EFFECTIVE STRATEGIC PLANNING AUDIT
“Auditing Strategy Formulation, Alignment, Execution, and Performance with Confidence”
Course Schedule
| Date | Venue | Fees (Face-to-Face) |
|---|---|---|
| 16 – 20 Mar 2026 | London, UK | USD 3495 per delegate |
Course Introduction
Strategic planning is essential for long-term organizational success—but is your strategy being executed effectively, monitored adequately, and adjusted in real time? Internal audit plays a critical role in providing independent assurance on the strategic planning process and its alignment with performance, risk, and governance objectives.
This 5-day practical course empowers audit and assurance professionals to assess all stages of the strategic planning cycle. From strategy development to performance measurement, participants will gain tools to evaluate alignment, execution, governance, and strategic risk—ensuring that strategy is more than just a document, but a driver of results.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
• Understand the components and frameworks of strategic planning
• Identify risks and assurance gaps in strategy formulation and execution
• Apply auditing techniques to assess strategic objectives, KPIs, and governance alignment
• Evaluate strategy execution controls, reporting, and resource allocation
• Design and report effective strategic planning audits
Key Benefits of Attending
• Learn how to bring strategic insight into internal audit programs
• Evaluate not just what is being done—but whether the right things are being done
• Gain a toolkit for auditing strategic intent, design, implementation, and impact
• Align your audit work with senior management and board priorities
• Help your organization close the gap between strategy and results
Intended Audience
This program is designed for:
• Internal auditors and heads of audit
• Strategy, risk, and governance officers
• Audit committee members and compliance leads
• Business improvement and enterprise performance teams
• Senior professionals reviewing strategy execution
Individual Benefits
Key competencies that will be developed include:
• Strategic thinking and organizational alignment
• Audit planning and stakeholder engagement
• Strategic risk and performance analysis
• Communication and reporting of strategic audit findings
• Integration with enterprise risk management and governance reviews
Organization Benefits
Upon completing the training course, participants will demonstrate:
• Stronger assurance over the strategy lifecycle
• Improved execution and monitoring of strategic goals
• Enhanced alignment between audit, strategy, and governance functions
• Greater value delivered by internal audit to senior leadership
• Proactive identification of risks to strategy success
Instructional Methdology
The course follows a blended learning approach combining theory with practice:
• Strategy Briefings – Strategic planning cycles, frameworks, and assurance needs
• Case Studies – Real-world strategic audit engagements and outcomes
• Workshops – Audit scoping, control evaluation, and risk mapping exercises
• Peer Exchange – Sharing of strategic audit practices across sectors
• Tools – Audit programs, strategy mapping templates, KPI reviews, and reporting checklists
Course Outline
Training Hours: 07:30 AM – 03:30 PM
Daily Format: 3–4 Learning Modules | Coffee Breaks: 09:30 & 11:15 | Lunch Break: 01:00 – 02:00
Day 1: Understanding Strategy and the Auditor’s Role
- Module 1: Strategic Planning Overview (07:30 – 09:30)
• What strategy is—and isn’t
• Levels of strategy: corporate, business, functional
• Strategic frameworks (SWOT, Balanced Scorecard, Blue Ocean) - Module 2: Audit’s Strategic Contribution (09:45 – 11:15)
• Governance, risk, and compliance alignment
• Assurance over strategy execution
• Integrating strategy into audit planning - Module 3: Workshop – Strategy Map Review (11:30 – 01:00)
• Evaluating clarity and completeness of strategic documents
Day 2: Auditing Strategy Formulation and Design
- Module 4: Assessing Strategic Objectives (07:30 – 09:30)
• Linkage to mission, vision, and external environment
• Strategic risk assessment
• Stakeholder involvement and approval - Module 5: Evaluating Strategy Development Processes (09:45 – 11:15)
• Scenario analysis, planning models, and feasibility
• Change readiness and strategic agility - Module 6: Workshop – Strategic Risk Mapping (11:30 – 01:00)
• Identifying and prioritizing risks in strategy formulation
Day 3: Auditing Execution and Resource Alignment
- Module 7: Execution Planning and Resource Deployment (07:30 – 09:30)
• Budget, people, systems, and time allocation
• Project/program management alignment - Module 8: Monitoring and KPI Assessment (09:45 – 11:15)
• Selecting and reviewing strategic KPIs
• Lagging vs leading indicators
• Audit of performance dashboards and reporting - Module 9: Workshop – Strategy Execution Walkthrough (11:30 – 01:00)
• Tracing strategic objectives through to operational results
Day 4: Evaluating Governance and Strategic Oversight
- Module 10: Role of Leadership and the Board (07:30 – 09:30)
• Board oversight responsibilities and strategy reviews
• Reporting structure and accountability - Module 11: Internal Control and Risk Monitoring (09:45 – 11:15)
• Control effectiveness in strategy-related decisions
• Early warning systems and deviation response - Module 12: Workshop – Control Assessment Simulation (11:30 – 01:00)
• Evaluate controls in a strategic business initiative
Day 5: Audit Planning, Execution, and Reporting
- Module 13: Designing the Strategic Planning Audit (07:30 – 09:30)
• Scope, objectives, stakeholders, and evidence gathering
• Developing the audit plan and fieldwork checklist - Module 14: Reporting Audit Results to Senior Management (09:45 – 11:15)
• Writing clear, actionable strategic audit findings
• Engaging executive stakeholders - Module 15: Final Simulation – Strategic Audit Presentation (11:30 – 01:00)
• Team-based presentations of a strategic planning audit case
Certification
Participants will receive a Certificate of Completion in Effective Strategic Planning Audit, validating their capability to evaluate the formulation, execution, and governance of organizational strategy through robust audit practices.