Audit Master Class

Course Overview

Why are some auditors specifically requested again and again?

This course is designed to hone your skills and knowledge in the interpersonal and professional aspects of auditing to help you truly add value to the organisations you service and to become an auditor of choice. As well as providing high level professional advice and insights into the best practice techniques of auditing, this program is also an excellent opportunity to discuss and workshop your auditing experience with other professionals to further build your capability and skills.

Competency Outcomes & Associated Courses

Participants who choose to submit their class activities for assessment on successful completion will be issued with a Certificate of Attainmentcovering the following competencies under the ASQA frameworks:

BSB RSK 501B – Manage Risk

BSB WOR 401A - Establish effective workplace relationships

• Diploma pathway: This course combined with the competencies obtained from one of our management systems courses (QMS, EMS, SMS or FSMS) plus our Lead Auditor (AUTL), will result in a Nationally Accredited Diploma of Quality Auditing for successful candidates.

Participants who choose not to submit their class activities for assessment will be issued with a Certificate of Attendance.Formal competency assessment criteria will be covered during the course and are available by request from training@ncsi.com.au

Attendance & Pre-requisite Guidelines

Completion of a two day management system course (QMS, EMS, FMS, SMS), plus the three day Auditor / Lead Auditor program plus audit experience of between 10 and 20 audit days is a minimum requirement for attendance and effective contribution at this program. This course is designed for:

• Experienced auditors, lead auditors and those who wish to further develop their auditing skills
• Those wishing to gain units toward a Diploma qualification

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of this course participants will be able to :

• Identify personal attributes that contribute to developing positive relationships.
• Understand the perceptions and emotional responses of other stakeholders.
• Communicate influentially in the organisation to facilitate responsive change.
• Add value to the audit process for an organisation by linking to aspects of an organisation’s business operations, strategic direction and desired goals.
• Manage difficult conversations with clients.
• Apply AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 Risk Management- Principles and Guidelines.
• Apply problem solving and innovation to identify practical ways to manage identified risks within an organisational context.
• Develop a risk management plan.

Course Outline

This course covers the following topics. (Note; time is included for discussion of common best practice)

Personal Attributes for Auditors

• Traits of highly successful auditors - knowledge, people skills, business acumen
• Self-awareness and self- management (Emotional Intelligence)
• Relationship management and influencing, especially when working with those you do not directly report to
• Managing the negative perceptions an organisation may have of auditors and the auditing process
• Confidentiality and sensitive handling of external clients and internal stakeholders IP

Adding Value to the Audit Processes

• Planning effective complex audits (eg. multi-site or integrated-standard)
• Driving aspects of the business through the auditing process-eg safety, environmental management
• Linking audit findings to organisational goals and objectives for business improvement and innovation
• Selling the benefits of internal and external auditing
• Gaining management support and commitment to the benefits of the audit process
• Enhancing culture within the organisation through business improvement
• Writing a value adding audit report (incl. constructive use of Corrective Action /CARs)

Managing Risk

• AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 Risk Management - Principles and Guidelines
• Risk management planning, including; stakeholder analysis, explanation of the risk context, critical success factors, identified and analysed risks, root cause analysis, risk tolerance, treatments for prioritised risks and monitoring arrangements
• Evaluating the risk management plan’s efficiency in treating risks
• Linking the auditing function to the organisations risk management processes
• Assisting others to develop a risk management plan to identify and manage non-conformance

Essential Conversations

• Communicating audit outcomes
• Autocratic v consultative methodologies
• Managing client expectations
• Communicating with clients who do not agree with audit outcomes

The course includes a number of practical activities including role plays, cases studies, group discussions and team exercises that are used to assess the competence of participants against competency requirements.

Course Fee Inclusions

The fee for this course includes all pre-course administrative support, comprehensive course notes, lunch & refreshments. Also included are all costs of assessment, marking & feedback (see our competency assessment agreement for further details), certificate issuance & postage, registration of your competency with the appropriate regulatory bodies and ongoing record keeping and storage of your assessment outcomes.