Audit Committee Effectiveness Training Course

Duration 5 days 10 modules · 33 contact hours
Level Intermediate Certificate on completion
Who attends Audit Committee Members, Non-Executive Directors and others
Fee from USD 1,100 KSh 95,000 for Kenyan organisations
Where 52 cities + online See dates by city
Next start 9 Nov 2026 Course code SD-CG-038

Before you join: Participants should understand basic board governance, financial statements and organisational risk management.

Dates & prices

Two start dates a month in every city, and live online on weekdays or weekends. Fees are per participant; classroom fees include tuition, materials, lunch and refreshments, and the certificate.

Suggest a date or city

Showing the next six months. Later dates, other cities and private deliveries for your team are available on request.

Course overview

Audit committees sit between the board’s duty to oversee stewardship and management’s responsibility to run the business. They must obtain reliable assurance over financial reporting, internal control, risk, audit quality, fraud reporting and regulatory matters without taking management decisions themselves. Weak mandates, poorly targeted papers, passive challenge or unclear follow-up can leave directors unaware of material misstatements, control failures, auditor dependency and unresolved misconduct. This course addresses the practical work required to make committee oversight disciplined, informed and properly recorded.

Participants examine committee charters, skills, independence, annual work planning and relationships with the board, finance leaders, risk, compliance, internal audit and external auditors. The course works through reporting-cycle judgments including materiality, critical estimates, going concern, alternative performance measures and disclosures. Participants use COSO principles, risk registers, assurance maps and audit quality indicators to determine what evidence a committee needs. Later modules address fraud and whistleblowing, regulatory correspondence, cybersecurity, third-party assurance, sustainability data and AI governance. Participants also build capability in agenda design, questioning, private sessions, minutes, evaluations and action tracking.

Teaching combines focused instructor briefings with cases drawn from listed companies, banks, public bodies and international organisations. Group work tests board papers, assurance reports, audit findings and incident scenarios; meeting simulations develop constructive challenge under time pressure. Participants leave with an audit committee effectiveness pack containing a charter review, annual workplan, question set, assurance map and prioritised improvement plan. The course suits current and prospective committee members, board secretaries and senior assurance leaders who support board-level oversight.

What you will be able to do

  • Assess audit committee mandates, composition and independence against charter and governance requirements
  • Challenge financial statements using materiality, estimates, going concern and disclosure tests
  • Evaluate internal control and risk reporting through COSO principles and risk indicators
  • Oversee external audit quality, auditor independence, tendering and significant audit findings
  • Direct internal audit coverage using risk-based plans, assurance maps and follow-up reporting
  • Scrutinise fraud, whistleblowing, related-party and regulatory compliance arrangements
  • Run evidence-led audit committee meetings, private sessions, minutes and board reporting
  • Produce a committee effectiveness improvement plan with priorities, owners and milestones

Benefits of attending

For you

  • Greater confidence challenging financial reporting judgments and management assurances
  • A practical structure for preparing for audit committee meetings
  • Clearer understanding of auditor independence, quality and tender decisions
  • Stronger questioning of internal control, fraud and whistleblowing reports
  • A personal plan for improving committee contribution and governance knowledge

For your organisation

  • Better-directed committee scrutiny of financial reporting and control weaknesses
  • Clearer accountability for assurance gaps, remediation and overdue actions
  • More effective oversight of external auditor independence and audit quality
  • Earlier escalation of fraud, conduct, compliance and cybersecurity concerns
  • More useful board reporting, meeting records and annual committee evaluations

Course modules

10 modules over 5 days

Participants can define an audit committee mandate, assess membership requirements and identify threats to independent oversight.

  • Audit committee charters aligned with board delegations and applicable governance codes
  • Independence assessments covering relationships, tenure, conflicts, competence and time commitment
  • Skills matrix identifies accounting, industry, risk, technology and regulatory expertise
  • Chair responsibilities for agendas, challenge, confidential discussions and board reporting
  • Terms of reference distinguish oversight responsibilities from management accountability
  • Annual workplan maps recurring decisions, reporting cycles and emerging issues

Participants can challenge significant financial reporting judgments, disclosures and management assertions.

  • Financial reporting timetable links committee meetings to close, audit and board dates
  • Materiality judgments tested against qualitative factors, covenant risk and stakeholder sensitivity
  • Critical accounting estimates challenged using ranges, assumptions, evidence and bias indicators
  • Going concern assessments examine liquidity forecasts, stress cases and disclosures
  • Review half-year and annual reports for consistency, balance and clarity
  • IAS 1 disclosure judgments and alternative performance measures receive scrutiny

Participants can evaluate risk and control reporting and identify where independent assurance is required.

  • Risk appetite statements translated into committee oversight questions and escalation thresholds
  • COSO principles connect control objectives, risks, activities, information and monitoring
  • Risk registers separate inherent exposure, residual exposure, control ownership and treatment
  • Management dashboards distinguish key risk indicators from key performance indicators
  • Scenario analysis tests severe but plausible operational, financial and conduct events
  • Control deficiencies classified by severity, root cause, remediation owner and due date

Participants can oversee external audit quality, independence, appointments and unresolved audit matters.

  • External auditor appointment, reappointment, remuneration and independence recommendations documented clearly
  • ISA 260 communications structure discussions of scope, findings, judgments and independence
  • Audit quality indicators assess partner involvement, staffing, scepticism and inspection results
  • Non-audit services reviewed against pre-approval policies and self-review threats
  • Private sessions with auditors surface management pressure, disputes and unresolved matters
  • Audit tender plans define evaluation criteria, transition risks and appointment milestones

Participants can direct risk-based internal audit coverage and assess the completeness of assurance arrangements.

  • IIA Three Lines Model clarifies board, management, risk and assurance roles
  • Risk-based internal audit plans connect assurance coverage to enterprise risk priorities
  • Internal audit charter protects access, authority, objectivity and functional reporting
  • Assurance maps identify duplication, gaps, reliance opportunities and unassured risks
  • Reports distinguish observations, findings, agreed actions, overdue actions and validation
  • Head of internal audit performance assessed through quality and improvement programme

Participants can assess whether fraud prevention, speak-up arrangements and investigations receive appropriate oversight.

  • Fraud risk assessment considers incentives, opportunities, rationalisation and management override
  • Journal-entry testing targets unusual users, dates, accounts, descriptions and approval patterns
  • Whistleblowing arrangements protect confidentiality, non-retaliation, triage and independent investigation
  • Investigation oversight preserves legal privilege, evidence integrity and fair process
  • Related-party transactions receive conflict screening, approval scrutiny and transparent disclosure
  • Speak-up metrics reveal case ageing, substantiation rates, themes and retaliation concerns

Participants can scrutinise compliance assurance, regulatory issues and management remediation commitments.

  • Compliance assurance distinguishes regulatory obligations, policies, monitoring and independent testing
  • Regulatory correspondence logged, escalated and tracked through accountable remediation plans
  • Data protection, sanctions and anti-bribery exposures enter committee risk discussions
  • Conduct risk indicators combine customer outcomes, complaints, incidents and workforce behaviour
  • Control attestations specify scope, evidence standards, exceptions and sign-off accountability
  • Emerging regulations assessed through horizon scanning, impact analysis and ownership

Participants can ask informed oversight questions about technology controls, third parties and sustainability reporting.

  • Cybersecurity oversight covers crown-jewel assets, threat scenarios, resilience and incident reporting
  • Technology controls address privileged access, change management, interfaces and data quality
  • Third-party assurance examines concentration, service commitments, audit rights and exit plans
  • Climate and sustainability disclosures tested for governance, controls, evidence and consistency
  • ESG reporting readiness considers materiality, data lineage, assurance and board accountability
  • AI governance questions address model risk, bias, security and human oversight

Participants can run focused committee meetings that produce documented challenge, decisions and follow-up.

  • Forward agendas prioritise decision points, deep dives, recurring reports and private sessions
  • Pre-read standards define purpose, key judgments, decision requests and supporting evidence
  • Questioning techniques test management narratives, corroborate evidence and expose assumptions
  • Minutes record challenge, decisions, dissent, actions, owners and completion dates
  • Annual evaluations combine self-assessment, peer feedback, attendance data and skills gaps
  • Board reporting presents assurance conclusions, significant matters, trends and escalation needs

Participants can assess committee effectiveness and prepare a prioritised plan for measurable improvement.

  • Committee effectiveness reviews compare charter duties, workplan delivery and stakeholder feedback
  • Prioritisation matrix ranks improvement actions by risk reduction, effort and urgency
  • Action plans assign sponsors, milestones, evidence requirements and progress reporting
  • First ninety days schedule meetings, information requests, assurance reviews and follow-up
  • Personal contribution plan identifies questions, relationships, expertise gaps and development goals
  • Annual calendar integrates reporting, risk, audit, compliance and evaluation milestones

Exercises and examples are adapted to each cohort's sectors and roles.

What you take back to work

  1. Audit committee charter review checklist
  2. Annual audit committee workplan template
  3. Financial reporting challenge question set
  4. Assurance mapping model
  5. External auditor oversight checklist
  6. Committee effectiveness improvement plan

Who should attend

  • Audit Committee Members — strengthen informed challenge and oversight of assurance providers
  • Non-Executive Directors — fulfil committee duties without assuming management responsibility
  • Audit Committee Chairs — set focused agendas, lead challenge and secure follow-through
  • Board Secretaries — improve committee papers, minutes, calendars and governance support
  • Chief Audit Executives — align internal audit planning and reporting with committee needs
  • Chief Risk, Finance and Compliance Officers — provide decision-useful assurance and escalation reporting

Skills and tools covered

Committee charter designFinancial reporting challengeAudit quality oversightAssurance mappingFraud risk oversightBoard meeting discipline

Tools and standards

COSO Internal Control—Integrated Framework, The IIA Three Lines Model, ISA 260, Communication with Those Charged with Governance, IIA Global Internal Audit Standards

How the course runs

Training methodology

The course uses short instructor briefings to establish responsibilities, standards and decision criteria. Participants examine realistic committee charters, financial reports, audit findings, risk dashboards, whistleblowing data and remediation trackers. Facilitated group exercises assess the quality of evidence presented to a committee, while meeting simulations develop questioning, private-session and chairing techniques. Cases are adapted to participant sectors where possible. Each participant prepares an application plan that identifies priority changes to committee papers, annual calendars, assurance reporting and follow-up arrangements.

Requirements and prerequisites

Participants should understand basic board governance, financial statements and organisational risk management. Experience attending board, committee, audit, risk, finance, compliance or internal audit meetings is useful, whether as a member, executive presenter or secretariat professional. Participants should be comfortable reading management reports and discussing control issues. Prior service as an audit committee member is not required. The course does not require an accounting qualification, internal audit certification, legal training or prior knowledge of any single national corporate governance code.

A typical training day

08:30 – 10:30First session
10:30 – 10:45Refreshment break
10:45 – 12:30Second session
12:30 – 13:30Lunch and networking
13:30 – 15:00Third session
15:00 – 15:15Refreshment break
15:15 – 16:30Workshop and daily review

Live online deliveries follow the same structure in East Africa Time, with shorter screen blocks and longer breaks.

What the fee includes

  • Instruction by a practitioner facilitator
  • Full course workbook and materials
  • Exercise files, templates and case studies
  • Refreshments and lunch on classroom deliveries
  • Certificate of completion
  • Post-course application plan

Frequently asked questions

Participants need a working understanding of board governance, financial reporting and organisational risk. Previous audit committee service is helpful but not required, and no accounting or internal audit qualification is needed.

Bring a current audit committee charter, annual calendar, sample committee paper or recent annual report if organisational permissions allow. These documents help participants identify practical improvements without sharing confidential information in the classroom.

It is designed for current and prospective audit committee members, committee chairs and non-executive directors. It is also suitable for board secretaries and senior finance, risk, compliance and internal audit leaders who support the committee.

Internal audit and risk management courses focus on performing assurance or managing risk. This course focuses on the committee’s board-level role in directing, challenging and assessing those functions.

Participants can review their committee charter, annual agenda, information pack and assurance reporting against the course models. The improvement plan provides a starting point for discussions with the chair, board secretary and assurance leaders.

Each day runs from 08:30 to 16:30, providing about 6.5 contact hours plus breaks. The five days move from mandate and financial reporting through assurance, audit, conduct, emerging issues, meeting practice and improvement planning.

Questions about this course?

Ask about dates, fees, group bookings or running it for your team. Our training team replies by email.

Ask on WhatsApp info@skillsetdevelopment.com

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