This comprehensive course provides a solid foundation in operational auditing principles and practices. Participants will learn how to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of organizational operations across various business functions. The course covers fundamental audit concepts, risk assessment techniques, and control evaluation methodologies. Through practical examples and case studies, attendees will develop the skills needed to identify operational improvements and value-added recommendations. This training is essential for anyone beginning their journey in internal auditing or seeking to refresh their core auditing knowledge.
Fundamentals of Operational Auditing
Operational Auditing and Quality Assurance
October 25, 2025
Introduction
Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the fundamental principles and concepts of operational auditing
- Differentiate between operational, financial, and compliance audits
- Apply risk-based approaches to audit planning and scoping
- Identify and evaluate key operational controls in business processes
- Develop comprehensive audit programs for operational areas
- Apply critical thinking skills to analyze operational efficiency
- Document audit work effectively using appropriate tools and techniques
- Formulate practical recommendations that add value to the organization
Target Audience
- New internal auditors
- Audit assistants and juniors
- Quality assurance professionals
- Risk management staff
- Compliance officers
- Operations managers seeking audit understanding
- Recent graduates entering audit careers
- Professionals transitioning to audit roles
Methodology
- Case studies from various industries
- Group discussions on audit scenarios
- Individual exercises for audit program development
- Role-playing audit interviews
- Practical workshops on evidence evaluation
- Real-world audit report writing exercises
- Peer review sessions for findings development
Personal Impact
- Enhanced analytical and critical thinking abilities
- Improved business process understanding
- Stronger communication and interviewing skills
- Increased professional confidence in audit situations
- Better problem-solving and root cause analysis capabilities
- Enhanced documentation and reporting skills
Organizational Impact
- Improved operational efficiency and cost savings
- Enhanced risk management and control environment
- Stronger compliance with policies and procedures
- Better decision-making through reliable information
- Increased stakeholder confidence in operations
- Continuous improvement culture development
Course Outline
Unit 1: Introduction to Operational Auditing
Audit Fundamentals- Definition and purpose of operational auditing
- Differences between operational, financial, and compliance audits
- The role of operational auditing in organizational governance
- Key auditing standards and frameworks
- Identifying auditable entities
- Developing and maintaining the audit universe
- Risk assessment methodologies for audit planning
- Prioritizing audit activities based on risk
Unit 2: Audit Planning and Preparation
Planning Fundamentals- Developing the audit scope and objectives
- Creating comprehensive audit programs
- Resource allocation and timeline development
- Stakeholder identification and communication planning
- Conducting pre-audit research and background review
- Understanding the business process environment
- Identifying key performance indicators and metrics
- Developing risk and control questionnaires
Unit 3: Fieldwork Execution
Evidence Gathering Techniques- Interviewing techniques and best practices
- Documentation review and analysis
- Observation methods and sampling techniques
- Data analytics for operational auditing
- Identifying and mapping key controls
- Testing control design effectiveness
- Evaluating control operating effectiveness
- Documenting control deficiencies and gaps
Unit 4: Analysis and Evaluation
Performance Analysis- Analyzing operational efficiency and effectiveness
- Benchmarking against industry standards
- Root cause analysis techniques
- Identifying improvement opportunities
- Developing audit observations and findings
- Applying the condition-criteria-cause-effect framework
- Assessing risk and impact of findings
- Validating findings with appropriate evidence
Unit 5: Reporting and Follow-up
Audit Reporting- Structuring operational audit reports
- Writing clear and concise findings
- Developing actionable recommendations
- Management response and action plan development
- Presenting audit results to management
- Conducting exit conferences and debriefings
- Monitoring implementation of recommendations
- Conducting follow-up audits and verification
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