This advanced course is designed to equip current and aspiring audit leaders with the critical skills and strategic insights necessary to lead audit functions and contribute to organizational success. Participants will gain in-depth knowledge of business acumen, information security, and advanced risk management to effectively navigate senior audit roles.
The curriculum covers strategic management essentials required for audit leadership, including understanding organizational business processes, financial management, and the strategic role of auditing in a global business environment. This foundational knowledge is essential for auditors aspiring to managerial or executive positions.
Participants will also master advanced risk management techniques, learning to assess and mitigate complex risks with effective audit strategies that align with organizational goals. Additionally, the course addresses the critical area of information security, updating learners on IT controls, data protection laws, and the impact of technology on auditing.
Upon completion, participants will be ready for the CIA Part 3 exam, equipped with the strategic vision and leadership skills necessary to advance in the internal auditing field and drive their organizations toward enhanced compliance, security, and performance.
•Strategic planning process and key activities
•Common performance measures (P)
•Organizational behavior and different performance management techniques
•Management’s effectiveness in building organizational commitment
•Risk and control implications of organizational structures
•Risk and control implications of common business processes (P)
•Project management techniques
•Various forms and elements of contracts
•Data analytics, types, governance, and value data analytics
•Data analytics process
•Application of data analytics methods
•Types of common physical security controls
•Various forms of user authentication and authorization controls
•Purpose and use of various information security controls
•Data privacy laws and potential impacts
•Emerging technology practices and impact on security
•Existing and emerging cybersecurity risks
•Cybersecurity and information security-related policies
•Core activities in the systems development lifecycle
•Basic database terms
•Key characteristics of software systems
•Basic IT infrastructure and network concepts
•Operational roles of a network administrator, database administrator, and help desk
•Purpose and applications of IT control frameworks
•Disaster recovery planning site concepts
•Purpose of systems and data backup
•Purpose of systems and data recovery procedures
•Concepts and underlying principles of financial accounting
•Advanced and emerging financial accounting concepts
•Financial analysis (P)
•Revenue cycle, current asset management activities and accounting, and supply chain management
•Capital budgeting, capital structure, basic taxation, and transfer pricing
•General concepts of managerial accounting
•Costing systems
•Various costs and their use in decision-making
Earning the CIA designation is a valuable accomplishment and a professional advantage for auditors at all stages of their careers, including:
Chief audit executives
Audit managers
Audit staff
Risk management staff