What is the primary purpose of a procurement audit in contract management?

• A. To promote supplier diversity at all costs
• B. To verify compliance, financial integrity, and performance against contract terms and regulations
• C. To determine market price for goods
• D. To speed up procurement process

Answer: (B)

In contract management, the main purpose of a procurement audit is to verify compliance, financial integrity, and performance against contract terms and regulations. It systematically reviews the procurement process and related records—from supplier selection and contracting to ordering, delivery, invoicing, and payments—to ensure that policies were followed, approvals obtained, and amounts match what the contract allows. It checks that prices, quantities, and change orders are properly authorized, that payments align with the contract and SLAs, and that activities meet applicable laws and governance requirements. The goal is to uncover gaps, waste, or potential fraud, safeguard funds, and provide evidence for corrective actions and continuous improvement.

Other options miss the mark because they describe policy goals or outcomes not central to an audit’s purpose: audits aren’t about promoting supplier diversity at all costs, they aren’t primarily used to set market prices, and they aren’t intended to speed up procurement—though better compliance can improve processes, the focus is on verifying that the process and results align with contract terms and regulations.