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Auditing the ESG Process Masterclass

The Role of Internal Audit in Reviewing ESG Activities, Governance, and Stakeholder Expectations

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Platform:
Online
In-class
Date Venue Duration
30 November - 04 December 2026 Sandton, Gauteng 5 Days
18 - 22 January 2027 Sandton, Gauteng 5 Days
01 - 05 March 2027 Sandton, Gauteng 5 Days
17 - 21 May 2027 Sandton, Gauteng 5 Days
05 - 09 July 2027 Sandton, Gauteng 5 Days

Course Introduction

Sustainable business practices and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting are gaining prominence. Prospen Africa’s Auditing the ESG Process Masterclass explores the role of Internal Audit in reviewing these critical activities, examining the potential impact of ESG developments, and discussing value creation through ESG.

Course Objectives

After completing this Auditing the ESG Process Masterclass, participants will be able to:
 
  • Audit Environment, Social, and Governance activities with confidence
  • Review the effectiveness of the overall ESG environment
  • Meet stakeholder expectations regarding ESG
  • Help the business derive genuine benefits from ESG management
  • Ensure ethics and sustainability receive adequate attention
  • Support the board in ESG oversight
  • Assess AI-driven ESG reporting and emissions tracking tools

Course Benefits

  • A Genuine Skill Day, Not Just an Overview: Practical, exercise-based learning covering the core of both minute taking and report writing in one focused day.
  • AI From the Start: Learn to use AI transcription and drafting tools effectively and verify their output, not just discuss them in theory.
  • Templates You Leave With: A minute-taking template and a report structure ready to use in your very next meeting.
  • A Clear Next Step: Pairs naturally with Prospen’s 3-Day Comprehensive Minute Taking and Professional Report Writing course for those who want deeper practice.

Who should attend?

This Auditing the ESG Process Masterclass course is designed for:

  • Heads of Internal Audit
  • Audit Managers and Prospective Managers
  • Lead Auditors
  • Senior Auditors
  • Assurance Professionals Seeking Deeper ESG Assessment Understanding
Audit, Risk and Governance courses

Training Methodology

Our diverse instructional approaches ensure effective learning:

– Lectures & Presentations: Engage with expert-driven, stimulating content.
– Course Material: Access well-crafted supporting resources.
– Group Work: Collaborate on discussions and case studies for practical insights.
– Workshops & Role-Play: Participate in immersive, scenario-based activities.
– Practical Application: Focus on applying theoretical knowledge in real situations.
– Post-Training Support: Receive extensive support after training for skill implementation.

Training Outline

Day 1: Foundations of ESG Auditing
Introduction to ESG
  • The pillars of ESG
  • Demonstrating responsible business processes
  • Benefits: environmental performance, employee well-being, stakeholder engagement, funding access, supply chain transparency
Internal Audit's Role in ESG
  • Raising ESG risk awareness with audit committees and boards
  • Promoting efficiency and effectiveness improvements
  • Strategic alignment with ESG goals
  • Managing transition risks
  • A focus on climate-related risk

Day 2: Environmental Auditing
Environmental Audit
  • Environmental standards, including ISO 14001
  • Key environmental concepts and terminology
  • Auditing environmental processes and compliance
  • Environmental legislative requirements
  • Planning, conducting, and reporting environmental audits
  • Using AI to track and predict greenhouse gas emissions
Energy and Water Management Audit
  • Energy efficiency and equipment maintenance
  • Policies for energy-efficient purchases
  • Water management and recycling

Day 3: Waste, Procurement, and Wider Environmental Topics
Waste Management Audit
  • Types of waste, including hazardous and chemical
  • On-site and off-site waste management strategies
  • Recycling programmes
Ethical and Sustainable Procurement Audit
  • Supplier selection based on ESG criteria
  • Compliance with ethical standards and regulations
  • Packaging and material considerations
Other Environmental Topics
  • Air quality, noise control, and transportation practices
  • Environmental emergency preparedness

Day 4: Reputation, Social Responsibility, and Governance
Reputational Risk Audit
  • Why reputation matters to the business
  • Measuring and managing reputational risk
  • A checklist for reviewing reputational risks
Social Responsibility and Governance
  • CSR and ethics
  • Auditing ethics and CSR frameworks
  • Stakeholder communication and expectations
  • CSR evaluation and impact assessment
Corporate Governance
  • Core principles of governance
  • Governance roles: audit committee, board, regulators
  • ESG considerations in governance statements
  • Internal audit's role in governance oversight

Day 5: Effectiveness, Stakeholders, and Practical Application
Assessing Governance Effectiveness
  • Business process analysis and risk assessment
  • Aligning ESG objectives with business goals
  • Linking risks to controls and strategic objectives
Meeting Stakeholder Expectations
  • Identifying stakeholders and their expectations
  • Strategies to exceed stakeholder expectations
  • Reporting internal audit findings to stakeholders
Exercises and Activities
  • Role-play: a pre-meeting with management
  • Audit checklists for ESG assessments
  • Case studies and group discussions on ESG challenges
  • Brainstorming: stakeholder engagement and governance issues

Course Categories

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Success Stories

Discover how our courses enhance professionals’ effectiveness in their workplaces.

Central Bank of Lesotho

Fraud Risk Management

The Fraud Risk Management training was clear, practical, and very relevant to day-to-day work. Content was well structured and the real world case studies made concepts easy to apply. Presenter knowledge and engagement kept the session interactive. Overall a valuable program that strengthened my understanding of fraud detection, prevention, and regulatory requirements.

Central Bank of Lesotho

Fraud Risk Management

The facilitator was exceptionally good, approachable eloquent and was able to structure the course content to relate to our specific work designations, it was just perfect service delivery

Central Bank of Lesotho

Fraud Risk Management

Keep up the good work which I experienced during my training being training materials offered and great hospitality we received from all the staff members

Centenary Rural Development Group Ltd

Risk Management for Risk champions

Very informative course with good content and benchmarks of key players in South Africa. We are able to agree a plan on how to build an enterprise risk management framework for a developing group of companies. Several references to guide us and experienced Facilitators

GEMS

Auditing the ESG Process Masterclass

Very happy with the training. It was excellently delivered and comprehensively covered all critical aspects of ESG and effectively contextualised them within the environments of our respective organisations.

North West Gambling Board

Risk Management in the Public Sector

The course was eye opening and exceeded my expectations.

FAQs – Auditing the ESG Process Masterclass

Master auditing the ESG process by learning key skills to evaluate environmental, social, and governance frameworks, assess risks, verify reporting, and ensure regulatory compliance.

What is covered in the Auditing the ESG Process Masterclass?
The masterclass covers auditing Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks, verifying sustainability metrics, assessing carbon footprint disclosures, evaluating ESG data integrity, navigating global reporting standards, and addressing greenwashing risks.
Who should attend this Auditing the ESG Process Masterclass?
This course is designed for internal auditors, sustainability officers, compliance directors, risk managers, governance professionals, ESG leads, and finance executives responsible for evaluating ESG disclosures and sustainability assurance.
How does this course guide internal auditors in verifying non-financial data?
Delegates learn audit procedures to trace ESG data from origin to publication, testing the accuracy of environmental metrics, social impact indicators, and board governance controls to ensure data credibility.
Will delegates examine global ESG reporting frameworks and standards?
Yes. The curriculum explores key international benchmarks including ISSB standards, GRI guidelines, TCFD recommendations, and relevant regional regulatory reporting mandates.
Does the masterclass address greenwashing and ESG reputational risks?
Yes. The training provides methodologies to identify misleading sustainability claims, audit climate risk models, evaluate supply chain ESG compliance, and protect organizations from greenwashing liabilities.
Why is independent internal assurance of ESG processes vital?
Auditing ESG processes provides boards, investors, and stakeholders with confidence in reported sustainability metrics, strengthening corporate reputation and ensuring regulatory compliance.

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