Communication Studies and Language Communication Studies

Information and Records Audit Techniques Training

SAQA US 259442 | NQF 4 | Credits 8 | Duration 5 Days
From $1,242 per delegate

Description

This course equips learners with the skills to plan and conduct a systematic audit of an organisation's information and records management systems. Participants will learn to assess compliance with legal and organisational requirements, identify gaps, and recommend improvements to ensure efficient and accountable record-keeping.

Learning Outcomes

  • Plan an information/records audit by defining scope, objectives, and criteria.
  • Collect and analyse data on records creation, storage, retrieval, and disposal.
  • Evaluate audit findings against legal, regulatory, and organisational requirements.
  • Identify risks and non-compliance issues in records management processes.
  • Compile an audit report with clear recommendations for improvement.
  • Present audit results to stakeholders to support decision-making.

Target Audience

Records managers, information officers, compliance officers, and administrative professionals responsible for auditing or improving records management practices within their organisations.

Prerequisites

None — open enrollment.

Course Outline

Day 1: Foundations of Information and Records Management

Objectives:
• Understand the legal and regulatory framework for records management in South Africa.
• Define key terms: records, information, audit, and compliance.
• Identify the principles of records lifecycle management.
• Recognize the role of an audit in ensuring records integrity.

Topics:
• Introduction to records management legislation (e.g., Promotion of Access to Information Act, National Archives Act).
• Records lifecycle: creation, use, maintenance, disposition.
• Types of records: physical, electronic, hybrid.
• Importance of information governance.
• Overview of audit principles and standards (ISO 15489, ISO 30300).
• Roles and responsibilities of records managers and auditors.
• Ethical considerations in records auditing.
• Case studies: consequences of poor records management.

Day 2: Planning and Preparing for an Information and Records Audit

Objectives:
• Develop an audit plan and scope.
• Identify audit criteria and evidence sources.
• Understand risk assessment in records management.
• Prepare audit checklists and tools.

Topics:
• Audit planning: objectives, scope, and criteria.
• Stakeholder identification and engagement.
• Risk-based approach to records auditing.
• Developing audit checklists tailored to records management.
• Sampling techniques for records review.
• Pre-audit documentation review.
• Communication protocols with auditees.
• Ethical and confidentiality considerations.

Day 3: Conducting the Audit – Techniques and Evidence Gathering

Objectives:
• Execute audit procedures: interviews, observations, and document review.
• Collect and evaluate audit evidence.
• Identify non-conformances and areas for improvement.
• Document findings accurately.

Topics:
• Interview techniques for records management staff.
• Physical inspection of records storage and filing systems.
• Electronic records audit: metadata, access controls, backups.
• Evaluating compliance with policies and legislation.
• Identifying records management risks and gaps.
• Using audit management software and tools.
• Recording evidence: workpapers, photographs, logs.
• Handling confidential and sensitive information during audit.

Day 4: Reporting and Communicating Audit Findings

Objectives:
• Structure an audit report according to professional standards.
• Write clear, objective, and actionable findings.
• Present findings to management and stakeholders.
• Develop corrective action plans.

Topics:
• Components of an audit report: executive summary, scope, findings, conclusions, recommendations.
• Writing non-conformance reports (NCRs).
• Prioritizing findings based on risk.
• Presenting audit results to different audiences.
• Facilitating closing meetings.
• Developing corrective and preventive action plans.
• Follow-up audit procedures.
• Legal implications of audit findings.

Day 5: Advanced Audit Techniques and Continuous Improvement

Objectives:
• Apply advanced auditing techniques: data analytics, forensic records audit.
• Integrate continuous improvement into records management.
• Understand the role of technology in records auditing.
• Prepare for external audits and certification.

Topics:
• Data analytics for records audit: trend analysis, anomaly detection.
• Forensic records audit: legal hold, e-discovery.
• Auditing cloud-based records and third-party services.
• Continuous improvement models (Plan-Do-Check-Act).
• Benchmarking records management practices.
• Preparing for external audits (e.g., by regulators).
• Certification schemes (e.g., ISO 30301).
• Capstone exercise: simulated audit scenario.

Practicals

16 hours of practicals To be conducted online or on-campus or in-house
Overview

The practicals provide hands-on experience in planning, conducting, and reporting an information and records audit. Learners will apply audit techniques to real-world records scenarios, use audit tools, and practice evidence collection and reporting.

Practical Activities
  • Practical 1: Audit Planning and Checklist Development — Learners work in groups to develop an audit plan and checklist for a simulated organization's records management system. (4h)
  • Practical 2: Conducting a Mock Audit – Physical Records — Learners conduct a physical inspection of a simulated filing system, interview staff, and collect evidence of compliance. (4h)
  • Practical 3: Electronic Records Audit – System Review — Learners audit an electronic document management system (simulated) for metadata, access controls, and backup procedures. (4h)
  • Practical 4: Audit Reporting and Presentation — Learners compile an audit report based on their findings and present it to the class as simulated management. (4h)

Summatives

Each delegate is assessed continuously throughout the course via daily exercises, scored practical assignments, and a final summative test at the end.

Practical Assignments — 30%

Practical assignments are observed and scored against a rubric during the practical sessions. Each delegate's practical mark is averaged into a single 100% score and contributes 30% to the final total.

Daily Exercises — 20%

Every training day ends with a multiple-choice exercise scored out of 100%. The scores from each daily exercise are averaged across the duration of the course to produce a Daily Average mark, which contributes 20% to the final total.

Final Test — 50%

On the last day a final summative test is written. It is a multiple-choice paper with multiple-answer questions: each question may have more than one correct option, and a single wrong selection on a question marks the entire question wrong — no partial credit. The final test is scored out of 100% and contributes 50% to the overall mark.

Final Total
Component Out of Weight
Practical Assignments (rubric-scored) 100% 30%
Daily Average (multiple choice) 100% 20%
Final Test (multi-answer multiple choice) 100% 50%
Final Total 100%

All marks are recorded on the AATICD LMS and visible to each learner under their account.

Certificate

Certificate of Completion

Awarded to delegates who achieve an overall mark of 50% or higher on the Final Total (Practicals 30% + Daily Average 20% + Final Test 50%).

How it works
  • Certificates are auto-generated on the AATICD LMS as soon as the marks pass the 50% threshold.
  • Each certificate is a branded PDF with the delegate's name, the course title, the unit standard ID, NQF level, credits, and the date of issue.
  • You can download or print your certificate from your LMS dashboard at any time after issue — there's no reissue fee and no expiry date.
  • If you scored under 50% you can sit the final test again at the next scheduled session at no extra cost.
Where to find it

Sign in to the LMS, open your dashboard, and your certificates appear under My Certificates. Each entry has a View / Download button and a print option.

Training Discounts

Group discounts apply automatically — the more delegates you enrol, the greater the saving. Discounts are calculated at 3% per 5 delegates, scaling up to 40% off for 100+ delegates.

Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% discount per 5 delegates, up to 40% off for 100+ delegates. Contact us for a custom group quote.

Upcoming Training Sessions
Online training — attend live sessions from anywhere via our virtual classroom.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 07 Sep 2026 Fri 11 Sep 2026 Virtual Spring 2026 $1,242 Register
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Mon 27 Dec 2027 Fri 31 Dec 2027 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,242 Register
Mon 17 Jan 2028 Fri 21 Jan 2028 Virtual Summer 2027 $1,242 Register
On-Campus training — face-to-face sessions at our training venues across Africa and beyond.
Showing all 528 sessions across 26 venues
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Mon 29 Jun 2026 Fri 03 Jul 2026 Kigali, Rwanda Winter 2026 $3,834 Register
Mon 29 Jun 2026 Fri 03 Jul 2026 Luanda, Angola Winter 2026 $3,834 Register
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Mon 29 Jun 2026 Fri 03 Jul 2026 Nairobi, Kenya Winter 2026 $3,834 Register
In-House training — we bring the trainer to your organisation, tailored to your team.
Start End Delivery Season Price Action
Mon 14 Sep 2026 Fri 18 Sep 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 05 Oct 2026 Fri 09 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 26 Oct 2026 Fri 30 Oct 2026 Your Premises Spring 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 14 Dec 2026 Fri 18 Dec 2026 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 18 Jan 2027 Fri 22 Jan 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 22 Feb 2027 Fri 26 Feb 2027 Your Premises Summer 2026 $1,615 Register
Mon 08 Mar 2027 Fri 12 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 15 Mar 2027 Fri 19 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 22 Mar 2027 Fri 26 Mar 2027 Your Premises Autumn 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 14 Jun 2027 Fri 18 Jun 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 05 Jul 2027 Fri 09 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 26 Jul 2027 Fri 30 Jul 2027 Your Premises Winter 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 13 Sep 2027 Fri 17 Sep 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 04 Oct 2027 Fri 08 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 25 Oct 2027 Fri 29 Oct 2027 Your Premises Spring 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 13 Dec 2027 Fri 17 Dec 2027 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 03 Jan 2028 Fri 07 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,615 Register
Mon 24 Jan 2028 Fri 28 Jan 2028 Your Premises Summer 2027 $1,615 Register
Training Discounts
Delegates Discount
5 3% off
10 6% off
15 9% off
20 12% off
25 15% off
30 18% off
50 30% off
75 35% off
100 40% off

3% off per 5 delegates, up to 40% for 100+

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