Training Course: High Impact Internal Audit Leadership – Accra (Ghana), 11–15 Jan 2027

Introduction

In today’s dynamic business environment, Internal Audit Leadership is more critical than ever. Chief audit executives, their deputies, and internal audit managers must collaborate effectively with business leaders, boards, audit committees, and their own teams. As the role of internal auditors evolves, leadership, stakeholder relations, and influencing skills have become as crucial as managing audits, planning, and delivering insightful internal audit assurance.

This course is designed to address the challenges and opportunities internal audit leaders face. It provides actionable insights on how audit leaders can contribute strategically, add value, and enhance the productivity of their audit processes. By focusing on Internal Audit Leadership strategies and best practices, this course will help participants become better leaders, enabling them to deliver impactful internal audit work that can make a strategic difference in their organization.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Demonstrate greater confidence when dealing with senior leaders, internal audit teams, and stakeholders.
• Understand what it truly takes to be an effective internal audit leader.
• Make valuable contributions at a strategic level that align with overall business success.
• Apply practical methods for managing key relationships with audit committees, senior management, and peers.
• Implement effective internal audit practices to add value to their organization.
• Recognize key priorities to help maximize their department's contribution to organizational goals.

Course Outlines

Day 1: Internal Audit Leadership

• Effective leadership in internal audit: Understanding the qualities and characteristics of strong internal audit leadership.
• The importance of steady management in navigating internal audit challenges.
• Qualities of an effective internal audit leader: Leadership traits and management skills that drive performance and success.
• A reminder of leadership and management theory as it applies to the internal audit function.
• The role of an inspirational internal audit leader in fostering an engaged, high-performing team.
• Large vs. small internal audit teams: Evaluating the pros and cons of different team structures.
• The mission statement and definition of internal auditing.
• Relevant attributes and performance standards for effective internal audit management.
• Challenges internal audit leaders face and strategies for resolving them.

Day 2: Effective Internal Audit Planning

• Risk maturity: Determining your organization’s risk management readiness.
• Designing a risk-based assurance universe that aligns audit priorities with organizational risks.
• Developing and executing an effective internal audit strategy.
• How to coordinate with other assurance providers to maximize the value of internal audit efforts.
• Advantages and disadvantages of working with other assurance providers.
• Creating the internal audit plan: Whether for annual or six-month periods, and how to ensure it is agile and adaptable.
• Discussion on good practice planning for internal audits.
• Internal audit delivery today: Strategies for building team capability for tomorrow.

Day 3: Getting Maximum Impact from Internal Audit Resources

• Securing and managing internal audit resources: Practical steps for ensuring your team has the tools and capabilities needed.
• Dealing with dispersed teams: Managing remote or geographically separated internal audit resources effectively.
• Ensuring an effective internal audit engagement process.
• Maximizing efficiency within internal audit departments to deliver quality results.
• Managing co-sourcing and contractors in internal audit engagements.
• In-house vs. outsourced contractors: A strategic decision for optimizing resources.
• Risk management in the internal audit function: Proactive measures for identifying and managing risks within the audit process.

Day 4: Stakeholder Relationship Management

• Understanding perceptions of internal audit and how to manage them effectively.
• Stakeholder analysis: Identifying key stakeholders and understanding their needs.
• Effective stakeholder relations: Building strong relationships with audit committees, senior management, and peers.
• Marketing internal audit: Communicating the value of internal audit to the organization.
• Internal audit’s product mix: Balancing assurance and consulting services.
• Best practices for stakeholder management in internal auditing.
• Effective reporting and recommendations that add value.
• Conflict management, negotiation, and persuasion in internal audit settings.
• Building your networking skills to enhance the internal audit function.
• Conflict resolution and effective solutions in challenging situations.

Day 5: Insight, Added Value, and Quality Assurance

• Defining insight and how to deliver it in your internal audit work.
• Delivering insight and impact through actionable audit findings.
• Enhancing and protecting organizational value through effective internal auditing.
• How to add value through assurance and consulting engagements.
• The power and perils of advisory work within internal audit.
• Implementing a quality assurance and improvement programme within internal audit.
• The role of internal assessments and external assessments in maintaining audit quality.
• Key elements of an internal audit improvement program.

Why Attend this Course: Wins & Losses!

Attending this Internal Audit Leadership Training provides a unique opportunity to sharpen your leadership skills and strengthen the impact of your internal audit function. Key takeaways include:

• Enhanced Internal Audit Strategy and planning techniques that will help you align your team’s efforts with organizational goals.
• Mastering the ability to manage internal audit resources efficiently, whether they are in-house or outsourced.
• Strengthened relationships with key stakeholders like the audit committee and senior management, ensuring your audit function is seen as a value-adding department.
• Practical tools for navigating the complexities of stakeholder relations, conflict management, and effective communication within the internal audit process.
• Gaining critical skills in risk management and audit resource management, ensuring you make the most out of your available resources.
• A comprehensive approach to quality assurance and continuous improvement to help you lead a high-performing internal audit team.

Conclusion

This course is an essential investment for professionals who aim to take their internal audit leadership to the next level. Whether you're a Chief Audit Executive, an internal audit manager, or an emerging leader in the audit field, this program will equip you with the tools, techniques, and knowledge necessary to excel in today’s complex business environment.

Upon completion, you will be well-positioned to lead your internal audit function more effectively, build stronger stakeholder relationships, and add measurable value to your organization’s operations.

Enroll now to enhance your leadership skills in internal audit and develop the capabilities needed to thrive in this increasingly critical role.