COURSE OVERVIEW:

The auditing of projects and contracts is a vital governance function that ensures transparency, compliance, and value for money in high-value organizational investments. This course provides a comprehensive methodology for examining project management processes and contractual relationships to identify inefficiencies, risks, and non-compliance. It focuses on the auditor’s role as an objective evaluator who provides assurance to stakeholders that projects are being managed in accordance with established policies and international best practices.

The scope of this training includes the audit of the entire project lifecycle, from the feasibility and tendering stages to execution and final close-out. Participants will learn how to audit complex contractual agreements, including FIDIC and other standard forms, to ensure that both owners and contractors are fulfilling their obligations. The course addresses the detection of "red flags" related to procurement fraud, cost inflation, and unethical behavior, providing tools for rigorous forensic analysis and evidence gathering.

Coverage includes the evaluation of project control systems, the assessment of risk management effectiveness, and the review of change order procedures. Attendees will learn how to draft impactful audit reports that communicate findings clearly and provide actionable recommendations for improvement. By mastering the techniques of project and contract auditing, professionals will be able to enhance organizational accountability and protect the integrity of large-scale capital expenditures.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

After completion of this course, the participants will be able to:

• Define the scope and objectives of internal and external project audits.
• Plan and execute a risk-based audit of complex construction or industrial projects.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of project governance and oversight structures.
• Audit the tendering and award process for compliance and transparency.
• Verify the accuracy of progress payments and contractor invoices.
• Examine the validity and documentation of contract variations and claims.
• Identify potential indicators of procurement fraud and financial irregularities.
• Assess the adequacy of project risk management and mitigation strategies.
• Review project control systems, including scheduling and cost tracking.
• Communicate audit findings effectively to executive management and boards.
• Recommend improvements to project management policies and procedures.
• Monitor the implementation of audit recommendations and corrective actions.

TARGET AUDIENCE:

This course is designed for Internal Auditors, Compliance Officers, Contract Managers, Project Managers, Financial Controllers, and Quality Assurance Professionals responsible for oversight and governance.

TRAINING COURSE METHODOLOGY:

A highly interactive combination of lectures, discussion sessions, and case studies will be employed to maximize the transfer of information, knowledge, and experience. The course will be intensive, practical, and highly interactive. The sessions will start by raising the most relevant questions and motivating everybody to find the right answers. The attendants will also be encouraged to raise more of their questions and to share in developing the right answers using their analysis and experience. There will also be some indoor experiential activities to enhance the learning experience. Course material will be provided in PowerPoint, with necessary animations, learning videos, and general discussions.

The course participants shall be evaluated before, during, and at the end of the course.

COURSE CERTIFICATE:

National Consultant Centre for Training LLC (NCC) will issue an Attendance Certificate to all participants completing a minimum of 80% of the total attendance time requirement.