Agile Auditing and Leadership

The objective of this training programme is to provide participants with the knowledge and skills to effectively apply agile auditing methodologies.

Participants will:  

• Understand the concept of agile auditing and its benefits for the audit function

• Familiarise with agile methodologies and frameworks used in auditing

• Develop practical skills in applying agile practices at various stages of the audit process

• Learn effective communication and collaboration techniques for agile audit teams

• Understand the importance of continuous improvement and how to measure audit performance using agile metrics

• Develop strategies to incorporate lessons learnt and feedback into future audits.

Introduction to Agile Auditing

• Introduction to agile auditing and its relevance in the current business landscape

• Key principles of agile auditing, including iterative and incremental approaches

• Methodologies and frameworks used in agile auditing (e.g., Scrum, Kanban)

• Benefits and challenges of adopting agile auditing in the audit process

Applying Agile Practices in Auditing

• Agile practices for audit planning, scoping, and risk assessment

• Agile techniques for conducting audit fieldwork, testing, and data analysis

• Collaborative methods for agile audit teams, including daily stand-ups and retrospectives

• Agile reporting and communication approaches to stakeholder

• Case Study Example: Participants will work on a case study where they will apply agile practices to plan and execute an audit engagement. They will utilise agile techniques such as iterative testing, frequent stakeholder feedback, and adaptive scoping to demonstrate the value of agile auditing in a real-world scenario.

Continuous Improvement in Agile Auditing 

• Continuous improvement principles in agile auditing, including the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle

• Agile metrics for measuring audit performance and team productivity

• Incorporating lessons learned and feedback into audit planning and execution

• Strategies for fostering a culture of innovation and adaptability in the audit function

• Case Study Example: Participants will engage in a retrospective exercise to analyse an agile audit engagement. They will identify areas of improvement, propose actionable recommendations, and develop an action plan to implement these improvements in future audits.

Agile Soft Skills & Leadership for Auditors

Emotional Intelligence & Communication That Builds Trust

• Empathy in Audit: Listening without judgment, reading between the lines

• Communicating under pressure: How to say more with less during sprints

• Emotional Intelligence Workshop: Decode your triggers & manage stakeholder tension

• Role-play: Handling resistance from audit clients - Agile-style

Agile Leadership and Team Dynamics

• From Auditor to Agile Leader: Servant leadership vs traditional audit leadership

• Leading without authority: Influence, inspire, and coach your audit team

• Decision-making under uncertainty: Tools for fast but ethical decisions

• Tool: Agile Leadership Canvas (your own leadership profile and next steps)

Collaboration, Conflict & Feedback Culture

• Healthy conflict in Agile: Turning disagreement into insight

• Feedback Gym: Practice giving and receiving radical candor feedback

• Psychological Safety & Audit Teams: creating a space where people dare to speak

Final Workshop – The Trusted Agile Auditor

• Case study: Lead a sensitive audit with cultural, ethical and strategic challenges

• Group debrief: What makes an auditor trusted in an agile, fast-moving world?

• Personal Action Plan: Define your top 3 soft skills to grow in the next 90 days

• Leadership Confidence Boost: Reflection circle + Peer endorsements

This training programme will adopt a blended learning approach to ensure an interactive and engaging experience for participants. The programme will include a combination of: 

• Interactive lectures

• Case studies

• Group discussions and activities

• Practical exercises

• Q&A sessions

• Continuous learning support.

We welcome Junior and Senior Auditors, Heads of Audit, Risk, Operational Risk and Compliance Officers.

No exam is available for this course.