EXAMINATION AND AUDITING OF MAJOR PROJECTS
“Enhancing Project Governance, Risk Control, and Audit Performance”
Course Schedule
| Date | Venue | Fees |
|---|---|---|
| 22 – 26 Nov 2026 | Doha, Qatar | USD 3495 per delegate |
Course Introduction
Major capital and strategic projects—whether infrastructure, construction, IT, or industrial—carry significant risks due to their complexity, scale, and stakeholder involvement. Effective examination and auditing of such projects are essential to ensure that they meet objectives, adhere to budget and timeline constraints, and comply with governance and regulatory standards.
This intensive 5-day course is designed to equip auditors, project professionals, and risk managers with the knowledge and tools needed to examine and audit major projects across their lifecycle. The course covers project risk assessment, governance frameworks, control evaluations, procurement integrity, and performance auditing, enabling professionals to add measurable value through assurance and oversight.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
• Apply a structured approach to auditing large and complex projects
• Assess project governance, controls, and risk management systems
• Evaluate project performance against scope, time, and cost metrics
• Identify red flags, fraud risks, and compliance gaps in major projects
• Provide actionable audit recommendations to improve project outcomes
Key Benefits of Attending
• Enhance your ability to audit high-value and high-risk projects
• Protect your organization from cost overruns, fraud, and reputational damage
• Strengthen your understanding of project life cycles and control points
• Learn how to conduct risk-based, value-adding audits
• Stay aligned with international best practices and audit standards
Intended Audience
This program is designed for:
• Internal and External Auditors
• Project Managers and Project Controllers
• Enterprise Risk Managers and Compliance Officers
• Procurement and Contract Auditors
• Finance, Quality Assurance, and PMO Professionals
Individual Benefits
Key competencies that will be developed include:
• Project audit planning and scoping
• Assessment of governance, risk, and internal controls
• Detection of performance inefficiencies and irregularities
• Communication of audit findings and stakeholder engagement
• Understanding of fraud risk indicators and procurement controls
Organization Benefits
Upon completing the training course, participants will demonstrate:
• Improved assurance over major project investments
• Early identification of project failures and cost escalations
• Stronger internal control frameworks and audit alignment
• Enhanced transparency, accountability, and governance
• Better project delivery outcomes and value for money
Instructional Methdology
The course follows a blended learning approach combining theory with practice:
• Strategy Briefings – Frameworks for project governance, control assurance, and risk management
• Case Studies – Real-world audits of infrastructure, technology, and capital projects
• Workshops – Planning audits, control testing, and writing audit findings
• Peer Exchange – Shared experiences from public and private sector project audits
• Tools – Audit checklists, risk registers, and project evaluation templates
Course Outline
DETAILED 5-DAY COURSE OUTLINE
Training Hours: 07:30 AM – 03:30 PM
Daily Format: 3–4 Learning Modules | Coffee breaks: 09:30 & 11:15 | Lunch Buffet: 01:00 – 02:00
Day 1: Introduction to Project Auditing and Governance
- Module 1: Auditing the Project Environment (07:30 – 09:30)
• Overview of project types and audit relevance
• Key phases of the project lifecycle
• Project audit vs project evaluation - Module 2: Governance and Accountability in Major Projects (09:45 – 11:15)
• Project governance structures and decision rights
• Lines of defense and assurance roles
• Governance failures and audit indicators - Module 3: Scoping and Planning the Audit (11:30 – 01:00)
• Determining audit objectives and scope
• Stakeholder mapping and audit risks
• Using a risk-based audit approach - Module 4: Workshop – Risk Identification in a Sample Project (02:00 – 03:30)
• Group activity: developing a risk register
Day 2: Controls, Risk Management, and Fraud Detection
- Module 5: Internal Controls in Project Execution (07:30 – 09:30)
• Cost control, scope control, and change management
• Project documentation and approval processes
• Contract and procurement control checkpoints - Module 6: Project Risk Management Framework (09:45 – 11:15)
• Identification, analysis, and response strategies
• Project risk matrices and mitigation monitoring
• Embedding risk awareness in project culture - Module 7: Detecting Red Flags and Fraud Risks (11:30 – 01:00)
• Fraud risks in procurement, contracts, and payments
• Indicators of bid rigging, collusion, and manipulation
• Control weaknesses that enable fraud - Module 8: Workshop – Reviewing a Procurement File (02:00 – 03:30)
• Case simulation: identifying control lapses and red flags
Day 3: Auditing Project Performance and KPIs
- Module 9: Performance Audit Techniques (07:30 – 09:30)
• Value for money, economy, efficiency, and effectiveness
• Linking KPIs to project deliverables
• Evidence-based audit testing - Module 10: Cost, Schedule, and Scope Auditing (09:45 – 11:15)
• Earned value analysis and progress validation
• Schedule delays and root cause tracking
• Change order and claim audit procedures - Module 11: Project Quality and Safety Audits (11:30 – 01:00)
• Reviewing QA/QC records and nonconformities
• Compliance with technical standards and codes
• Assessing environmental and safety performance - Module 12: Workshop – Project Health Check Dashboard (02:00 – 03:30)
• Building a project audit scorecard and heat map
Day 4: Stakeholder Engagement and Audit Execution
- Module 13: Engaging with Project Teams and Stakeholders (07:30 – 09:30)
• Interviewing project owners, contractors, and PMOs
• Managing resistance and expectations
• Reporting sensitive issues with impact - Module 14: Fieldwork Execution and Testing Techniques (09:45 – 11:15)
• Sampling strategies and walkthroughs
• Document reviews and data triangulation
• Field verification and observation - Module 15: Reporting and Follow-Up (11:30 – 01:00)
• Writing clear, actionable audit findings
• Developing SMART recommendations
• Monitoring corrective actions - Module 16: Workshop – Drafting an Executive Summary (02:00 – 03:30)
• Participants draft a summary based on a case audit - Day 5: Case Study Simulation and Review
- Module 17: End-to-End Project Audit Simulation (07:30 – 01:00)
• Group exercise: conduct an audit of a major capital project
• Scoping, testing, analyzing, and reporting as a team - Module 18: Course Debrief and Best Practices (02:00 – 03:30)
• Review of key tools and checklists
• Lessons learned from global project audit failures
• Certification distribution and course wrap-up
Certification
Participants will receive a Certificate of Completion in Examination and Auditing of Major Projects, validating their ability to assess project controls, risks, governance, and performance across complex and high-value initiatives.