Richard Cascarino and Associates has joined forces with AuditNet® to bring you a structured learning curriculum for CaseWare IDEA. The courses are designed to build on skills developed from prior knowledge or training. Auditors can choose between the complete series or pick and choose specific course depending on both needs as well as budgetary financial constraints.

 Webinar Leader

 Richard Cascarino, CIA, CISM, CFE is a consultant and lecturer with over 28 years experience in IT Risk, Audit, Governance, Forensic, Internal and IT auditing education and author of the books Internal Auditing-an Integrated Approach and Auditor’s Guide to Information Systems Auditing and the forthcoming book Preventing Fraud – It Could Happen to You. He is also a contributing author to the Governance section of Finance: The Ultimate Resource and is a frequent speaker at IIA and ISACA courses and conferences.

He is a Past President of the IIA – South Africa and founded the African Region of the IIA Inc.

 Richard is a computer and audit professional with over 35 years’ experience in designing, implementing, managing and auditing complex computer systems. In addition he has conducted extensive operational audits in a variety of business environments throughout the world. Richard is the Principal of Richard Cascarino & Associates and, in addition to being a regular speaker to National and International conferences, he has presented this series of courses throughout Africa, Europe, the Middle East and the USA. Richard is a Past President of the Institute of Internal Auditors in South Africa, was the founding Regional Director of the Southern African Region of the IIA-Inc and is a member of both the ISACA and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. He is also the author of “Internal Auditing – an Integrated Approach” and “Auditor’s Guide to IT Auditing”.

 About the Series

The IDEA Series is a 10 month series of 2-hour webinars.

Who should attend

The series is aimed primarily at auditors, both internal and external, who are beginning their career in Computer Auditing or who wish to understand how to use IDEA. The series builds rapidly to shorten the time period to productivity and effectiveness.

 Cost $89 (2.0 CPE) each or the complete series of 10 for $799 (20.0 CPE)

Register for the whole series or for individual modules.

February 2012

 This first course will get you off to a quick start in utilizing IDEA.  While basic techniques and data importing are covered, practical knowledge that can be used immediately will also be included. 

The specific learning topics are:

• Use basic IDEA functions and features including creating and using a project file

• Learn to define IDEA Audit Objectives

• Assess what data is needed for reports and preparing a data request

 March 2012

2. Importing Data - The Complete Course in All File Types and Data Tricks to Get Your Data Ready for Analysis March 6, 2012

 This course will teach you to import, combine, and define various types of data into IDEA Software^TM and understand the difference between the tables and implications for the import process.

The specific learning topics are:

• Importing a number of different data types and formats

• Access the Import Assistant Select the File to Import

• File Type

• Specify Record Length

• Specify Field Delineators

• Field Details

• Create Fields

• Import Criteria

• Appending a Virtual Field

 April 2012

 3. Conducting basic Data Analysis with IDEA April 4, 2012

 This course covers the major functions which are in everyday use by the auditor in any use of IDEA and which form the basis of advanced audit techniques.

 The specific learning topics are:

• Summarizing the Data

• Stratifying the Data

• Viewing the Results Graph

• Creating a Pivot Table

• Joining Databases

• Reviewing the History

• Using Display All Records Containing

• Performing a Record Extraction

• Identifying Duplicate Invoices

• Identifying Gaps in an Invoice Number Sequence

• Performing a Key Value Extraction

• Performing a Record Extraction Using an @Function

 Date:April 4, 2012

 May 2012

 4. Reporting using IDEA May 16, 2012

In today's environment the audit department is frequently judged on the quality of its primary output, the Audit Report and this can affect the perception of the professionalism of the whole department. In many cases the effectiveness of the audit itself can be affected by the non-acceptability of the Audit Report. As such, it is critical that the report is perceived to be professional and communicate the desired message in a clear, concise and unambiguous way. This course covers the formation of professional reports using IDEA. 

 The specific learning topics are:

• Designing a Report

• Report Assistant

• Headings Step

• Define Breaks Step

• Report Breaks Step

• Grand Totals Step

• Header/Footer Step

• Previewing and Printing a Report

 June 2012

 5. Importing Data from Reports using the IDEA Report Reader June 12, 2012

In some cases the only source of data is an already printed report of an electronic version of such a report. This course covers the importation of such data into an analyzable form.

 The specific learning topics are:

• Examine the Data and its Layout

• Select a Sample Line and an Anchor Line

• Define a Trap

• Define Field Anchors

• Save the Layer

• Scan for Errors

• Preview the Database

• Create an Append Layer

• Rearrange the Field Order

• Saving the Template

• Converting the File

 July 2012

 6. Advanced Report Importing July 19, 2012

 Building on the previous course, this advanced module looks at importing from more complex print files.

 The specific learning topics are:

• Use Value from Previous Record

• Headers, Footers, and Page Breaks

• Multi-Line Entries and Multi-line Field Options

• Pre-Append and Post-Append Layers

• Using Floating Traps

• Create a Floating Trap

• Excluding Lines

• Using Filters

 August 2012

 7. Using Statistics in IDEA August 29, 2012

 The power of IDEA lies in the ability to interrogate large volumes of data. In some cases, the computer is used only to narrow the field of records the auditor may wish to perform more detailed testing upon. Under these circumstances, the auditor may choose to use statistical sampling techniques.

 The specific learning topics are:

• Stat versus non-stat sampling

• Variable vs Attribute sampling

• Monetary unit sampling

• Learn to use Field Statistics, within IDEA

• Random selection of records for examination

 September 2012

 8. Continuous Monitoring using Advanced Statistical Analysis September 18, 2012

 IDEA’s Advanced Statistical Methods can be used by analysts as a component of a continuous monitoring set of routines. Depending on the nature of the functional area the analysis may take a variety of forms.

 The specific learning topics are:

• Correlation Analysis

• Trend Analysis

• Time Series Analysis

 October 2012

 9. Basic Script Writing in IDEA October 30, 2012 

Basic concepts of script writing and benefits of automating your data projects will be covered in this IDEA course.  IDEA includes a development tool known as IDEAScript for creating macros to extend the functionality of IDEA. IDEAScript can be recorded, written from scratch, or a combination of both.

Developing scripts and implementing best practices will show you how to increase the efficiency of your data analytics projects by analyzing transaction sets on a regular basis. And by facilitating the running of pre-prepared scripts by less experienced auditors.

The specific learning topics are:

• Understand IDEA scripts and the value of automating data work

• Record, create, and edit macros with IDEAScript (a customizable VBA-compatible scripting tool) and Visual Script

• Learn and document best practices for script development  

 November 2012

 10. Using advanced @Functions November 20, 2012

IDEA provides @Functions for performing operations such as date arithmetic, financial and statistical calculations as well as text searches. In addition, the auditor can also create custom functions.

• The specific learning topics are:

• The use of standard IDEA @Functions

• Using @Functions in the Equation Editor

• Tailoring your own @Functions