Advertising review examines campaign spending, agency charges and the evidence linking billed activity to agreed placements or results.
Understanding Advertising Audit
When to consider this service
Finance leaders, audit committees and process owners preparing a defined review of records and controls can use this service to clarify a particular issue. A useful starting question is: “Can advertising metrics be treated as proof of sales revenue?” Begin with the facts behind that question rather than assuming that a standard package will resolve it.
Scope of work
The engagement can cover the following workstreams. The proposal specifies which apply to your matter and what evidence or specialist input is needed.
- Reconcile media spend and agency invoices.
- Review campaign delivery and attribution data.
- Assess approval and procurement controls.
Documents and information to prepare
Start with the records below where available. They help establish the facts before a more specific checklist is agreed.
- Agency contracts.
- Media invoices.
- Campaign reports.
- Purchase approvals.
Provide the relevant entity, transaction or reporting period and any existing notice or deadline. Identify missing or inconsistent records so they can be addressed explicitly.
A key issue to resolve
Reported impressions or leads need agreed definitions; a campaign metric is not automatically evidence of business revenue.
How the engagement works
- Define the question: reconcile media spend and agency invoices, using the available agency contracts and the facts you provide.
- Examine the evidence: review campaign delivery and attribution data. Record unresolved information and the assumptions that affect the analysis.
- Agree the action: assess approval and procurement controls. Set the required deliverables, responsible owners and any follow-up or external dependency.
Deliverables, fees and timing
The proposal for Advertising Audit sets out the analysis, documentation or coordination deliverables and the work you retain. The availability of agency contracts, media invoices, campaign reports and purchase approvals affects readiness and the amount of follow-up needed. Fees and the working schedule are agreed after that initial assessment. Any required independent report, legal representation or authority application is identified as a separate responsibility where relevant.
Discuss your requirement
Share a short summary of your Advertising Audit requirement and the records already available. BIATConsultant can assess the proposed scope and explain the next steps.
FAQ
Practical questions about Advertising Audit.
Can advertising metrics be treated as proof of sales revenue?
Reported impressions or leads need agreed definitions; a campaign metric is not automatically evidence of business revenue.
What records should I prepare for Advertising Audit?
What can the scope of Advertising Audit include?
How are fees and the schedule agreed?