Course Information
Project Management Fundamentals for Audit
Course Description
The audit engagement is a project, but rarely are proven project management methodologies used in managing internal audits. Audits are regularly subject to delays, changes in scope, scope creep, resource shortages, and frequent struggles with timeliness. And rarely do formal Project Management courses translate easily into specific steps and techniques that can be leveraged in an audit. This course will translate formal project management skills into audit-specific methods and techniques that will help audit teams overcome common engagement challenges and immediately increase credibility by delivering on-time and focused audits. The tools and techniques shared can be immediately implemented in every audit process. Real-life examples of failures and successes will be covered to highlight the learning process. This course is interactive with multiple hands-on exercises and class participation to provide opportunities for you to practice what you learn.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
• Learning the basic concepts and fundamentals of formal project management methodologies from the Project Management Institute
• Understanding how to apply formal project management methodologies to the audit process
• Learning the basic tools and techniques used in formal project management
• Understanding how to use formal project management in managing audits
• Learning how to deal with changes to scope and scope creep
Detailed Course Outline
Project Management Overview
Fundamentals of project management
Benefits of project management
Project characteristics
Phases of project management
Project management case studies
Project Management Fundamentals
Project Management Institute (PMI) framework
Cornerstones of project management
Gantt charts
Critical path
Work breakdown structure
Dependencies and scheduling
Scope
Audits as Formal Projects—Planning
Translating project steps into audit steps
Choosing and modifying project tools for audits
Formal scoping approaches—SIPOC/Visual Tools
Audits as Formal Projects—Executing, Monitoring, and Controlling
Monitoring and controlling the audit like a project
Measurements and metrics for audits—schedule, budget to actual, etc.
Formal change management to minimize scope change/creep
Communicating results—leveraging the 5 Cs
Lessons learned and post-mortems for continual improvement
Formal Project Communication Plans
External communication plan—audit client
Internal communication plan—audit team
Understanding the difference between information and communication
Expectations and consistency
Reporting
Managing Multiple Projects
Managing different personalities
Difficult people and situations
Communication approaches
Time management tools and techniques
Instructors
Mary Breslin is the Founder of Verracy Training & Consulting and specializes in Internal Audit transformations, Operational and Financial Auditing, Fraud Auditing & Investigations, and Corporate Accounting.
Ms. Breslin’s career spans over 20 years in Internal Auditing, Management and Accounting for companies such as ConocoPhillips, Barclays Capital, Costco Wholesale, Jefferson Wells and Boart Longyear. With significant International experience, she has managed audit programs in more than 50 countries. Most recently, Ms. Breslin held the title of Vice President and Chief Audit Executive where she transformed a checklist audit function into a value-add audit department which regularly delivered measurable business results through the use of risk-based auditing, data analytics, continuous education and skill development for her leadership team and staff.
Mary was an early adopter of analytics for audit and has been utilizing data analytics in her career in both audit and fraud work for over 15 years. She has transformed the capabilities of audit functions using data analytics programs using ACL, IDEA and Arbutus Analyzer. Through her expertise and guidance, she has helped large global organizations leverage analytics to significantly increase coverage, automate continuous auditing and monitoring, and actively fight fraud.
Additionally, Ms. Breslin has extensive Fraud Audit and Investigation experience and has conducted major fraud investigations on multiple continents including large scale federal cases domestically. She has developed and implemented fraud auditing programs in various industries focused on both accounting and operations.
Ms. Breslin attended Rutgers University and received her BS in accounting, and an MBA from the University of Phoenix while living and working overseas. She is a Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE). She maintains memberships in the Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA), American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), ISACA, the Society of Corporate Compliance (SCCE), and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE) and is currently an instructor and conference speaker for the IIA, The ACFE and ISACA.
Additional Information
TAC Rule 523.142(g) requires the CPE Sponsor to monitor individual attendance and assign the correct number of CPE credits. Participants will be asked to document their time of arrival and departure in compliance with this Rule. Additionally, attendance will be monitored throughout the day and CPE certificates will reflect actual attendance of each participant.
To see answers to our Frequently Asked Questions, visit http://www.sao.texas.gov/training/faq.html.