Risk-Based Internal Auditing Training

Risk-Based Internal Auditing Training

Tools and Frameworks for Risk-Based Auditing: Beyond Compliance to Strategic Impact

|
Platform:
Online
In-class
Revised and Updated: 08 October 2026
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
12 - 16 April 2027 Sandton, Gauteng 5 Days
24 - 28 May 2027 Sandton, Gauteng 5 Days

Course Introduction

Risk-based internal auditing demands sharper focus. Audits can no longer rely on compliance sampling alone — they must anticipate what could derail objectives, intervene early, and deliver actionable insight. This practical course builds the tools, techniques, and frameworks you need, grounded in real-world audit challenges.

 

You’ll work through the full risk-based audit cycle: from identifying and prioritising risks to focused fieldwork and reporting that drives corrective action. Learning is applied through case studies, role-plays, and a capstone audit exercise. If you want your audit reports to shape strategy, strengthen accountability, and increase confidence at every level, this programme shows you how.

Course Objectives

This Risk-Based Internal Auditing Training programme equips you to audit with purpose — focusing on risk, elevating insight, and driving action. By the end, you will be able to:
 
  • Explain the principles and purpose of risk-based auditing, grounded in the IIA’s current 2024 Global Internal Audit Standards
  • Identify and assess key organisational risks
  • Build audit plans aligned to risk exposure and appetite
  • Evaluate the design and operating effectiveness of controls
  • Prioritise audit focus for maximum organisational impact
  • Communicate risk-centred findings with clarity and influence
  • Align audit recommendations to strategic objectives
  • Support continuous improvement in risk management

Who should attend?

  • Internal Auditors
  • Audit Team Leaders
  • Non-Profit Auditors
  • Public Sector Auditors
  • Compliance Officers
  • Risk & Assurance Practitioners
  • Chief Audit Executives (CAEs)
  • Corporate Risk Managers
  • External Auditors Transitioning to Internal Audit
  • Consultants in Audit Transformation
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: Shifting to Risk-Based Auditing and Understanding ERM
Module 1: Shifting to Risk-Based Internal Auditing
  • Contrasting traditional vs. risk-based approaches
  • Drivers for a risk-focused methodology
  • Objectives of risk-based internal audit, grounded in the IIA's 2024 Global Internal Audit Standards — the current framework of 5 domains, 15 principles, and 52 standards that replaced the fragmented 2017 IPPF
  • The auditor's evolving role
  • Closing gaps between compliance and strategy
Module 2: Understanding Enterprise Risk Management (ERM)
  • Key risk types: strategic, operational, compliance, reputational
  • How organisations define, measure, and aggregate risk
  • Reading and interpreting risk registers
  • Working with risk owners and business leaders
  • Spotting disconnects between perceived and actual risk

Day 2: Risk Assessment and Audit Planning
Module 3: Risk Assessment Techniques for Auditors
  • Techniques to surface high-risk areas
  • Scoring with likelihood and impact
  • Stakeholder interviews and surveys that add signal
  • Heat maps and matrices for prioritisation
  • Setting scope and depth fit-for-risk
Module 4: Planning the Risk-Based Audit
  • Building a responsive, risk-led audit plan
  • Aligning scope to organisational risk priorities and appetite
  • Resourcing based on exposure and materiality
  • Flexible scheduling that adapts to change
  • Using risk data to justify audit focus

Day 3: Fieldwork and Communication
Module 5: Fieldwork with a Risk Lens
  • Testing control design and operating effectiveness
  • Identifying gaps in risk response and resilience
  • Gathering evidence that supports risk insight
  • Adapting procedures as new risks emerge
  • Staying anchored to audit objectives
Module 6: Communicating Risk-Based Audit Findings
  • Writing reports that focus on risk and action
  • Structuring messages for executive impact
  • Using visuals to convey urgency and priority
  • Translating technical issues into decision-ready language
  • Follow-up that drives implementation and improvement

Day 4: Governance Integration and Technology
Module 7: Integrating with Governance and Compliance
  • Connecting audit work to board-level risk oversight
  • Collaborating with compliance, finance, legal, and operations
  • Escalating emerging risks and instances of non-compliance
  • Supporting policy updates and control redesign
  • Reinforcing accountability without blame
Module 8: Using Tools and Technology in RBIA
  • Leveraging audit management systems effectively
  • Applying data analytics for trend spotting and anomaly detection
  • Dashboards for near real-time risk tracking
  • Automating repetitive audit tests
  • Collaborating via platforms such as Power BI or Tableau

Day 5: Building a Risk-Aware Audit Culture
Module 9: Building a Risk-Aware Audit Culture
  • Coaching teams in risk-first thinking
  • Embedding risk into everyday audit decisions
  • Strengthening critical thinking and ethical judgement
  • Learning from audit missteps and near-misses
  • Tracking and communicating audit value, not just activity

Course Categories

Get a Quote Banner Outline

Request a Call Back

Your submission has been successful

Please check your email for confirmation

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 – Risk-Based Internal Auditing Training

Master risk-based internal auditing, learning IIA 2024 Global Internal Audit Standards alignment, risk assessment methodologies, control evaluation, and strategic audit reporting to elevate assurance impact and organizational accountability.

What is covered in the Risk-Based Internal Auditing Training course?
The course covers risk-based internal audit (RBIA) frameworks, linking internal audit plans directly to enterprise risk registers, evaluating control design and operating effectiveness, executing substantive testing, and compiling impactful risk-focused audit reports.
Who should attend this Risk-Based Internal Auditing Training?
This training is designed for internal auditors, senior auditors, audit managers, chief audit executives (CAEs), risk officers, and compliance professionals transitioning from traditional compliance-based auditing to strategic risk-based methodologies.
How does this course help internal auditors prioritize high-risk audit areas?
Delegates learn how to analyze enterprise risk profiles, evaluate organizational risk appetite, and prioritize audit engagements to focus resources where residual risk exposures are highest.
Will delegates learn how to evaluate internal control adequacy and effectiveness?
Yes. The curriculum explores practical testing techniques for assessing control design and operating effectiveness, identifying control deficiencies, and linking findings directly to residual risk levels.
Does the masterclass align with international internal auditing standards?
Yes. The training aligns core audit execution practices with the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) Global Internal Audit Standards, ensuring globally recognized professional rigor and methodology.
Why is adopting a risk-based internal auditing approach critical for organizations?
Risk-based internal auditing ensures assurance activities provide targeted value to the board, optimizes audit resource allocation, and strengthens organizational resilience against emerging operational and strategic threats.

Related Courses

Your submission has been successful

Please check your email for confirmation