Course Ref: FIN.6

Course Subject: Finance

Who should attend?

• Delegates who have solid experience within auditing and who are now looking to contribute to the strategic development of the audit function to both equip themselves with additional skill-sets and enhance the level of protection and transparency afforded to the organisation via the pro-active internal audit function.

Course objectives

• To understand the role and impact of the internal audit function
• To develop the role of the audit function
• To conduct effective and objective audits and reporting
• To effectively contribute to organisational audit strategy
• To engage and work effectively with stakeholders
• To engage continuous improvement and quality measurement within the audit function and wider organisation
• To present information effectively at a senior level
• To integrate new technology into the audit function

Course content

The role and function of internal audit

• Key goals of the internal audit function
• Ensuring auditor objectivity
• Avoiding conflicts of interest within auditing
• Key skills of the auditor

Conducting effective audits

• Pre-audit planning
• Effective audit sampling techniques
• Recording findings during the audit
• Engaging effectively with stakeholders

Audit structures

• The role of the audit committee
• Developing the audit charter
• The role of the external auditor
• Developing best practice

Audit report writing

• Ensuring objective comments
• Ensuring use of constructive language
• Improvement recommendations
• Continuous improvement techniques

Risk based auditing

• Identifying areas of risk
• Classifying and quantifying risk areas
• Developing audit and re-audit frequency in line with risk
• Overview of emerging threats

Conducting effective audits

• The role of the auditor as consultant
• Utilising audit reporting to inform organisational policy development
• Continuous improvement initiatives
• Measuring improvement – toolkit to objectively measure and demonstrate audit output improvements

Engaging with the audit structure

• Making effective recommendations and business cases
• Presenting information effectively – combining written skills and personal presentation skills
• Contribution to the development of the long term audit strategy
• Raising the profile of internal audit within the organisation

Audit reports – working with stakeholders

• Effective post audit de-briefing
• Root cause analysis
• Developing departmental action plans with stakeholders
• Managing conflict situations

The use of technology

• Overview of new fraud prevention technology
• Voice analysis systems
• Data analysis systems
• Integrating the use of technology within the audit function