Auditing for Managers

K.H. Spencer Pickett is a Course Director at CPMS, in Ascot, Berkshire, where he is responsible for training programmes on internal audit, corporate governance and risk management. Spencer is a member of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants, Institute of Internal Auditors, Certified Fraud Examiners and Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development. Jennifer M. Pickett is currently a senior Project Manager in a large organization, having previously been the Business Planning and Assurance Manager responsible for coordinating the corporate risk register.

• Abbreviations. 1. Why auditing?Introduction.Why auditing?External auditing.Internal auditing.Compliance auditing.Fundamental components.Common mistakes.Check your progress.Newsflash – read all about it.The key messages.2. The wider governance context.Introduction.The accountability dilemma.Corporate governance.The ethical platform.The risk management concept: roles and responsibilities.Internal controls.Common mistakes.Check your progress.Newsflash – read all about it.The key messages.3. Basic risk concepts.Introduction.The risk model.Risk identification.Risk assessment.Risk mitigation.Risk appetites.Common mistakes.Check your progress.Newsflash – read all about it.The key messages.4. Different audit approaches.Introduction.Different strokes.The past.The present.The future.Making choices.Common mistakes.Check your progress.Newsflash – read all about it.The key messages.5. The manager’s initial audit.Introduction.Leading with risk.Overall strategy.Planning.Field work.Reports and the risk register.Common mistakes.Check your progress.Newsflash – read all about it.The key messages.6. The team’s initial audit.Introduction.The team initial audit concept.Establishing the programme.Running workshops.A short example.Getting the best out of people.Common mistakes.Check your progress.Newsflash – read all about it.The key messages.7. The manager’s initial investigation.Introduction.What is at stake.Reputation management.Types of investigations.Finding out.Making sense and making good.Common mistakes.Check your progress.Newsflash – read all about it.The key messages.8. Successful risk management.Introduction.Building on the risk concepts.The risk policy.Links to control.Driving and leading.Tuning into enterprise risk management.Common mistakes.Check your progress.Newsflash – read all about it.The key messages.9. Achieving the cultural shift.Introduction.Starting from zero.Why culture changes.Change and the systems perspectives.Creative work teams.The ultimate in risk management: auditing for all.Common mistakes.Check your progress.Newsflash – read all about it.The key messages.10. Reporting results.Introduction.Public disclosures.Professionalism and credibility.Evidential base.Using the risk register.Good reporting.Common mistakes.Check your progress.Newsflash – read all about it.The key messages.11. So, why auditing?Introduction.Why auditing?External auditing.Internal auditing.Compliance auditing.Fundamental components.Common mistakes.Check your perceptions.Newsflash – read all about it.The key messages.A final word.Appendix A: Manager’s initial audits standards and guidance.Appendix B: Team initial audits standards and guidance.Appendix C: Manager’s initial investigations standards and guidance.Appendix D: Checking your progress – your score.Appendix E: Staff surveys.Index.