Over five days you will:

• Understand the fundamentals of operational auditing and how to evaluate operational performance
• Appreciate the benefits of risk based auditing, associated tools and techniques and practice using them with real life case studies relevant to an oil, gas or petrochemical company
• Gain the expertise and confidence to develop and conduct risk based operational audits of core business processes together with some of the newer and more challenging business activities

This five day seminar tailored specifically for oil, gas and petrochemical companies provides practical and valuable guidance on risk based operational auditing and leading edge techniques in auditing. It teaches participants how to identify and prioritise the risks and assess the efficiency, effectiveness & economics of both core and non core business processes providing practical exercises to help delegates gain confidence in the techniques presented and in their own ability to use them.

Auditing non core activities often proves more difficult to audit because the associated risks to business objectives are often less well known and are new territory for the business as well as for the internal auditors. Auditing major contracts, for example shutdown contracts, and outsourced operations are explored in detail to provide delegates with insights from practical experience on where the efficiency, effectiveness and value might not be realised as well as highlighting key areas to focus on to ensure that key risks are being appropriately managed and the risk of fraud minimised.

Delegates are provided with the opportunity to review the challenges for Internal Audit in its approach to and involvement with risk management and the role internal audit can play in facilitating risk management within their organisations. Participants will learn the benefits that risk based auditing can have in focusing auditing effort on the key risks that threaten the achievement of business objectives and how to reflect and prioritise risk in their audit reports. Both aspects of risk, threats and opportunities, are covered.

Through participating in discussions, exchanging ideas and reviewing case studies of real life examples from their industries delegates will gain the knowledge and confidence to employ their new skills back in the workplace.

Course Director Lin Bartlett

Lin is a former Integrated Audit Manager at Shell. During her time there she gained board approval for a risk-based integrated audit planning and management process, establishing integrated audit plans for all key business areas. She is a trained auditor in financial, IT, health, safety, environment and quality management and planned and managed major audits in many different parts of Shell's business. Lin has also been engaged on a global Sarbanes Oxley 404 compliance implementation project for a FTSE 100 company and was responsible for both the global project planning and management support and also the management of a team responsible for documenting risks and controls over financial reporting for their European business. She has also been engaged on External Quality Assessments (EQAs) as required by the Institute of Internal Auditor’s International Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing and Code of Ethics. She also provides training and helps companies prepare for an EQA.

‘I really recommend this course for anyone who wants to know more about auditing the oil and gas sectors. Lin had lots of experience and explained everything you need to know’
Internal Auditor,
Qatar Petroleum

‘The course covers a lot of key topics and yet doesn’t feel rushed. There were some very useful modules. Lin was very
interesting, always drawing on her own experience to relate to topics’
Internal Auditor,
Tullow Oil