Managing Internal Audit

Training Introduction:

Managing an internal audit function requires more than technical auditing skills. It demands leadership, strategic thinking, resource planning, risk alignment, and quality assurance. Whether managing a full internal audit department or leading individual engagements, audit managers must ensure audit activities deliver assurance, insight, and foresight, while staying compliant with professional standards and adding measurable value to the organization.

This training provides a structured approach to managing internal audit activities, teams, and processes. It blends best practices from internal auditing standards (e.g., IIA IPPF), risk management, performance monitoring, and people management. Participants will learn how to effectively plan, supervise, monitor, and enhance the internal audit function.

 

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this training, participants will be able to:

• Effectively manage and supervise internal audit activities
• Align audit planning with strategic risk priorities
• Oversee audit quality, timelines, and stakeholder expectations
• Lead audit teams, manage performance, and develop talent
• Implement a quality assurance and improvement program (QAIP)

 

Target Audience:

• Internal Audit Managers / Supervisors
• New Heads of Internal Audit
• Senior Auditors transitioning into leadership roles
• Risk & Assurance Team Leaders
• Professionals involved in managing audit functions or teams

 

Course Format & Duration:

• 4 modules
• Recommended delivery: 2 full days or 4 half-day sessions
• Interactive, with real-world case studies, group discussions, and templates

 

Course Modules Overview

Module 1: Strategic Audit Planning and Risk Alignment

Objective: Learn how to develop risk-based audit plans that support the organization’s strategy and objectives.

Topics:

• Internal audit’s role in governance, risk, and control
• Understanding the organization's strategic risks
• Conducting risk assessments to inform audit planning
• Developing the annual or rolling audit plan
• Aligning audit resources with highest risk areas
• Communicating the plan to senior management and the board
• Exercise: Build a high-level risk-based audit plan

Module 2: Engagement Management and Quality Oversight

Objective: Manage audit engagements to ensure quality, timeliness, and compliance with IIA standards.

Topics:

• Scoping and approving audit engagements
• Managing fieldwork and maintaining scope discipline
• Review cycles: Planning memos, testing, and draft reports
• Ensuring consistency in workpapers and evidence documentation
• Review checklists and supervisory sign-offs
• Monitoring audit KPIs (cycle time, rework, overdue items)
• Exercise: Design a supervisory review checklist

Module 3: People Management and Audit Team Leadership

Objective: Build, develop, and lead a high-performing internal audit team.

Topics:

• Roles and responsibilities within audit teams
• Delegation and supervision techniques
• Coaching and developing staff through on-the-job learning
• Managing team performance and conducting evaluations
• Promoting collaboration, independence, and accountability
• Supporting career development and succession planning
• Exercise: Conduct a mock performance feedback session

Module 4: Audit Reporting, Stakeholder Communication & QAIP

Objective: Deliver impactful reporting and maintain a strong quality assurance program.

Topics:

• Writing clear, concise, and impactful audit reports
• Managing stakeholder relationships and expectations
• Escalating critical issues appropriately
• Delivering findings that drive action
• Establishing a QAIP (Quality Assurance & Improvement Program)
• Preparing for external quality assessments (e.g., IIA's EQA)
• Exercise: Review and critique an audit report for clarity and impact

 

Training Materials & Deliverables:

• PowerPoint slides
• Participant workbook
• Templates:
• Risk-based audit plan template
• Engagement supervision checklist
• Team performance review form
• Report writing and quality checklist
• Real-world case scenarios
• Certificate of Completion

 

Certification:

Participants receive a Certificate of Completion in “Managing Internal Audit” upon completing all modules and practical exercises.

 

Optional Add-ons:

• Toolkit with customizable templates (Excel, Word, PDF)
• Post-training leadership coaching for new audit managers
• Workshop extension on Agile or Continuous Auditing (optional Module 5)