Auditing and Governance Risk and Compliance

Auditing Municipal and Local Government Services

Municipalities deliver essential services with public money and face high expectations of accountability. This course covers auditing local government services: revenue collection, permits and licences, procurement, grants, asset management, service delivery performance and citizen-facing processes.

5 days Classroom or live online English

Smart Horizon Certified - Global Leadership Consultants

Take the course details with you.

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

Download course PDF

Why attend

From knowledge to real-world impact.

Local services affect citizens daily and are vulnerable to inefficiency and corruption. You will learn audit approaches tailored to municipalities.

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.

Municipal case studies, audit programme development, data testing and performance audit exercises.

Course objectives

What you'll take away.

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

Understand municipal risks and governance
Audit revenue collection and billing
Audit permits, licences and inspections
Review municipal procurement and grants
Assess asset and infrastructure management
Evaluate service delivery performance

Target audience

Who should attend.

This course is suitable for:

Municipal and government auditors
Internal auditors in local government
Public finance officers
Performance auditors
Oversight body staff

Target competencies

Capabilities you will build.

Participants will develop competencies in:

Public sector risk assessment
Revenue auditing
Permit process review
Performance auditing
Reporting

Course outline

Your learning journey.

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

Day 1Municipal Context

09:00–10:08Municipal functions
10:08–11:00Governance
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Governance (continued)
11:45–12:53Key risks
12:53–14:00Exercise

Day 2Revenue

09:00–10:08Taxes and fees
10:08–11:00Billing and collection
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Billing and collection (continued)
11:45–12:53Arrears
12:53–14:00Workshop

Day 3Permits and Procurement

09:00–10:08Permits and licences
10:08–11:00Inspections
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Inspections (continued)
11:45–12:53Procurement
12:53–14:00Exercise

Day 4Assets and Services

09:00–10:08Asset management
10:08–11:00Infrastructure
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Infrastructure (continued)
11:45–12:53Service delivery
12:53–14:00Case study

Day 5Performance and Reporting

09:00–10:08Performance indicators
10:08–11:00Citizen outcomes
11:00–11:30Coffee break
11:30–11:45Citizen outcomes (continued)
11:45–12:53Reporting
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 certificate of attendance. Smart Horizon 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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