Audit Practices Workshop                         16 CPE
Instructor: Courtenay Thompson

We're sorry but we have had to cancel this seminar.

In this highly participative seminar attendees will explore how auditors can work with management to surface problems not otherwise known, and conduct audits that result in process improvements, cost recoveries, cost savings and revenue enhancement.  Challenging team and individual exercises provide new approaches and tactics.

Auditors are in a unique position to help their organizations through evidence based reviews, looking in ways others can't or won't look.  Audit Practices Workshop will focus on the characteristics of effective auditors and audit departments by improving communication and interviewing skills; determining what to audit; developing the audit plan; improving report writing then selling the results and internal control recommendations; dealing more effectively with management and addressing fraud with detection, prevention and response.

Who Should Attend:  Internal & External Auditors and other Accounting Professionals
Audit departments and auditors have a wide range of approaches and results.  Those establishing or reestablishing audit departments will benefit as will the seasoned professional committed to addressing today's challenges.

 THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED

Learning Objectives:

After attending this seminar participants will be able to:

• Better define audit purpose and audit processes for their organization.
• Conduct audits that make a difference.
• Deal with obstacles and barriers to effective auditing.
• Maintain emotional control in difficult situations.
• Use specific thinking and problem solving tools and techniques.
• Plan audits and better manage audit projects.
• Use data analysis to identify outliers and patterns worth looking into.
• Communicate with executives about fraud-related challenges.
• Discuss practical approaches auditors use to add value through contract auditing.
• More effectively sell audit and control ideas to others.
• Interact with executive management and the audit committee.

Course Outline:

Audit Purpose and Processes
     Roles of auditors in varied environments
     Best and worst audit practices
     Defining expectations for the audit committee, executives and yourself
     Getting executive buy in

Enhancing Audit Effectiveness through Behavior & Communication Skills
     Dealing with difficult situations and people
     More effective listening, speaking and nonverbal communication
     Tips and techniques for more effective thinking

Deciding What to Audit
     A practical approach to risk
     Developing your audit plan
     Defining success

Understanding Internal Controls
     Why internal controls break down
     Erosion of controls
     Questions to enhance controls

Conducting the Audit
     Planning the audit
     More effective project control
     Using data analysis
     A model for effective interviews
     Questioning and eliciting information
     Developing audit findings
     Improving report writing - behavioral implications

Addressing the Challenges of Fraud and Contract Auditing
     Character and fraud policy
     Fraud detection in audit and management practices
     Practical fraud prevention
     Values derived from auditing contracts and contractors
     Obstacles and how to overcome them
     Addressing corruption, kickbacks and bid rigging

How to Sell Audit Results and Recommendations
     Recognizing barriers to acceptance of recommendations
     The selling process
     Effective approaches to selling ideas
     Do's and don'ts of dealing with management and the audit committee