Data analytics for auditors

Presented by: Neil Macdonald

In collaboration with:

This course will provide auditors with practical knowledge and skills for embedding data analytics into their audit work.

For example, all auditors will learn to write detailed data analytics tests into audit programmes as well as perform common data analysis tasks (validating, transforming, analysis and visualisation) using Excel or their current audit analytics tool. 

The course will run across six half-day sessions on the following dates:

20 March | 27 March | 3 April | 10 April | 17 April | 24 April
Each session will take place at 9.30am - 12.30pm

Following the programme, you will receive ongoing coaching and support to apply your data analytics learning in the workplace via 2 x Data Analytics surgeries.  

This course is supported by the UK Government’s Department for Education funding stream and subsidised places can be offered if you live or work in Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire/Leicestershire/Greater Lincolnshire.   Please contact joanne.allen@iia.org.uk for further information.

What will I learn?

Upon completion you will:

• understand WHY data analytics should be used by the audit team, as well as WHERE and HOW data analytics can be used in YOUR audit plan
• be able to "talk data" with increased confidence with peers and clients
• be able to assess your existing audit process to identify and address common barriers to implementing data analytics
• be able to identify the key stakeholders who can help you succeed
• have practical key skills to obtain, prepare and analyse data
• know how to document audit analytics and analytic results
• know the practical steps needed to start your analytics journey and to identify your first analytics audit
• be able to identify opportunities and techniques for introducing continuous audit.

Who should attend?

This programme is equally suited to both new and experienced audit, fraud, risk and compliance professionals who want to introduce and embed data analytics into their audit work and know that they left no stone unturned i.e. they have done as much as possible with the data that is available to them.

You should already have a day-to-day/intermediate working knowledge of Excel, and a pre-programme on-line Excel refresher will be provided for any attendee who feels the need to brush-up in this area.

To complete the programme’s practical activities you will need access to a laptop and Microsoft Excel 2016 or later (including Office 365). Practice/dummy datasets will be provided.

Course programme

• the case for data analytics in internal audit
• barriers for data analytics in internal audit
• the three pillars of successful analytics
• effective team structures for data analytics
• understanding data, data structures and the language of data
• understanding data sources for internal audit, including alternative datasets
• the data analysis lifecycle - importing, preparing, cleaning and analysing data
• using exploratory data analysis to identify data outliers and exception processes
• documentation of data/analytics
• audit planning in a data enabled internal audit function
• audit testing in a data enabled internal audit function
• audit reporting in a data enabled internal audit function
• continuous monitoring/audit automation

The course will include practical activities in Excel to practice what you have learned.

CPE competency areas covered

• Performance (engagement fieldwork)
• Environment (information technology)
• Leadership and Communication (communication)

21 CPE points