Seminar Overview  

Seminar Objectives/Course Content. This seminar, Operational Auditing, will focus on improving the overall effectiveness of the internal audit group, including adding value to the organization.

Emphasis is placed upon designing a successful operational auditing plan that is consistent with the overall plan of the organization.  The primary objective of the seminar will be auditing a business process, including related goals and objectives, from a risk-based operational auditing perspective.  A case-based approach is used to facilitate application of techniques introduced in the seminar.

The order of the discussions will be:

The internal auditor taking on a new perspective

The skill sets, attributes and disciplines needed by the internal auditor

Gaining an understanding of the business; the value of analytics

Management process and responsibilities

Overview of the audit process

Types of audits – comparisons

Business goals and objectives – understanding, identifying, evaluating and auditing, including analyzing key business processes and activities

Audit program – designing and developing audit tests

Audit evidence and data gathering techniques – types and rules of audit evidence; means of collecting audit evidence

Interviewing skills and techniques

Business risks – being risk driven with emphasis upon the micro risk assessment process

Audit risks

Controls – key factors and considerations

Controls and risks – balancing; using a matrix approach

Reporting to management

Learning Objectives.This seminar focuses on designing and implementing an effective, correctly focused, risk-driven operational auditing plan. Completion of this course will result in gaining knowledge about "best practices" in performing operational audits and understanding, identifying, evaluating and auditing key business processes and activities.

Program Level/Professional Experience - Intermediate. Course is designed for both the experienced internal auditor and those with and understanding of business processes and management responsibilities. Experience requirements: current/past experiences include a working knowledge of the internal audit process and an understanding of management responsibilities to establish and accomplish goals and objectives congruent with the organization.

Knowledge Requirements. Internal auditors with some practical experience in the internal audit process.

Advanced Preparation. None required.