Translation Services for Compliance Audits (UK)

In today’s regulatory environment, compliance audits aren’t just a checkbox… they’re high-stakes evaluations that can determine your business’s ability to operate, expand, or even survive. When part of that process involves presenting documentation in multiple languages, the quality and accuracy of your translations become mission-critical.

That’s where we come in.

What Is Compliance Audit Translation?

Compliance audit translation involves converting documentation related to internal or external audits into one or more target languages. These documents are often reviewed by regulators, auditors, and certification bodies, so translation must be precise, sector-appropriate, and delivered in an audit-ready format.

Common examples include:

• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

• Internal policies and training manuals

• Risk management documents

• Audit reports and corrective action plans

• Privacy policies and Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs)

Whether you’re being audited by the FCA, MHRA, ISO, or another body, your translated content needs to withstand scrutiny.

Why Compliance Translation Is Different from General Translation

When translating for compliance audits, mistakes carry serious consequences. A mistranslated procedure or ambiguous clause can trigger delays, rejections, or worse—fines and reputational damage.

What sets compliance translation apart?

• Sector-specific terminology must match approved vocabularies

• Consistency across versions in different languages

• Confidentiality and security due to sensitive content

• Regulatory formatting and declarations required by audit bodies

These translations aren’t just read… they’re examined line by line.

The Risks of Poor Audit Translation

Poor-quality translations can undermine an entire audit:

• Inconsistent wording between English and target-language SOPs

• Unapproved formatting that conflicts with regulatory templates

• Lack of signed translator declarations or certification statements

• Breaches of confidentiality due to poor handling of files

Translation issues often create unnecessary audit delays or even lead to non-compliance.

Tongue Tied’s UK-Focused Audit Translation Process

We’ve developed a robust and secure process designed specifically for audit and compliance translation needs:

1. Document Audit: We assess document types, file formats, regulatory expectations, and language pairs.

2. Terminology Management: We build or align with existing glossaries, using UK/EU regulatory sources.

3. Translation Memory (TM): TM systems ensure consistency and cost savings across repeated content.

4. Specialist Linguists: Only translators with sector-specific experience handle your content.

5. ISO 17100 QA: All translations are reviewed and verified by a second linguist.

6. Security Protocols: Files are handled under GDPR and ISO 27001-equivalent standards.

7. Certification: We provide signed translator statements where needed.

What Kind of Audit Content Do We Translate?

We regularly support:

Financial & Legal

• FCA audit documentation

• AML/KYC policy translation

• Shareholder and investor reports

Medical & Life Sciences

• MHRA submission SOPs

• Clinical risk assessments

• Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) documentation

Corporate & Cross-Sector

• ISO 9001 or 27001 certification packs

• Internal training materials for multinational teams

• HR policy handbooks and incident logs

Mini Case Study: FCA Audit Translation for UK Fintech

A mid-sized fintech company undergoing an FCA audit required:

• Translation of AML procedures and a Board risk report into German and French

• Certified translator statements

• Document consistency across 5 departments

We:

• Created a compliance termbase from past documents

• Used translation memory to repurpose existing content

• Delivered signed declarations with ISO-compliant QA

Result: Passed the FCA audit with no queries regarding translations.

Why Clients Trust Us with Audit-Ready Translation

• 30+ years’ experience in regulated industries

• ISO 17100-certified workflow

• GDPR-compliant data handling

• Transparent pricing and delivery times

• Trusted by over 2,600 businesses worldwide

We’re members of ITI and ATC, and our translators work in strict alignment with sector-specific guidelines.

Turnaround & Pricing

Document Type	Turnaround	TM Savings
Audit SOPs or policy (single language)	3–4 days	Up to 60%
Multi-language training kit (2-3 langs)	4–6 days	High
Urgent updates or corrections	1–2 days	Very high

All projects include optional translator certificates. Rush services and NDAs available on request.

FAQs

Q: Are certified translations required for audits? Yes. For FCA, MHRA, and ISO audits, many bodies require a signed statement of accuracy.

Q: Can we use AI-generated translations for audit drafts? We can post-edit MT content, but final submissions should be fully human-reviewed.

Q: What languages do you support? We translate into over 200 languages including Arabic, Cyrillic scripts, Welsh, and right-to-left formats.

Q: Do you reuse content from previous audits? Yes… our translation memory technology ensures maximum efficiency and savings.

Get a Quote or Speak to Richard

Need support with audit-ready translation services?

Email sales@ttmltd.com or call +44 1606 352 527.

Or connect directly with Richard on LinkedIn for practical advice and sector insights.

Tongue Tied. Trusted for accurate, audit-ready translation.