Auditing and Governance Risk and Compliance

Auditing Government Grants and Programmes

Grant programmes distribute public funds to organisations and individuals and must show results and proper use. This course covers auditing grants: programme design and eligibility, application and award processes, conditions and monitoring, payments, outcomes reporting, fraud risks and recovery of misused funds.

5 days Classroom or live online English

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Take the course details with you.

Download the full standard outline: why attend, methodology, objectives, audience, competencies, the daily outline and current plans.

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Why attend

From knowledge to real-world impact.

Grant fraud and poor outcomes waste public money. You will learn to audit grant programmes from design to results.

Workplace challenges

Professional Problems This Course Is Designed to Solve

The programme explores practical approaches to the following challenges. Results depend on how the learning is applied in your organisation.

Difficulty translating subject knowledge into practical workplace decisions.
Inconsistent approaches to the activities covered in the course outline.
Lack of a structured plan for applying and reviewing new skills.

Course methodology

How you will learn.

Grant file testing, programme case studies, analytics exercises and reporting practice.

Course objectives

What you'll take away.

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Understand grant programme risks
Audit eligibility and award processes
Review grant agreements and conditions
Test grant payments and monitoring
Assess outcomes and value for money
Identify fraud and recover misused funds

Target audience

Who should attend.

This course is suitable for:

Government auditors
Internal auditors in public bodies
Grant managers
Oversight and inspection staff
Donor agency auditors

Target competencies

Capabilities you will build.

Participants will develop competencies in:

Programme review
File testing
Outcome assessment
Fraud detection
Reporting

Course outline

Your learning journey.

A focused, practical outline with time to explore, apply and reflect.

Day 1Grant Programmes

09:00–10:08Types of grants
10:08–11:00Risks
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Risks (continued)
11:45–12:53Audit approach
12:53–14:00Exercise

Day 2Award

09:00–10:08Eligibility
10:08–11:00Assessment and award
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Assessment and award (continued)
11:45–12:53Conflicts of interest
12:53–14:00Workshop

Day 3Monitoring and Payments

09:00–10:08Conditions
10:08–11:00Payments
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Payments (continued)
11:45–12:53Monitoring reports
12:53–14:00Exercise

Day 4Outcomes

09:00–10:08Results reporting
10:08–11:00Value for money
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Value for money (continued)
11:45–12:53Evaluation
12:53–14:00Case study

Day 5Fraud and Recovery

09:00–10:08Grant fraud
10:08–11:00Recovery
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Recovery (continued)
11:45–12:53Recommendations
12:53–14:00Action plan

The timings provided are estimates and may vary depending on the number of participants and the discussions taking place during the sessions. They are indicative only and do not constitute a binding commitment.

Dates & venues

Find a session that works for you.

Confirmed dates accept registration requests. Tentative dates are enquiry only.

Good to know

A few things to know.

How is the course delivered?

Our classroom programmes combine facilitated discussion, case studies, exercises and reflection. The precise format will be confirmed before enrolment.

Can you deliver this programme for our team?

Yes, you can enquire about a tailored programme. Share your goals, group size and preferred dates with our learning team.

Will I receive a certificate?

Participants who complete the programme receive a Smart Horizon UK certificate of attendance. Smart Horizon UK programmes are not externally accredited and do not award a professional qualification, licence or designation. Where a course title or outline refers to a professional certification (for example, AACE International's Certified Cost Professional), the programme supports learning and preparation only; the credential itself is awarded solely by the relevant professional body under its own application and examination requirements.

What should I confirm before booking travel?

Please confirm the session, exact venue, accessibility arrangements, fees and any visa requirements with the team before arranging travel. Tentative dates are not confirmed sessions.

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