Course Description
In this intensive four-day seminar you will master fundamental operational auditing techniques and learn how to use a risk-based approach to enhance your audits of the Purchasing, Marketing, Human Resources, Information Technology (IT), Management, Finance, Treasury, and Accounting functions.
You will explore the objectives of major business operation areas and learn how to identify the key risks threatening them. You will find out how to make your audits more efficient and effective and how to use data analytics to gain an in-depth understanding of business processes.
You also will cover such critical areas as the impact of SOX, ERM, and GRC on the organization, uncovering fraud schemes that threaten business operations, and the role of IA in helping management build strong risk management and strategic planning processes.
You will leave this high-impact seminar with the skills necessary to go beyond outputs and to examine the organization’s ability to achieve the necessary outcomes.
AGENDA1. Operational Auditing- the definition and meaning of internal auditing today
- essential elements for successful operational auditing
- the benefits of operational auditing
- important trends affecting operational auditing
- the impact of Sarbanes-Oxley, ERM, and GRC
2. Components of Operational Audits- the phases of an operational audit
- the link between objectives, risks, and controls in key functions
- the importance and uses of data
- Key Performance Indicators (KPI) and Key Risk Indicators (KRI)
- identifying fraudulent practices
- IT considerations and integrated audits
- essential operational audit tools
3. Auditing the Purchasing Function- identifying key risks in the procurement function
- assessing governance, infrastructure, policies, and procedures in the procurement function
- testing and monitoring vendor relationships, purchases, and inventory management
- evaluating vendor relationships and the contracting process
4. Auditing the Marketing Function- examining the marketing function’s ability to achieve stated objectives
- evaluating relationships, advertising expenditures, and sales activities
- assessing the effectiveness of the public relations and marketing functions
5. Auditing the Human Resources Function- identifying the risks in the human resources function
- recruiting, staffing, and training and development processes
- assessing employee compensation, benefits administration, and succession planning
- the role of HR in corporate governance and promoting a healthy control environment
- examining employee relations, feedback, and performance management
6. Auditing the Finance, Treasury and Accounting Functions- reviewing the finance, payroll, AP, AR, fixed assets, and budgeting processes
- assessing treasury, strategic planning, bank accounts, and systems integration
- identifying fraud indicators in financial reports
- using shared services as a control and efficiency mechanism
7. Auditing IT- IT objectives, risks, and controls
- examining staffing, strategic planning and the infrastructure within your organization
- reviewing system access, data protection and backups, disaster recovery/business continuity, and your SDLC
- evaluating the IT environment using COSO and COBIT
8. Auditing the Management Function- examining management tasks and measuring their performance and effectiveness
- enhancing the control environment through management pronouncements, examples, and enforcement of policies
- helping management build strong corporate responsibility, ethics, risk management, and strategic planning processes
- key considerations for communicating, preserving, and changing the organization’s culture
- how internal auditors can act as control agents while preserving their independence and objectivity
9. The Future of Operational Auditing- automating controls and the use of continuous auditing
- helping management perform control self assessments
- promoting continuous improvement and high quality as a means to improve internal controls
- identifying the best recommendations that lead to positive and sustained changes
Prerequisite: You should have first attended
Fraud Auditing Boot Camp or have equivalent experience.
Advance Preparation: None
Learning Level: Intermediate
Delivery Method: Group-Live
Dates & TimesClasses start on the date(s) posted herein, and run from 8:30am to 5pm daily, except for the last day of class, which ends at 1pm.