and specific retention periods.
Belgian Accounting Law of 17 July 1975: Sets requirements for accounting document retention and specifies minimum retention periods for financial records and audit documentation.
EU Directive 2006/43/EC (Audit Directive): Establishes requirements for statutory audits, including documentation retention requirements for audit firms.
Belgian Royal Decree of 21 October 2018: Implementation of EU audit regulation, specifying requirements for statutory auditors and audit firms, including documentation requirements.
Belgian Act on the Protection of Natural Persons with regard to the Processing of Personal Data: National implementation of GDPR, affecting how personal data in audit documents must be handled and retained.
Belgian Anti-Money Laundering Law of 18 September 2017: Requires retention of certain financial records and audit trails for preventing money laundering, with specific retention periods.
Teams

Employer, Employee, Start Date, Job Title, Department, Location, Probationary Period, Notice Period, Salary, Overtime, Vacation Pay, Statutory Holidays, Benefits, Bonus, Expenses, Working Hours, Rest Breaks,  Leaves of Absence, Confidentiality, Intellectual Property, Non-Solicitation, Non-Competition, Code of Conduct, Termination,  Severance Pay, Governing Law, Entire Agreemen

Find the exact document you need

Corporate Retention Policy

A governance document establishing record retention and disposal guidelines in compliance with Belgian law and EU regulations, including GDPR.

find out more

Audit Retention Policy

A policy document outlining audit document retention requirements and procedures in accordance with Belgian law and EU regulations.

find out more

Download our whitepaper on the future of AI in Legal

By providing your email address you are consenting to our Privacy Notice.
Thank you for downloading our whitepaper. This should arrive in your inbox shortly. In the meantime, why not jump straight to a section that interests you here: https://www.genieai.co/our-research
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.

Genie’s Security Promise

Genie is the safest place to draft. Here’s how we prioritise your privacy and security.

Your documents are private:

We do not train on your data; Genie’s AI improves independently

All data stored on Genie is private to your organisation

Your documents are protected:

Your documents are protected by ultra-secure 256-bit encryption

Our bank-grade security infrastructure undergoes regular external audits

We are ISO27001 certified, so your data is secure

Organizational security

You retain IP ownership of your documents

You have full control over your data and who gets to see it

Innovation in privacy:

Genie partnered with the Computational Privacy Department at Imperial College London

Together, we ran a £1 million research project on privacy and anonymity in legal contracts

Want to know more?

Visit our Trust Centre for more details and real-time security updates.

Read our Privacy Policy.