Mastering Audit Skills through Hands-On, Peer-Based Learning
Earlier this year, Elena Gubavu from the National Bank of Romania attended the “Mastering Skills through On-the-Job Training for Internal Auditors” training. It brought together public sector internal auditors from different institutions and countries, combining an intensive face-to-face workshop with mentor-supported group work and online peer learning. The aim was to strengthen practical internal audit capacity to deliver value-added assurance engagements aligned with the new Global Internal Audit Standards.
From the very beginning, Ms. Gubavu was drawn to the program’s practical focus. During the face-to-face workshop, she joined a small group assignment that simulated real audit work, planning and conducting an assurance engagement using real information and data. Her team worked through the full planning logic: how to evaluate and score risks, what data analysis steps were realistic and defensible, and how to translate findings into recommendations that an auditee could actually implement. The group discussions were lively and detailed, and Ms. Gubavu felt genuinely energized—this was the “hands-on exposure” she had been looking for as a new auditor.
Between the workshop and the webinars, the group continued collaborating with mentors, refining their draft work and stress-testing their approach. In the webinars, Ms. Gubavu took part in a peer review session where mentors provided targeted feedback on the group’s draft assignment, helping them sharpen the structure, clarity, and alignment with standards. By the end of the program, the group produced a concrete output: a draft audit planning template that included risk scoring elements, data analysis checklists, and structured recommendation formats. Just as valuable, Ms. Gubavu left with a network of peer auditors from other countries, colleagues who challenged her assumptions and shared practical perspectives from their own institutions.
The training didn’t stay theoretical for long. In her next audit assignment at her institution, Ms. Gubavu adopted the planning template directly. It helped her conduct a more rigorous risk assessment, organize her audit work more systematically, and draft recommendations that were clearer, more actionable, and easier to follow. She also maintained contact with peers from the training, continuing to exchange feedback on methodologies and sharing practical tips by email.
As Ms. Gubavu summarized the results of the experience: “On a personal level, I felt more confident and effective in audit planning and reporting, which led to greater job satisfaction and recognition from my supervisor for the improved quality of my audit work. At the organizational level, applying the information and concepts from the training improved the clarity and impact of our audit reports, helping auditees better understand recommendations and implement changes more swiftly.”