How do I demonstrate that issues have actually been fixed?
You demonstrate that issues have been fixed by showing more than completion of an action. You need evidence of the original issue, the cause, the corrective action taken, who approved it, whether remediation was required, and whether follow-up testing confirmed the issue has not continued or repeated.
The detail
Many businesses close compliance issues too early. An action is marked complete because a policy was updated, a staff member was spoken to, or a file note was added. That may be necessary, but it does not always prove the issue has been fixed.
To demonstrate effective resolution, you need to show a clear line from issue identification to verified closure.
For example, if a file review identifies poor disclosure, the fix may involve more than correcting one client file. You may need to assess whether the issue affected other clients, update adviser guidance, provide training, test later files and confirm the same problem has not continued.
This matters because unresolved issues often become repeat issues. Repeat issues can indicate weak controls, poor supervision or ineffective remediation. They also create unnecessary risk if ASIC, AFCA, an auditor or your board later asks what was done.
Good compliance practice means every material issue should have:
- a clear description of the problem
- an assessment of cause and impact
- assigned corrective actions
- evidence of completion
- review or approval before closure
- follow-up testing where needed.
The most important question is not "was the action completed?" It is "did the action fix the problem?"
A better way to manage this
A better approach is to manage issue resolution through a controlled workflow.
Where configured, [complyᵉ] can help record issues, assign corrective actions, set due dates, capture evidence, require approval and maintain an audit trail. It can also help track related incidents, findings, complaints or breaches so recurring patterns are easier to identify.
This gives compliance teams, Responsible Managers and directors more confidence that issues are not just being closed administratively. They are being assessed, fixed, evidenced and reviewed.
Practical guidance
- Define what “fixed” means before closing the issue.
- Identify the root cause, not just the immediate error.
- Record evidence that each corrective action was completed.
- Verify material fixes through review, testing or management approval.
- Monitor for recurrence so you can confirm the control is working.
Common mistakes
- Closing an issue because a task was completed. Completion does not always mean the risk has been addressed.
- Fixing the symptom but not the cause. The same issue may return if the underlying process, training or control weakness remains.
- Failing to keep evidence. Without records, you may need to reconstruct the response later.
- Not testing the fix. Follow-up review is often the only way to confirm the issue has genuinely been resolved.
See how [complyᵉ] helps you evidence, verify and close compliance issues with confidence.
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