Auditing HR and People Risk

Overview

People are regularly described as an organisation's greatest asset. They can also be the source of significant risk. The ECIIA’s Risk in Focus 2026 survey again highlighted “human capital, diversity, talent management and retention” as second place in its list of key risks identified by CAEs across Europe. 

We are seeing skills gaps and shortages in key professions and sectors across Europe. Recruitment, employee engagement, talent management, upskilling and retention are vital to the current and future success of all our organisations. 

But how well are these activities undertaken in your organisation and how well are the associated threats and opportunities being managed? 

Energy and resources are invested in developing HR management strategies, processes, and services; yet employee survey results may not be improving, turnover increases and retention is challenging. This course will help you provide effective, professional insight and internal audit assurance over a range of key people risks, employee engagement and HR management. 

Target Audience

This course has been designed to be relevant to internal auditors, audit managers and chief audit executives, as well as risk managers and other second line colleagues, with varying levels of practical experience. It is of most relevance to those who are about to audit people risk, HR activity or the HR function, for those who manage audits - or other activity - in this area, or for those wishing to stay up to date with topical developments, and emerging areas of risk and internal audit interest.

Course Content

This course covers the following areas: 

• People risk and its importance
• A background to Human Resources (HR) and Human Resources Management (HRM)
• The importance of effective HR management to all organisations, irrespective of sector 
• HR management purpose and objectives 
• Modern and emerging HRM service and delivery 
• Alternate HR strategies available to organisations 
• Key HR management functional and service delivery risks and options for risk mitigation 
• Topical HR issues and people risk facing organisations 
• Common challenges and issues faced when auditing HR and people risk and how to overcome these. 

The course includes facilitator input, topical examples, short practical discussions and exercises to reinforce the learning and build upon your existing knowledge.

John Chesshire, CFIIA, QIAL, CRMA, CIA, CISA, has over 24 years' experience working in the internal audit, risk management, business improvement and governance fields. John is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute in the UK, an Independent Internal Audit Committee Chair, and was Chief Assurance Officer for the States of Guernsey until the start of 2021. He has delivered many well-received courses to IIA Belgium in the past, as well as to many other European Institutes of Internal Auditors. 

His other recent clients include FTSE listed companies, multinationals, central and local government, law enforcement, charities, professional services companies, and international organisations such as NATO, the OECD, and UN Agencies. He is a principal examiner for the Institute of Risk Management and has been a visiting lecturer in the Governance and Assurance Hub at Birmingham City University. 

He loves internal audit, is a great friend of IIA Belgium and particularly enjoys working in new and emerging areas of assurance interest.