Training Module

Audit Programme Management

Design and govern risk-informed audit programmes across standards, group structures and programme-level reporting

Audit programme manager reviewing a digital dashboard, representing audit programme management with risk-informed planning, governed audit portfolios, and programme-level oversight.

Is your audit programme a disjointed calendar of activities rather than a coherent assurance portfolio?

Establish robust governance, risk-informed planning, and integrated processes to transform your audit programme into a strategic asset.

Audit programme manager reviewing a digital dashboard, representing audit programme management with risk-informed planning, governed audit portfolios, and programme-level oversight.

Is your audit programme a disjointed calendar of activities rather than a coherent assurance portfolio?

Establish robust governance, risk-informed planning, and integrated processes to transform your audit programme into a strategic asset.

Audit programme manager reviewing a digital dashboard, representing audit programme management with risk-informed planning, governed audit portfolios, and programme-level oversight.

Overview

Many organisations manage individual audits effectively but struggle to oversee their audit programme as a cohesive system. This often leads to shifting priorities, fragmented results, and supplier audits operating in isolation.

This module focuses on the critical work of designing and governing an audit programme, from single-entity to group-level operations. Participants will learn to build practical structures for meaningful coverage, flexible scheduling, and decision-relevant reporting, ensuring consistent quality and driving continual improvement across all audits.

Applicable environments

This module is applicable to auditing across all ISO-based management systems. The principles and methods taught here are independent of any specific standard and focus on how to plan, conduct, and report audits effectively.

Target audience

  • Aspiring auditors who want to audit management systems following best practices

  • Practising management system auditors who want to strengthen their audit knowledge, judgement, and effectiveness

Decision support

Is this module for you?

Agenda

  • Role and boundaries of audit programme management

  • Programme governance and operating model

  • Risk-informed audit portfolio design across standards

  • Supplier audit integration at programme level

  • Group-level harmonisation and local flexibility

  • Scheduling and resource planning

  • Consistency and quality across audits

  • Programme monitoring, consolidation, and reporting

  • Continual improvement of the audit programme

  • Case-based workshop

Show detailed agenda...

Learning outcomes

Key outcomes

  • Define an audit programme charter that clarifies governance, roles, and escalation routes

  • Build a multi-year and annual audit portfolio that is risk-informed using existing organisational inputs

  • Integrate supplier audits into the overall audit programme with clear coverage logic and interfaces

Additional capabilities

  • Create an audit schedule and resource plan accounting for competence, independence, and change

  • Set programme-level consistency controls without dictating audit execution methods

  • Consolidate audit results into programme-level themes for management visibility and review

Materials

Learning materials

  • Slide deck

  • Participant workbook

Templates & tools

Practical, reusable artefacts to apply the module directly to your organisation.

  • Audit program management process

  • Audit programme charter (roles, decision rights, escalation)

  • Multi-year audit programme plan template

  • Annual audit schedule template

Confirmation

  • Certificate of completion

Module ID

HAM-AG-AC-04

Standard clause

9: Performance evaluation

Target audience

Public delivery

Live virtual

Duration

7 h

List price

CHF 550

Excl. VAT. VAT may apply depending on customer location and status.

Delivery

Live virtual delivery

This module is delivered live online and combines conceptual framing, discussion, case work and direct interaction with the instructor.

A public cohort is currently not scheduled. If you register your interest, we will notify you when a new public cohort is scheduled or suitable delivery options become available.

Custom delivery options

For organisations with specific constraints or learning objectives, the module can be adapted in format or scope, including in-house delivery and contextualised case material.

Not sure if this module is right for you?

Send a short message and describe your context.

Not sure if this module is right for you?

Send a short message and describe your context.

For an optimal learning experience

Prerequisites & preparation

This module is designed as part of a modular training approach. Topics are deliberately distributed across modules and are not repeated in full, in order to avoid unnecessary redundancy. Each module is self-contained and can be taken on its own. Where prior knowledge or experience is helpful, this is indicated below so you can decide whether any preparation is useful for you.

Assumed background

This module assumes participants can already operate comfortably in the internal audit domain and understand the difference between programme management and audit execution. In particular:

  • Solid understanding of audit principles, evidence thinking, and auditor judgement

  • Familiarity with how audit findings are formulated, reported, and followed up

  • Basic familiarity with supplier/outsourced relationships (helpful for programme-level integration)

Preparatory modules

Foundational modules (depending on background)

Useful if you are new to the underlying concepts or want a shared baseline before attending this module.

Audit Principles

Apply evidence-based audit reasoning, materiality-focused prioritisation and structured audit test planning

7 h

Audit Principles

Apply evidence-based audit reasoning, materiality-focused prioritisation and structured audit test planning

7 h

Audit Reporting & Follow-up

Formulate evidence-based audit findings, structure clear audit reports, and verify the effective closure of agreed actions

7 h

Audit Reporting & Follow-up

Formulate evidence-based audit findings, structure clear audit reports, and verify the effective closure of agreed actions

7 h

Supporting modules (optional)

Helpful if you want to deepen related skills, but not required to participate effectively.

Internal Auditing

Plan, perform and use internal audits effectively to support governance and improvement

7 h

Internal Auditing

Plan, perform and use internal audits effectively to support governance and improvement

7 h

Continuous learning

Follow-up modules

After completion of this module, the following modules are ideal to further deepen your competence. If you are looking for a structured learning path, modules can also be taken as part of a professional track.

Continuous learning

Follow-up modules

After completion of this module, the following modules are ideal to further deepen your competence. If you are looking for a structured learning path, modules can also be taken as part of a professional track.

Office scene with people standing, walking and sitting

Ready to improve your management systems?

We support continuous improvement by embedding ISO requirements into everyday practice and daily operations.

Office scene with people standing, walking and sitting

Ready to improve your management systems?

We support continuous improvement by embedding ISO requirements into everyday practice and daily operations.

Office scene with people standing, walking and sitting

Ready to improve your management systems?

We support continuous improvement by embedding ISO requirements into everyday practice and daily operations.