Auditing Procurement and Contracts (AGRC-050) Training Course

Auditing Procurement and Contracts

Procurement is one of the highest-risk areas in any organisation. Large sums flow through purchasing and contract processes, and weaknesses can lead to overpayment, poor…

5 daysClassroom or online

49Upcoming dates

12Cities

£2,250Fees from

Course overview

Introduction

Procurement is one of the highest-risk areas in any organisation. Large sums flow through purchasing and contract processes, and weaknesses can lead to overpayment, poor value, favouritism, bid rigging, kickbacks and contracts that fail to deliver what was promised. Regulators, boards and the public expect procurement to be fair, transparent and well controlled.

This Auditing Procurement and Contracts training course gives auditors a structured, risk-based approach to reviewing the full procure-to-pay and contract life cycle. Participants learn how to audit needs identification, sourcing and tendering, supplier selection, contract award, contract management, variations, invoicing and payment.

The course places particular emphasis on fraud and corruption red flags, data analytics for procurement and how to add value by identifying savings and process improvements as well as control gaps.

Course Objectives

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

Identify the main risks across the procurement and contract life cycle
Plan a risk-based audit of procurement and contract management
Evaluate controls over requisitioning, sourcing and tendering
Assess the fairness and transparency of supplier selection and award
Audit contract management, variations and performance monitoring
Test invoicing, receipting and payment controls
Recognise procurement fraud and corruption red flags
Use data analytics to target procurement audit work

Target Audience

This training course is suitable for a wide range of professionals, including:

Internal auditors and audit managers
Procurement and contracts managers
Compliance and anti-fraud professionals
Finance and accounts payable managers
Government and public sector auditors
Risk and governance professionals

Training Methodology

The course uses sample tender files, evaluation reports, contracts and purchase data to provide realistic practice. Participants map procurement processes, test controls, analyse spend data for anomalies and investigate red flags in case studies drawn from public and private sector organisations.

Target Competencies

Procurement risk assessment
Tender process review
Contract management auditing
Procure-to-pay control testing
Procurement fraud detection
Spend data analytics

Course outline

1Day One: Procurement Risks and Audit Planning

The procurement and contract life cycle from need to closure
Procurement policies, delegations and governance structures
Common procurement risks and audit findings
Public sector and private sector procurement differences
Risk assessment and scoping of a procurement audit
Data and document requests for procurement audits
Exercise: building a procurement risk and control matrix

2Day Two: Sourcing, Tendering and Supplier Selection

Requisition approval and needs justification
Choosing procurement methods and thresholds
Specifications that are fair and non-restrictive
Tender advertisement, clarification and bid opening controls
Evaluation criteria, scoring and evaluation committees
Conflict of interest declarations and independence
Exercise: reviewing a tender evaluation file

3Day Three: Contract Award and Contract Management

Contract approval, signing authorities and documentation
Key contract terms that protect the organisation
Contract management plans and responsibilities
Monitoring supplier performance and service levels
Controlling variations, extensions and claims
Contract closure and lessons learned
Case study: a contract with uncontrolled variations

4Day Four: Purchase-to-Pay Controls

Purchase orders, goods receipt and three-way matching
Supplier master data creation and changes
Invoice processing, approval and duplicate prevention
Payment runs and bank detail change controls
Petty cash, purchasing cards and low-value purchases
Accruals and commitments reporting
Exercise: testing a sample of payments

5Day Five: Fraud, Analytics and Reporting

Bid rigging, kickbacks and fictitious supplier schemes
Split purchases and threshold avoidance
Analytics for spend patterns, duplicates and suspicious suppliers
Linking supplier and employee data to detect conflicts
Identifying savings and value-for-money opportunities
Writing persuasive procurement audit reports
Personal action plan for procurement auditing

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Auditing Procurement and Contracts course?

The course runs over 5 days of classroom training, usually Monday to Friday.

When is the next Auditing Procurement and Contracts course?

The next public date is 7 - 11 Dec 2026 in Frankfurt. There are 49 upcoming dates in total.

Where is this course held?

Upcoming sessions run in Frankfurt, London, Barcelona, Cape Town, Dubai, Geneva, Istanbul, Kuala Lumpur, Munich, Paris, Vienna, Amsterdam.

Can I take Auditing Procurement and Contracts online?

Yes. Every date can also be joined live online in a virtual classroom with the trainer, for £1,280 per participant. Choose "Live online" in the dates table when you register.

How much does the course cost?

Fees start from £2,250 per delegate, depending on the city. Fees include tuition and course materials.

Do participants receive a certificate?

Yes. Delegates who complete the course receive a London Leadership Management Innovation certificate of completion.

Can this course be delivered in-house for our team?

Yes. LLMI can tailor and deliver this course privately for your organisation at your premises or in one of our training cities.

Course information last updated 14 November 2026.

Auditing Procurement and Contracts

Course overview

Introduction

Course Objectives

Target Audience

Training Methodology

Target Competencies

Course outline

Dates and fees

Frequently asked questions

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