When financial reports can't be trusted, every decision built on them is at risk — and when planning drifts away from actual performance, even a sound audit can't save an organization from surprises. This program from the Arab British Fellowship Training Academy tackles both problems together, building the practical auditing skills and integrated planning tools organizations need to keep their numbers reliable and their decisions grounded in reality.

Rather than treating audit and planning as separate disciplines, the program shows participants how the two reinforce each other: audit findings sharpen budgets and forecasts, while sound planning makes the next audit cycle faster and more focused. Participants work through international reporting standards, risk assessment, internal control, and both short- and long-term financial planning, closing with practical tools for turning financial information into confident, well-supported decisions.

Who should attend?

• Finance managers and staff responsible for planning and financial control.
• Accountants and internal or external auditors in public and private entities.
• Staff in audit, governance, and risk management functions.
• Anyone looking to build combined expertise in financial auditing and integrated planning.

Knowledge and Benefits:

By the end of the program, participants will be able to:

• Apply modern auditing concepts and connect audit findings to financial decision-making.
• Build integrated financial plans that reflect the organization's real strategic direction.
• Read financial statements and reports critically enough to support sound decisions.
• Identify and manage financial risk before it turns into a bigger problem.
• Reinforce compliance with accounting and regulatory standards while protecting transparency.

• Why Financial Discipline Matters

  • How unreliable financial reporting undermines strategic and operational decisions.
  • The evolving role of auditing in strengthening institutional governance.
  • Where governance, financial control, and financial planning intersect.

• Standards, Ethics, and Independence

  • International accounting and auditing standards relevant to current practice.
  • Auditor responsibilities and the boundaries of professional independence.
  • Ethics and professional conduct expected of an auditor.

• Planning and Scoping an Audit

  • Setting the scope, objectives, and risk-based focus areas of an audit.
  • Building the audit plan and work program.
  • Evaluating internal control systems and how effective they are.

• Auditing the Financial Statements in Practice

  • Auditing the statement of financial position, income statement, and cash flow statement.
  • Reviewing disclosures and supplementary information.
  • Gathering audit evidence, using sampling methods, and documenting findings to professional standards.

• Turning Financial Analysis into Risk Insight

  • Using ratio analysis and performance indicators to flag anomalies.
  • Linking financial analysis to audit conclusions.
  • Types of financial risk and the auditor's role in managing them.

• From Numbers to an Integrated Financial Plan

  • Why financial planning needs to connect to overall strategy.
  • The building blocks of an integrated financial plan.
  • Preparing budgets and forecasts and tracking variances against them.

• Planning for the Short and Long Term

  • Managing cash and liquidity for near-term stability.
  • Investment planning and capital management for long-term growth.
  • Using financial data to compare alternatives and support decisions.

• Closing the Loop: Reporting, Integration, and Sustainability

  • Feeding audit results back into financial planning and forecasting.
  • Preparing financial and audit reports senior management can act on.
  • Monitoring performance indicators and sustaining financial performance over time.