Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

• Define the purpose and scope of a **Human Resource Audit (HRA)** and its role in organizational risk management.
• Master the systematic methodology for planning, executing, and reporting on a comprehensive **HRA**.
• Develop and utilize comprehensive audit checklists covering all core **HR** functional areas (e.g., compliance, compensation, security).
• Analyze audit findings to identify areas of non-compliance, process inefficiency, and strategic misalignment.
• Conduct effective interviews and documentation reviews to gather reliable evidence during the audit process.
• Develop clear, prioritized, and actionable recommendations and a follow-up implementation plan for audit findings.
• Understand the ethical considerations and confidentiality requirements when handling sensitive **HR** audit data.
• Present the **HRA** findings and strategic recommendations to executive leadership and key stakeholders effectively.

• HR Leaders and Directors responsible for governance and risk
• Internal Auditors and Compliance Specialists
• HR Business Partners and Generalists preparing for external audits
• Organizational Development Specialists focusing on process efficiency
• Payroll and Benefits Managers focused on documentation and controls

• Group exercises developing a detailed audit checklist and sampling plan for the **FMLA** administration process.
• Workshops on analyzing sample audit findings and prioritizing remediation actions based on risk impact.
• Case studies analyzing organizational responses to significant **HR** compliance findings revealed by an audit.
• Individual exercises developing a template for an **HRA** executive summary report.
• Role-playing scenarios conducting a non-judgmental interview with a manager whose practices are under review.

Unit 1: Foundations and Scope of HR Auditing

• Defining the **HRA**: objectives, scope (e.g., Compliance, Strategic, Functional), and types of audits
• The role of the **HRA** in mitigating legal and financial risk across the employee lifecycle
• Establishing the governance structure, audit team, and securing executive buy-in for the **HRA** process
• Ethical considerations, confidentiality protocols, and ensuring auditor objectivity

Unit 2: The HR Audit Methodology and Planning

• Mastering the audit lifecycle: Pre-Audit, Audit Execution, Analysis, Reporting, and Follow-up
• Developing comprehensive, risk-based audit checklists for all core **HR** functions (e.g., Talent Acquisition, **L&D**)
• Techniques for sampling employee files and documentation (physical and digital) for review
• Planning and conducting effective, non-judgmental interviews with **HR** staff and managers

Unit 3: Functional Audits and Compliance Review

• Auditing the Talent Acquisition function: compliance with EEO, I-9, and record retention requirements
• Auditing Compensation and Benefits: wage/hour compliance, pay equity, and benefits administration controls
• Auditing Performance Management: fairness, consistency, and legal defensibility of rating/documentation
• Auditing **HRIS** and Data Security: data governance, privacy compliance (**GDPR**), and access controls

Unit 4: Analysis, Findings, and Action Planning

• Systematically analyzing audit data to identify root causes of non-compliance and inefficiency
• Developing a clear, objective system for prioritizing findings based on legal/financial risk severity
• Crafting clear, actionable, and cost-benefit-justified recommendations for remediation
• Developing a detailed implementation plan and assigning ownership for corrective actions

Unit 5: Reporting and Continuous HR Improvement

• Mastering the structure and content of the final **HRA** report for different stakeholders (e.g., Board, **HR** team)
• Strategies for presenting audit findings and securing resource commitment for remediation efforts
• Establishing a follow-up and monitoring system to track the completion of corrective actions
• Action Planning: integrating the **HRA** process into a continuous cycle of **HR** improvement and risk management