Internal audit has fully evolved into a strategic business partner that delivers independent, risk-based assurance, insight, foresight, and advice to help boards, executive management, and audit committees protect value, support strategy execution, and build resilience in a volatile, digital, sustainability-driven, and heavily regulated world.

The CSA Certified Strategic Auditing program equips experienced auditors, chief audit executives, and senior assurance professionals with the advanced frameworks, tools, and strategic mindset to align internal audit directly with organizational strategy, enterprise risk management (ERM), board priorities, and current regulatory demands (IIA Global Internal Audit Standards 2025, DORA, CSRD/ESRS, EU AI Act, IFRS S2).

Participants learn how to:

• Conduct risk-based strategic audits focused on the issues that matter most to strategy and value

• Provide high-impact, board-ready assurance on strategy execution, emerging risks (cyber, AI, ESG/sustainability, third-party), governance, culture, and resilience

• Elevate internal audit from operational checker to trusted strategic advisor

• Produce influential reporting that drives decisions and demonstrates clear ROI

Through real-world case studies, board/audit committee simulations, risk & strategy exercises, peer feedback, and a capstone strategic audit plan, attendees gain practical, immediately applicable skills to transform internal audit into a high-performing, future-ready function.

• Achieve full alignment with IIA Global Internal Audit Standards 2025 (principles-based, mandatory) and strategic audit expectations

• Master risk-based strategic audit planning — translating enterprise risks, strategy, and emerging threats into high-impact audit priorities

• Gain deep expertise in auditing strategy execution, ERM maturity, risk appetite, governance effectiveness, and emerging risks (cyber resilience/DORA, AI governance/EU AI Act, ESG/sustainability/CSRD/ESRS, third-party dependencies)

• Learn to provide board-level assurance on tone-at-the-top, ethical culture, sustainability disclosures, and operational resilience

• Develop skills to evaluate internal audit function maturity, independence, resources, quality, and strategic alignment (IIA Standards 9–12)

• Strengthen ability to produce clear, influential, board-ready reports — focusing on strategic insights, risk-informed recommendations, and value demonstration

• Build capability to advise on continuous/real-time assurance, data analytics, technology-enabled auditing, and combined assurance models

• Elevate internal audit’s profile and influence — moving from compliance to strategic partner status with measurable impact

• Earn a prestigious, contemporary credential that signals leadership in strategic auditing & assurance

• Immediately apply enhanced skills to improve risk coverage, reduce blind spots, strengthen board confidence, and demonstrate clear ROI to the organization

This certification is designed for experienced assurance professionals who are ready to elevate internal audit from operational assurance to strategic business partnering.

Ideal participants include:

• Chief Audit Executives / Heads of Internal Audit

• Internal Audit Directors / Senior Audit Managers

• Senior Internal Auditors leading or contributing to strategic/risk-based audits

• Audit Managers transitioning to strategic or enterprise-wide assurance roles

• Assurance professionals in compliance, risk, or quality functions seeking strategic audit fluency

• Heads of Risk Management / ERM collaborating with internal audit on strategic risk coverage

• Board / Audit Committee Members or Company Secretaries who oversee internal audit function

• Consultants & Advisors supporting internal audit transformation, risk-based auditing, or governance assurance

• High-potential auditors preparing for CAE, senior strategic audit leadership, or board advisory roles

If your role involves (or will soon involve) aligning internal audit with strategy, overseeing emerging risks, reporting to the board/audit committee, or transforming the audit function into a strategic partner — CSA is the right program for you.

GAFM - Global Academy of Finance and Management

The GAFM was founded in 1996 by the original founders of the Graduate Leadership Society. The Founders of our Standards Board are CEOs, Executives, Professors, and industry experts from around the globe. We desire to raise education standards and ethics in the business and management industries. The Standards Policy Board awards specialized board certifications, designations, and charters in the fields of: finance, accounting, management, and consulting fields to qualified professionals who have completed internationally recognized or accredited exams & education, government recognized degrees and documented management credentials and experience. Since 1996, the Academy has been promoting accredited graduate standards for certification in business, management, law, and finance. Since the inception with the founding of the Graduate Institute of Leadership in 1996, the Academy has been focused on quality assurance with accredited education, exams, assessment, education, ethics, and continuing education. Further, applicants must also have the necessary experience in practice, research or publications in their respective areas of expertise.