Introduction
The programme “Auditing Bank Accounts and Reconciliations” develops professional practice in Control and Audit. It connects the subject with workplace challenges by examining existing evidence and practices and choosing methods appropriate to the organization and its available resources.
The learning progresses from risk-based auditing and evidence gathering to governance, accountability, and compliance management, with practical work on the accounting cycle, closing, and record quality, banking service and operations management, risk assessment, controls, and response. Participants prepare outputs to support workplace application and review the quality and results of implementation.
Learning objectives
- Design an audit engagement connecting risks, objectives, tests, and evidence in an application related to “Auditing Bank Accounts and Reconciliations”.
- Process an accounting cycle and prepare adjustments supported by traceable documents.
- Analyze a banking process and connect service quality to operational risks and controls.
- Prepare a risk register connecting causes, consequences, controls, and treatment responsibilities.
- Define decision-making authority, accountability mechanisms, and obligation monitoring.
Learning areas
1. Risk-Based Auditing and Evidence Gathering
- Define the engagement subject, objectives, scope, and assessment criteria, and develop an initial understanding of the process and its main risks.
- Assess control design and suitability for the objectives, and select tests and samples proportionate to risk levels and available data.
- Collect sufficient, appropriate evidence, document sources and verification procedures, and maintain independence, objectivity, and information confidentiality.
- Write a finding connecting the criterion, condition, cause, and effect, and discuss the response and agreed action with the relevant party.
- Prepare a clear report and action follow-up plan, applying current professional requirements relevant to the audit type and work environment. The application examines a case related to “Auditing Bank Accounts and Reconciliations”.
2. The Accounting Cycle, Closing, and Record Quality
- Trace a transaction from source document to journal entry, general ledger, and trial balance, identifying control points and approval responsibilities.
- Analyze transactions and classify accounts by their nature, checking completeness, cutoff, and correct accounting treatment.
- Prepare accounting adjustments and supporting reconciliations, documenting differences, their causes, and the parties responsible for resolving them.
- Review recognition, measurement, presentation, and disclosure requirements under the applicable accounting framework without assuming uniform requirements across countries.
- Organize the closing file with supporting documents, a timetable, and approval reviews, and prepare a register of matters requiring professional judgment.
3. Banking Service and Operations Management
- Define the customer journey, banking product, and service delivery points, distinguishing front-office service, processing, and control.
- Analyze relationship opening, verification, documentation, and authority requirements, referring to applicable local regulatory instructions.
- Review the risks of errors, delays, fraud, and service disruption, linking them to preventive and detective controls and clear responsibilities.
- Design an operational improvement balancing service speed, customer data protection, financial control, and compliance.
- Select indicators for time, accuracy, complaints, and continuity, and prepare a scenario for addressing a failure and evaluating the responses of the parties involved.
4. Risk Assessment, Controls, and Response
- Define the work context, objectives, and assessment boundaries, and distinguish the risk source, potential event, and effects on results.
- Gather risks from processes, data, past incidents, and interviews with responsible staff, and document causes and existing controls.
- Estimate likelihood and impact using stated criteria, and review control effectiveness to determine residual risk levels.
- Select a response proportionate to the risks, resources, and authority, and specify the owner, deadline, and early warning indicator.
- Test a scenario involving changing circumstances, update the risk register, and present material risks and required decisions to the appropriate authority.
5. Governance, Accountability, and Compliance Management
- Map decision-making, oversight, and execution levels, and identify separation of roles and potential conflicts of interest.
- Review policies, committees, delegated authorities, and reporting frequency, and connect each responsibility to clear authority and limits.
- Create an obligations register specifying the source, scope, responsible party, and compliance evidence, and review applicable local requirements.
- Define disclosure, accountability, complaint handling, and misconduct reporting mechanisms, and protect information confidentiality during follow-up.
- Assess a practical governance case and prepare a gap remediation plan with review indicators and evidence of action closure.
Practical outputs
- An audit engagement program, working papers, and an actionable finding.
- An accounting closing file, adjustments, and a record quality checklist.
- A banking process map, control matrix, and service quality indicators.
- A risk register, control matrix, and prioritized treatment plan.
- An authority matrix, obligations register, and escalation and review mechanism.
Who should attend
- Practitioners, specialists and supervisors whose work relates to the programme subject.
- Managers and teams working in control and audit, according to their practical responsibilities.
- Professionals responsible for applying the outputs of “Auditing Bank Accounts and Reconciliations” within their organizations.
Prerequisites
- Working familiarity with the programme field and the ability to discuss a professional case or challenge.
- Confirm the suitability of your experience and any specialist prerequisites with the Union before participation.
Conclusion
The programme “Auditing Bank Accounts and Reconciliations” brings together concepts, case review and a practical application. Participants prepare steps that can be adapted to their responsibilities and organizational resources, with an indicator to follow application and review results after returning to work.
Participation arrangements and any special requests are specified in the confirmation issued by the Union.