Auditing of In- & Outsourcing Partners

– audit procedures regarding internal and external sub-units in accordance with international best practices –

Objective:

The in- and outsourcing of various sub-processes or also entire process chains within a company often harbors significant risks. With regard to audit examinations, the fragmentation of added-value chains and the associated specialization of individual companies for the achievement of economic effects of scale pose a particular challenge for the internal audit function. After all, it is the internal audit function’s assignment to examine the internal monitoring system in a process-oriented manner – without ultimately neglecting a risk-oriented blank spot in the audit landscape.

Due to the multitude of interfaces that exist, not only can IT-media gaps and the hugest variety of quality standards arise, but also restrictions with regard to the internal audit function’s right of examination. With the practical audit environment, the focus often is concentrated on numerous operative elements related to process-dependent components. As a result, the internal audit function’s process-independent monitor-control right regarding feedback to the executive or supervisory boards for securing a long-term quality level remains neglected.

The challenge exists to effectively audit company-internal process structures, the qualitative functional capacity of their key controls as well as their governance system. In addition, it is particularly important to be able to examine service level agreements (SLAs) pertaining to outsourced activities in a process-oriented manner. The recognition of available SLA-related best practices that comprise the underlying basis for claims between the contracting entity (as “outsourcer”) and the contractor (as “insourcer”) is indispensably linked with this task.

ARC’s active audit support or successful conclusion of its relevant workshops enables participants to implement a practical audit of in- and outsourced processes. Participants are familiarized with methodic procedures to evaluate outsourcing interfaces as well as their typical problem areas and fields of risk. At the same time and on the basis of a sample SLA or an order for effecting a transaction, the course of instruction illustrates how the best-practice concept can serve as a benchmark within a practical audit environment.

Topics:

Sourcing as an economic method for concentrating on fields of core capability
Forms of outsourcing and strategic evaluation of types within the framework of a value-adding architecture for further assessment of risk
Risk-oriented structuring of the outsourcing process
The dimension of regulatory supervision with regard to outsourcing – the development and content of fundamental regulatory guidelines:
- EBA Guidelines on Internal Governannce (GL 44)
- as well as EBA Guidelines on common procedures and methodologies for the supervisory review and evaluation process (SREP),
- CEBS Outsourcing Guidelines
- BCBS 329 Corporate Governance Principles for Banks
- FCA Outsourcing Checklist
- and Regulation No. 2008/7 with regard to the “outsourcing of business processes in the banking and financial services sector” (Auslagerung von Geschäftsbereichen bei Finanzdienstleistungsinstituten) issued by the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (FINMA)
Audit approaches to the responsibilities of a service-monitoring entity
Typical problem areas and fields of risk related to outsourcing
Administration, monitoring and control of outsourcing activities
Formulation of service level agreements and orders for effecting transactions
Case study: SLAs and orders for effecting transactions
The internal audit function’s examination responsibilities in connection with major outsourcing measures
Detailed implementation options for the practical audit environment
Audit support in the examination of in- and outsourced processes

Management Trainer

ARC-Institute

About the ARC Institute

With the Audit Research Center, the ARC Institute provides important impulses for the further development of the audit industry. The focus is on networking science and practice. The focus is on further and new development in cooperation with auditors, companies and associations in order to maintain practical relevance and to develop methods, tools and concepts that can be implemented. The results developed in dialogue with industry experts serve as a guideline and adaptation options in practice today, in order to increase the overall benefit of the company in the long term and sustainably with innovative auditing work.

In the spirit of thought leadership, the ARC Institute and the Audit Research Center stand for topic leadership and forward thinking in the area of internal auditing.

Currently, the ARC Institute supports not only leading supranational institutions in the context of research, consulting and personnel development projects, but also numerous listed companies in the three German-speaking countries of Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Dr. Dominik Förschler

ARC Institute Profile: Managing Director | Senior Equity Partner

Dr. Dominik Foerschler
PhD, M.A. Banking & Finance, CIA, CRMA, Quality Assessor

Erfahrung ist unersetzbar. Mehr als 2100 Trainings- und Beratungstage in Zusammenarbeit mit mehr als 190 Unternehmen zeichnen den erfolgreichen Weg von Dr. Dominik Förschler aus. Darunter zahlreiche börsennotierte Unternehmen, supranationale Institutionen wie Zentralbanken, Kreditinstitute sowie zugleich namhafte Sparkassen und erfolgreiche Unternehmensrevisionen aus Industrie und Handel. Das Audit Research Center konzentriert sich unter seiner Leitung auf die Themen, die als Hebel einen wesentlichen Einfluss auf die Leistung Ihrer Revision haben. Dabei ist der Anspruch die Leistungsfähigkeit der unterstützten Revisionen nachhaltig zu verbessern.

Im Sinne des Thought Leadership Gedankens steht das ARC Institute für Themenführerschaft und Vorausdenken im Bereich Interne Revision.

Since heading the Audit Research Center | ARC Institute, responsible for three operational audit and risk advisory teams, Dominik Foerschler developed a new product portfolio strategy based on his Integrated Audit Risk Centric Approach® and a comprehensive CMMi audit approach.

After joining the business school initially as executive assistant to the president, Dominik Foerschler subsequently built up the “Governance & Audit” section, consisting of the four main pillars: Internal & External Audit, Banking Supervision, Corporate Governance and Fraud Investigation. He established the “Audit Challenge” leadership conference series as an audit methodology conference for the three German-speaking countries Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

Previously, Dominik Foerschler launched his career in the financial services sector as a member of Deutsche Bank Group AG’s corporate center talent group. There, he worked in several business areas worldwide [Retail Banking, Asset Management, Corporate Investment Banking, a subsequent cooperation project with Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), Bond Trading TSE Toronto, Management Information system CIBC Ontario, CBOT Chicago, Deutsche Bank AG, Inhouse Consulting Europe]. In conjunction with a restructuring of the global internal audit function, he joined the corporate center group audit team. After being part of the reorganization team for the IAA, he was a senior audit team leader and project methodology leader in the chief of staff’s group audit team.

Key skills include

Audit Executive Coaching
Executive Training for Board Members
Integrated Audit Risk Centric Approach® (IARCA) [originator]
HiANCA – Brain Research Audit Methodology®
Senior Expert for European Banking Regulation
Systemic Coaching Expert

Language Skills

German native speaker
English business fluent
Spanish business fluent
French very good
Russian good

Further Roles & Responsibilities

Chairman of the Audit Challenge Conference Board
Executive Facilitator of the Audit Excellence Group
Chairman of the Audit Innovation Award Jury
Executive Facilitator of the Audit Excellence Group
Chief Editor till 2015 of double blind journal >Audit, Risk, Compliance<, Bankverlag Köln
Publisher of the book series “Internal Audit Strategy”
Vice President of the German Association of Business Economists

Tracie Marquardt

Tracie Marquardt
CPA, Senior Management Trainer, Audit Research Center | ARC Institute
Bachelor of Arts, Honours Chartered Accountancy Studies

Since 2005, Tracie has trained hundreds of internal auditors from Germany, Europe, Africa and the US to communicate more effectively on an international stage. As a result, these auditors are able to communicate their key messages more clearly, concisely, and persuasively, resulting in agreement, action and positive change. Specialties include audit report writing, global communication competence, interviewing skills, reconciling findings with auditees, and presenting powerfully. Tracie is a former external auditor (Deloitte) and internal auditor (HFCL) from Canada, with 10 years’ experience in the financial industry in Canada and the U.S.

Key skills include

Training, coaching and consulting internal audit for global communication skills
Designing training programmes that combine skills learning with culture and language to ensure success of the participants working internationally
Designing, creating and delivering customised, interactive workshops that bring measurable results for management
Providing feedback and distance coaching to internal auditors on actual audit reports and training case studies
Deep understanding of stakeholder requirements, audit report objectives, communication interactions within the audit process, and related challenges

Significant Projects/Audit Communication Skills

2010-2017: Delivering a customised Audit Report Writing and Communication training programme to the Internal Audit within the European banking system. Over 250 auditors from 21 countries have participated to date.
2012-2017: Coaching & Training worldwide acting enterprises, with teams on four continents in audit report writing and communication strategies based on latest brain research results.
2015-2016 Trained, coached and provided consulting services for 40 auditors including 5 Heads of Audit at a top German financial powerhouse as they overhauled their report writing methodology
2014-2015 Trained the Internal Audit team of a DAX30 medical device company on Audit Report Writing, including individual & team coaching, and development of an Audit Report Writing Style Guide. Reduced reporting review time by more than 50%.
Deliver Report Writing and Interviewing skills workshops to DIIR clients since 2005.
3 years as senior auditor in Canada for a Schedule B lender, reporting directly to U.S.
4 years external audit in the financial industry with Deloitte in Toronto

Language Skills

English native speaker
German intermediate spoken

Other

Vice President Education, Heidelberg International Toastmasters Club, affiliated with Toastmasters International

Peter Duscha

ARC Institute Profile: Senior Engagement Manager

Dipl. Math. Peter Duscha,
CIA, CCSA, CRMA, Quality Assessor (DIIR)

Peter Duscha is a very experienced senior engagement manager specialised in audit methodology, project management, and risk management. As an experienced auditor himself, he is able to execute and teach different practical situations in a prepared manner. His over 14 years of work experience for different internal audit departments in IT Audit, Operations Audit, Business Audit, and Risk Management Audit make him an professional counterpart.

A team oriented and dynamic mathematician (MSc equivalent), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), and Quality Assessor accredited by the IIA. Experienced in different audit assurance and consulting assignments, with excellent communication skills. An expert in audit strategies and risk assessment, specialising in auditing risk management systems. A confident and efficient audit and project manager. He has written numerous articles about audit methodology and co-written an audit methodology book about IT-Audit.

Key skills include

Innovative trainer for audit methodology, project-, and risk management audit
Coodination and execution of risk management audits
Coordination and execution of quantitative finance audits, risk model audits
Extensive audit experience including planning, executing, supervising, and reporting
Broad mathematical knowledge in various areas
Senior experience in projects and project management
Developing and introducing of risk oriented strategic audit planning methods
Leadership experience

Significant Projects/Project management

Key subject matter expert for integrated process auditing
Key subject matter expert for regulatory subjects, especially MaRisk, EBA Guidelines
Managing a quality reviews of the internal audit function
Developing a quality reporting for the internal audit function
Drafting of an internal audit manuals
Implementing an internal audit function for a finance holding company
Developing process frameworks
Support with the development of an IT infrastructure security framework
Development and implementation of new processes in Internal Auditing and a risk oriented audit planning method, drafting of a manual for Internal Auditors
Implementation of a management system for the audit department (for planning, controlling, and reporting)
Implementation of new regulatory requirements (MaRisk) for the audit function
Execution and management of audits

Language Skills

German native speaker
English fluent
Japanese advanced
French basic

Terms of participation and price

Each open training day is 890,- Euro plus VAT when booking the modules individually. Inhouse training conditions are based on individual pricing and travel expenses. After receipt of your registration you will receive a confirmation of registration with invoice. Please pay the registration fee directly after receiving the invoice. The registration fee does not include 19 % VAT. The price includes participation in the lectures of the booked event, lunch, coffee breaks and seminar documents.

How can we support you?

Contact for questions and assistance

Registration

At a glance

Target audience:
Employees and managerial staff from the internal audit function

Methodology:
Interactive presentation, discussion, group projects, practical exercises, case studies, retrospective summary

Training / Training / Consulting period:
Bookings are based on an audit-situation analysis as well as a personal preliminary meeting (workshops generally cover 2 days of instruction, audit performance/support determined by circumstances).

Contact:
Would you like more details about ARC’s Audit Training & Consulting Services, or do you wish to book an appointment with its team? Please address your e-mail inquiry to Info@ARC-Institute.com or phone us at +49-2159-6945-904