Why Attend
An effective internal audit function provides independent, risk-based assurance that helps organizations strengthen governance, manage risks, and improve internal controls. Achieving this requires more than completing audit engagements. Internal audit leaders must establish a clear mandate, align audit priorities with organizational risks, develop capable audit teams, maintain consistent methodologies, and demonstrate the value of their work to senior management and the board.
The Developing, Improving & Monitoring the Internal Audit Function course provides a structured approach to establishing, managing, evaluating, and continuously improving internal audit activities. Participants examine the Global Internal Audit Standards issued by The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), risk-based audit planning, audit methodology development, resource management, performance measurement, quality assurance, stakeholder engagement, and the effective use of audit technology.
The programme emphasizes practical approaches to building a credible internal audit function, improving audit quality, monitoring operational effectiveness, and delivering assurance that supports organizational objectives.
Professional Problems This Course Is Designed to Solve
Unclear internal audit mandate and responsibilities: Establishing appropriate authority, independence, accountability, reporting relationships, and governance arrangements for the internal audit function.
Audit plans disconnected from organizational risks: Developing risk-based audit plans that reflect strategic priorities, emerging threats, control weaknesses, and stakeholder expectations.
Inconsistent audit execution and reporting: Standardizing audit methodologies, documentation, supervision, evidence evaluation, reporting, and follow-up procedures.
Limited audit resources and specialist capabilities: Improving workforce planning, competency development, technology utilization, and the allocation of audit resources.
Difficulty measuring internal audit effectiveness: Establishing meaningful performance indicators for audit quality, coverage, efficiency, stakeholder satisfaction, and recommendation implementation.
Weak quality assurance and improvement processes: Implementing a Quality Assurance and Improvement Program (QAIP) that supports ongoing monitoring, periodic self-assessment, and external quality assessment.
Insufficient stakeholder confidence in internal audit: Strengthening communication with the board, audit committee, senior management, and other assurance providers while preserving independence and objectivity.
Course Methodology
The programme combines instructor-led discussions, internal audit maturity assessments, governance case studies, risk-based planning exercises, audit methodology workshops, performance measurement activities, and quality assessment simulations. Participants work with practical templates for internal audit charters, strategic plans, audit manuals, competency frameworks, performance dashboards, and quality improvement plans.
Exercises are designed around the responsibilities of chief audit executives, internal audit managers, and professionals involved in developing or improving internal audit functions.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
Evaluate the effectiveness and maturity of an internal audit function
Understand the requirements of the IIA Global Internal Audit Standards
Develop an internal audit mandate, charter, strategy, and governance framework
Establish risk-based audit planning and engagement management processes
Design consistent audit methodologies, procedures, and documentation requirements
Improve internal audit resource planning and professional competency development
Strengthen audit supervision, reporting, and recommendation follow-up
Develop meaningful internal audit performance indicators and management dashboards
Establish and maintain an effective Quality Assurance and Improvement Program
Conduct internal quality assessments and prepare for external quality assessments
Improve stakeholder communication and demonstrate the value of internal audit
Develop an actionable internal audit function improvement roadmap
Target Audience
This course is suitable for:
Chief audit executives and heads of internal audit
Internal audit directors and managers
Senior internal auditors and audit supervisors
Audit committee support professionals
Governance, risk, and compliance managers
Internal control and assurance professionals
Quality assurance professionals within internal audit
Public sector audit leaders
Professionals responsible for establishing or restructuring internal audit departments
Internal auditors preparing for leadership responsibilities
Target Competencies
Participants will develop competencies in:
Internal audit function management
Internal audit strategy development
Audit governance and independence
Risk-based audit planning
Audit methodology and quality control
Internal audit resource management
Audit performance measurement
Quality assurance and improvement
Stakeholder relationship management
Internal audit continuous improvement
