Bank & Microfinance Audit Training

Course Overview

Auditing financial institutions, especially banks, Savings and Credit Cooperatives (SACCOs), and Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), requires specialised knowledge of financial sector regulations, risk-based auditing techniques, and industry-specific standards. Regulatory scrutiny is increasing. IFRS compliance requirements keep evolving. Internal and external auditors need practical tools to assess financial integrity, compliance, governance, and operational efficiency within these institutions.

This training offers an in-depth look at audit processes tailored to the unique environments of banks, SACCOs, and MFIs. It covers both internal and external audit practices, focusing on risk assessment, internal controls, audit planning, and reporting. You will explore how to audit key areas such as loan portfolios, savings accounts, interest income, member shares, financial disclosures, and ICT systems. The training places strong emphasis on aligning audits with regulatory expectations from central banks and SACCO or MFI supervisory bodies, as well as identifying fraud risks and control gaps.

You will learn how to plan and conduct audits that ensure regulatory compliance and add value to institutional performance and stakeholder trust.

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Course Objectives

By the end of this training, you will be able to:

• Understand the audit environment for banks, SACCOs, and MFIs
• Design and implement risk-based audit strategies and programs
• Evaluate internal controls and compliance with financial regulations
• Audit core operational areas, including credit, deposits, revenue, and expenses
• Apply IFRS and regulatory requirements in financial audit reviews
• Report audit findings effectively and recommend corrective measures

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Who Should Attend

This training is ideal for professionals responsible for auditing, overseeing, or regulating banks, SACCOs, and MFIs.

• internal and external auditors of banks, SACCOs, and MFIs
• audit committee members and board oversight bodies
• risk and compliance managers
• financial controllers and accountants
• regulators and supervisory authority staff
• consultants and audit firm professionals

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How the Training Works

This training combines technical instruction with practical, field-based audit exercises.

• Facilitator-led technical modules and real audit case studies
• Group exercises on audit planning and risk identification
• Walkthroughs of audit checklists, templates, and working papers
• Peer learning and sharing of field-based audit experiences
• Simulated audits of core banking and SACCO operations

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What You Will Walk Away With

You will leave this training with technical skills, practical tools, and a clear strategy for applying spatial big data in your own work.

• Advanced skills in auditing financial institutions
• Institution-specific audit programs and checklists
• The ability to identify control weaknesses and recommend improvements
• Audit processes aligned with IFRS, SACCO and banking regulations, and risk management standards
• The skills to produce audit reports that meet professional and regulatory standards

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does this training cover?

The training covers audit practices specific to banks, SACCOs, and MFIs, including risk-based audit planning, internal controls, and compliance reviews. You will learn to audit loan portfolios, deposits, interest income, member shares, and ICT systems, while applying IFRS and regulatory standards throughout.

Who should attend this training?

Internal and external auditors, audit committee members, risk and compliance managers, financial controllers, and regulatory staff all benefit from this training. It also suits consultants and audit firm professionals who work directly with banks, SACCOs, or MFIs.

How does auditing a SACCO differ from auditing a commercial bank?

SACCOs have member-owned structures, so audits focus heavily on member shares, savings mobilisation, and dividend calculations alongside loan portfolios. Commercial bank audits place more weight on regulatory capital requirements and broader transaction volumes. Both require risk-based approaches tailored to each institution’s regulatory framework.

How is the training delivered?

Sessions combine facilitator-led technical modules with group exercises, audit walkthroughs, and simulated audits of core banking and SACCO operations. Participants work through real case studies and practise using actual audit checklists, templates, and working papers.

Why is risk-based auditing important for financial institutions?

Risk-based auditing directs audit effort toward the areas most likely to cause financial loss or regulatory breach, such as loan provisioning or fraud exposure. This approach improves audit efficiency and helps institutions strengthen internal controls where they matter most, rather than spreading resources evenly across all functions.

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