Essential Skills for Internal Auditors

This comprehensive Anderson training course consists of two modules which can be booked as a 10 Day Training event, or as individual, 5 Day training courses.

Module 1 - Fundamentals of Internal Auditing
Module 2 - Report Writing and Communication Skills for Auditors

• Corporate Governance; Definition, Concept, Rules, Principles
• What are the obstacles and barriers to implement effective governance?
• The Risk, Compliance & Internal Audit Triangle
• Role of Audit Committee in checking audit notes (internal/external) among Board’s important committees’ roles and responsibilities
• Using internal and external audit standards to audit Governance activities
• Key components, practices and activities to audit processes and relations by which corporations are controlled and governed

• Definition and objectives of internal audit with understanding of Internal Audit Methodology
• Auditors Tools, Techniques, roles and responsibilities
• Report results of the audit via Field Memorandum
• The transition from system-based to risk-based internal auditing
• Risk-Based Audit Approach and Risk-Based Audit Methodology
• How and why audit units move into risk-based audit programs

• Developing risk-based audit plan
• Preparation of a clear plan to be approved by Audit Committee
• Efficiency in the non-recurrence of Audit Notes
• Identification and classification of audit risk
• Writing Audit Report; how to impress reader and how to address challenges
• How to structure effective audit report

• Fundamental Concepts of Enterprise Risk Management
• Identifying different types of Risk Taxonomies
• Risk Control Self-Assessment (RCSA)
• What is operational risk management framework?
• Definition and objectives of internal controls; roles and responsibilities
• Latest trend in Auditing: Auditing the Control Environment

• What is risk-based Compliance?
• What are the roles and responsibilities of the Compliance Head?
• International Standards for Anti-Money Laundering / Combatting Terrorism Financing (AML/CTF)
• Money Laundering Threats and Methods
• Terrorist Financing Threats and Methods
• International Case Study: HSBC in USA and Mexico - Case Study on Money Laundering Threats and Methods

• The challenges of audit reporting
• The main problems with audit reports
• The need to create impact
• Analysis of 4 actual reports
• Evaluation of your own reports – using a proven method
• The Executive summary

• The psychology of audit reports
• Writing reports with impact
• The need to make reports more positive
• How to simplify the content
• Highlighting the issues that really matter
• Improving the review process

• The main report
• Writing a clear, concise report
• Forming and expressing the audit opinion
• Recommendations and action plans
• Finalising the report
• The need for follow-up – should this be carried by IA?

• The challenges for auditors
• The characteristics of effective communication
• The impact on productivity of clear communication
• Interpersonal skills for auditors
• Influencing
• The power of senior management and stakeholder engagement

• The power of Effective negotiation
• Negotiating during each audit phase
• The need for win-win solutions
• Listening - the most important audit skill?
• Types of listening and the importance for IA
• Time Management

Anderson Certificate of Completion will be provided to delegates who attend and complete the course