Overiew

People are regularly described as an organisation's greatest asset. They can also be the source of significant risk. The ECIIA’s Risk in Focus 2026 survey again highlighted “human capital, diversity, talent management and retention” as second place in its list of key risks identified by CAEs across Europe.

We are seeing skills gaps and shortages in key professions and sectors across Europe. Recruitment, employee engagement, talent management, upskilling and retention are vital to the current and future success of all our organisations.

But how well are these activities undertaken in your organisation and how well are the associated threats and opportunities being managed?

Energy and resources are invested in developing HR management strategies, processes, and services; yet employee survey results may not be improving, turnover increases and retention is challenging. This course will help you provide effective, professional insight and internal audit assurance over a range of key people risks, employee engagement and HR management.

Who should attend? 

This course has been designed to be relevant to internal auditors, audit managers and chief audit executives, as well as risk managers and other second line colleagues, with varying levels of practical experience. It is of most relevance to those who are about to audit people risk, HR activity or the HR function, for those who manage audits - or other activity - in this area, or for those wishing to stay up to date with topical developments, and emerging areas of risk and internal audit interest.

Course description 

This course covers the following areas: 

• People risk and its importance
• A background to Human Resources (HR) and Human Resources Management (HRM)
• The importance of effective HR management to all organisations, irrespective of sector
• HR management purpose and objectives
• Modern and emerging HRM service and delivery
• Alternate HR strategies available to organisations
• Key HR management functional and service delivery risks and options for risk mitigation
• Topical HR issues and people risk facing organisations
• Common challenges and issues faced when auditing HR and people risk and how to overcome these.

The course includes facilitator input, topical examples, short practical discussions and exercises to reinforce the learning and build upon your existing knowledge.

Trainer bio

John Chesshire, CFIIA, QIAL, CRMA, CIA, CISA, has over 26 years’ experience working in the internal audit, risk management, business improvement and governance fields. John is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors in the UK, an Independent Internal Audit Committee Chair, and a member of three other Audit Committees in the international charity, defence and local government sectors. He was Chief Assurance Officer for the States of Guernsey until the start of 2021. John is also currently the part time internal auditor for an international credit ratings agency and also undertakes external quality assessments of internal audit functions around the world.

He has delivered many well-received courses to IIA Luxembourg in the past, as well as to many other European Institutes of Internal Auditors. His other recent clients include FTSE listed companies, multinationals, central and local government, law enforcement, charities, professional services companies, and international organisations such as NATO, the OECD, the ACCA, and UN Agencies. He has been a principal examiner for the Institute of Risk Management and a visiting lecturer in the Governance and Assurance Hub at Birmingham City University.

John loves internal audit, is a great friend of IIA Luxembourg and particularly enjoys working in new and emerging areas of assurance interest.