Risk Advisory and Assurance Certificate

Risk Advisory and Assurance consultants and internal auditors bring immense value to their organization, identifying risks associated with achieving strategic goals and helping the company mitigate those risks. In addition, internal auditors benchmark both internally and externally to implement best practices.

Risk Advisory and Assurance is an excellent entry point into management as they have visibility on business processes from start to finish and form relationships across the company.

The Risk Advisory and Assurance profession is experiencing a high demand for candidates coupled with a shortage of potential recruits; the Seattle University Risk Advisory and Assurance program is providing the industry with quality entry-level Risk Advisory and Assurance professionals. Our program includes an in-class internal audit practicum as well as highly recommended three month Risk Advisory and Assurance internships. Our Risk Advisory and Assurance graduates have been favorably received by Pacific Northwest Companies.

Career Options

• Enterprise Risk Management—identifying the risks that matter the most to a business
• Sustainability—providing assurance that corporate social responsibility claims are valid
• Operational Audit - managing a well-run business
• Systems Implementation—investigating IT implementation for efficiency and effectiveness
• Sarbanes Oxley Audit—reviewing effectiveness of internal controls
• Forensic Accounting—preventing and detecting fraud and abuse of resources
• Government Performance Audit —evaluating the use of your tax dollars
• Engineering Processes—reviewing processes and procedures surrounding the engineering function
• Manufacturing Processes—evaluating production efficiency

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this program, students will be able to:

• Recommend a course of action to a prospective client by using a framework or model to analyze financial statements and other relevant data.
• Advise stakeholders of how strategic business risks relate to internal controls, financial reporting, tax, and/or audit using authoritative literature, fieldwork, surveys, archival, or other research data.
• Construct arguments for and against alternative accounting decisions by weighing the ethical, stakeholder, and stewardship implications of each.

Admissions and Certificate Requirements from Seattle University's 2023-2024 Graduate Catalog

Admission Requirements

1. Minimum of an undergraduate degree from an accredited institution
2. Official scores from the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or the Graduate Records Examination (GRE)

Certificate Requirements

Individual courses below may have additional prerequisites.

Requirement for certificate: 12 credits

Next Steps

• Current students should speak to their adviser about adding a certificate.
• New students need to apply for the certificate program as a regular student via our Application page.
  • Once you are accepted you may start the next available term.
  • After being accepted you must attend an advising orientation.
• Length of program depends on when classes are being offered and how many you wish to take per term. Not all classes are offered every year/quarter. Speak to your adviser to get the most up-to-date schedule for the academic year.
• Costs are outlined on our Tuition and Fees page.

For more information, contact albersgradinfo@seattleu.edu.