Description:
Update as of 19 August 2026: The course originally scheduled for 15–16 September 2026 has been rescheduled to 4–5 November 2026.
CPE Hours: 16
INTRODUCTION
The ability to conduct effective interviews is one of the most valuable skills for audit, compliance and governance professionals.
Whether engaging stakeholders during a routine audit, conducting interview walkthroughs to understand processes and controls, exploring the root cause of a control breakdown, responding to a whistleblower allegation or supporting a formal investigation, the quality of an audit often depends on the ability to ask the right questions, listen actively, assess information objectively and gather reliable evidence.
This highly interactive two-day workshop focuses on developing practical interviewing skills through realistic role plays, guided simulations and real-world scenarios. Rather than simply learning investigative concepts, participants will have multiple opportunities to plan interviews, ask effective questions, manage challenging conversations and receive structured feedback to strengthen their interviewing approach.
Led by an experienced investigator with almost 30 years of law enforcement, regulatory and enforcement experience, the programme combines proven investigative techniques with practical insights drawn from real cases across both the public and private sectors.
Participants will learn how to prepare for interviews, establish rapport, ask effective questions, evaluate information objectively and avoid common interviewing pitfalls. These core interviewing skills are then applied within structured internal investigations, enabling participants to gather reliable evidence, develop defensible findings and produce clear, balanced reports.
By the end of the programme, participants will leave with practical interviewing techniques they can immediately apply in audit engagements, compliance reviews, workplace investigations and other fact-finding situations.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of the programme, participants will be able to:
- Plan and prepare effective audit and investigative interviews.
- Apply practical questioning and active listening techniques to gather reliable information.
- Conduct professional interviews across a range of audit, compliance and investigative situations.
- Build rapport and manage difficult or sensitive interviews while maintaining objectivity.
- Evaluate interview information and corroborate evidence appropriately.
- Apply structured interviewing techniques within internal investigations.
- Produce clear, balanced and evidence-supported audit findings and reports.
METHODOLOGIES
The programme adopts a highly interactive and practice-oriented approach to ensure practical application within an audit and compliance context:
Practical Frameworks and Tools
Learn structured approaches that can be immediately applied to audit interviews, investigations and other fact-finding engagements.
Scenario-Based Case Discussions
Realistic audit-triggered scenarios (e.g. whistleblowing, control override, data anomalies) to reinforce application
Guided Analytical Exercises
Participants assess facts, identify gaps, and determine appropriate investigative actions
Practical Interview Role-Play Simulations
Hands-on practice in planning and conducting audit interviews, including managing resistance and sensitive situations
Facilitated Debrief & Feedback
Structured feedback to reinforce learning points and correct common mistakes
COURSE TOPICS
Module 1: The Role of Interviewing in Audit and Investigations
- The role of interviewing in audit, compliance and governance
- From audit walkthroughs to formal investigations
- When audits evolve into investigations
- Fact-finding versus fault-finding
- Maintaining objectivity, confidentiality and independence
- Avoiding bias and common investigative misconduct
Module 2: Planning Effective Interviews
- Defining interview objectives
- Mapping questions to risks and controls
- Reviewing available information and evidence
- Planning interview strategies and sequencing
- Selecting interviewees
- Preparing for different interview scenarios
Module 3: Conducting Effective Interviews
- Free narrative vs structured questioning approaches
- Use of open-ended and neutral questions
- Managing difficult, defensive, or sensitive interviewees
- Recognising inconsistencies without confrontation
- Adapting interviewing techniques to different stakeholders
Module 4: Managing Interview Risks & Pitfalls
- Leading questions and premature conclusions
- Revealing audit findings too early
- Poor documentation practices
- Handling deception indicators appropriately (without overreach)
Module 5: Evidence Management in an Audit Context
- Types of audit-relevant evidence (emails, logs, approvals, audit trails)
- Relevance, reliability, and sufficiency
- Chain of custody and documentation standards
- Avoiding contamination and procedural lapses
- Corroborating interview information
Module 6: Applying Interview Skills in Investigations
- Overview of investigation models
- Applying the FAIR Model
- Comparing investigative frameworks
- Structuring investigations objectively
- Avoiding tunnel vision and bias
Module 7: From Interview to Defensible Audit Findings
- Interview ≠ conclusion: importance of corroboration
- Linking facts to risks and control failures
- Structuring audit observations and findings
- Developing clear, evidence-supported recommendations
Module 8: Preparing an Audit-Grade Investigation Report
- Structure and components of a defensible report
- Distinguishing facts from opinions
- Referencing evidence appropriately
- Writing in a neutral and professional tone
Module 9: Case Studies & Role-Play Simulations
- Structure and components of a defensible report
- Distinguishing facts from opinions
- Referencing evidence appropriately
- Writing in a neutral and professional tone
Module 10: Case Studies & Role-Play Stimulation
- Procurement conflict of interest scenario
- Revenue recognition / management pressure scenario
- Identification of control override and governance gaps
- End-to-end interview planning and execution
- Facilitated debrief and practical learning points
ABOUT THE TRAINER
Ramesh Raj Kishore
Regional Director - Asia Pacific
Pharmaceutical Security Institute
Raj has nearly 30 years of experience in law enforcement and regulatory roles, with expertise in criminal intelligence, anti-counterfeiting, and pharmaceutical crime. He previously served in Singapore’s Police Intelligence and Criminal Investigation Departments and later held key enforcement and prosecutorial responsibilities at the Health Sciences Authority.
Currently, as Regional Director at the Pharmaceutical Security Institute, Raj works to strengthen public-private collaboration across Asia Pacific and leads capacity-building initiatives for law enforcement agencies. He also lectures at the National University of Singapore and consults for the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime on enforcement and legislative strategies.
REGISTRATION
Please email the completed registration details as per the excel form to IIA Academy at iia-academy@iia.org.sg. We will notify you once your registration for the training has been successfully processed.
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PAYMENTFor more information on payment modes, please click HERE.
IMPORTANT NOTE
- Please email the completed registration details as per the excel form to IIA Academy at iia-academy@iia.org.sg. We will update you upon successful registration of the mentioned training.
- Once the course is confirmed, an email confirmation will be sent to the registrants’ contact email addresses 1 week prior to the course commencement date.
- If you do not receive any email notification regarding your course registrations, please call IIA Academy at 6324 9029 ext 2004 or 2005.
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
- Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Contact person will be notified via email upon successful registration of the participants. The training details would be sent to the registered participants one week prior to the training.
- Registration fee must be received prior to the date of the training.
- Registered participants will be liable for the full registration fee in the event of non-attendance on the date of the training.
- Cancellation must be submitted in writing to the Academy team at iia-academy@iia.org.sg at least 7 working days prior to the training and subject to IIA Singapore's approval. A processing fee of $100 per participant will be imposed for any cancellation received less than 7 working days. Substitutions will be permitted, and conditions will apply. You may substitute a “like” person to attend the training in your place – for example, if you are an IIA Singapore member, you may substitute with another IIA Singapore member.
- IIA Singapore reserves the right to cancel or postpone the training if the minimum class size is not met. In such cases, all paid registration fees will be refunded in full.
- IIA Singapore reserves the right to revise the training programme as necessary.
- IIA Singapore reserves the right in our absolute discretion and without further liability to cancel any training, in which case any fees paid by you will be refunded. However, in such circumstances IIA Singapore cannot be held responsible for hotel or travel expenses which you are unable to recoup as a result of a training being cancelled.
- IIA Singapore reserves the right to take videos and photographs during the training for use in IIA Singapore’s marketing collaterals and other publicity purposes.
- Complimentary parking, if available, will be provided on a first-come-first-served basis.
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