Audit Committee Certified (ACC) Program

About the program
Board members who serve on today’s audit committees undertake a pivotal role as the centre of conductivity between management, the board, other committees and the regulators. They must express and communicate issues to all parties, and ensure appropriate messaging in corporate reporting.

The Directors College – Audit Committee Certified education program has been developed in collaboration with Certified Management Accountants (CMA). It is an interactive and experiential learning opportunity designed to help corporate directors obtain the necessary knowledge, leadership, behavioural and relationship skills needed to succeed in their role on the audit committee.

Participants will learn about the audit and financial aspects of the committee responsibilities, the management components of the committee work and the relationships tactics involved in committee effectiveness. Committee members from publicly listed companies, private companies, government and not-for profit organizations, all face increasing expectations and can benefit from assessing their practices, in an effort to tailor and fine-tune, for their own particular circumstances.

Specific learning objectives include:

• Clarify and align audit committee processes, charters and work plans to the corporate strategy;
• Identify critical issues in the audit committee’s responsibility for financial reporting, internal control and related disclosure;
• Define the audit committee’s role in risk management;
• Tailor the audit committee composition – qualifications and audit committee chair skills and qualifications – to your organization and strategy;
• Manage relationships among the audit committee, management, the board, internal and external auditors and investors; and
• Assess your skills and behaviours through participation in an audit committee simulation.

Participants must provide evidence of financial literacy, either through a recognized financial professional designation or by attaining a minimum 75% on the On-Line Financial Literacy Quiz (available upon registration).

Successful completion of the full Audit Committee program leads to the McMaster University designation: Audit Committee Certified (ACC).

Program components

1) Participation in two residential Audit Committee Program Modules (2 days each). Modules must be taken in order, 1 then 2.

• Module 1 – September 20-21, 2010
• Module 2 – October 25-26, 2010

2) Participation in two Webinars

• Principal Based Governance Webinar: Exemptions will be granted to Chartered Director graduates.
• Financial Reporting and Disclosure Webinar: Exemptions will be granted to Chartered Director graduates.

3) Successful completion of the Directors College Audit Committee Certified exam.

Registration fee
The Registration fee is $3,175 per module and includes all program and exam material plus two nights’ accommodation and meals, at the White Oaks Conference Resort and Spa in Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON.

Webinar registration fee: $350 per webinar.

To register for the modules, visit the Directors College website.

Agendas
View the course agenda for the September modules
View the course agenda for the October modules

Register now
To register, visit the Directors College website.