About this programme

Payroll fraud and weak controls are among the biggest risks facing NGOs, leading to financial losses, reputational damage, and compliance issues. This training equips participants with the knowledge and tools to identify payroll risks, detect fraud schemes, strengthen internal controls, and ensure transparency in payroll management. The course combines theory, real NGO case studies, and practical exercises on risk assessment and fraud prevention techniques.

Duration

5 Days

Who Should Attend

Payroll & HR Officers in NGOs
Finance & Accounts Managers
Internal & External Auditors
Compliance & Risk Management Officers
NGO Administrators & Program Managers

Learning outcomes

What you'll walk away with

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

Identify payroll risks common in NGOs.
Detect fraud schemes such as ghost employees, falsified overtime, and benefit manipulation.
Implement effective payroll controls and risk mitigation strategies.
Conduct payroll audits and risk assessments.
Strengthen payroll compliance with NGO policies, donor rules, and local regulations.

Course modules

What we cover, module by module

Module 1: Introduction to Payroll Risks in NGOs

Understanding NGO payroll frameworks
Key payroll risks and compliance challenges
Case Study: Payroll fraud scandal in an international NGO

Module 2: Payroll Fraud Schemes & Red Flags

Ghost employees, falsified hours & inflated allowances
Manipulation of benefits and deductions
Practical Exercise: Identifying payroll fraud indicators

Module 3: Internal Controls for Payroll Systems

Segregation of duties in payroll processing
Payroll documentation & authorization protocols
Case Study: Strengthening payroll controls in a mid-sized NGO

Module 4: Payroll Audits & Risk Assessments

Designing payroll audit checklists
Data analytics for payroll fraud detection
Practical: Conducting a payroll risk assessment

Module 5: Strengthening Accountability & Compliance

Donor reporting requirements for payroll
Policies & governance frameworks for NGOs
Case Study: Donor audit findings on payroll management

Impact

Where the change lands

Organizational Impact

Strengthened payroll governance and compliance
Improved fraud detection and prevention mechanisms
Increased donor confidence and accountability
Reduced risk of financial mismanagement

Individual Impact

Skills to detect and prevent payroll fraud
Capacity to conduct payroll risk assessments
Competence in applying audit & compliance frameworks
Stronger understanding of payroll accountability in NGOs

Dates and locations

Upcoming intakes

Every intake is limited to a small cohort. Booking closes when a date fills or three weeks before the start, whichever comes first.

Full calendar

City	Starts	Ends	Delivery	Book
NakuruNext	20 Jul 2026	24 Jul 2026	In-Person	Book
Kigali	20 Jul 2026	24 Jul 2026	In-Person	Book
Accra	20 Jul 2026	24 Jul 2026	In-Person	Book
Kisumu	27 Jul 2026	31 Jul 2026	In-Person	Book
Johannesburg	27 Jul 2026	31 Jul 2026	In-Person	Book
Dakar	27 Jul 2026	31 Jul 2026	In-Person	Book