A tailored course, built for your situation
Mastering SOC 2 for Assistant Managers in Global Services Firms
A step-by-step system to build audit-ready evidence packages faster and with less rework
$199 one-time
24-hour access provisioning
30-day money-back guarantee
Hand-built implementation playbook
12 modules. 12 chapters per module. 144 chapters total.
12 modules, each with 12 chapters (144 chapters total), text-based, plus downloadable templates and a hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
Who this is for
Assistant-level compliance or finance managers in global professional services firms who own pieces of control evidence but aren’t yet in the room where control frameworks are shaped.
Who this is not for
Senior partners setting firm-wide policy, IT auditors running checklists, or practitioners outside services delivery environments.
What you walk away with
- Produce audit-ready evidence packages in half the review cycles
- Anticipate control scope decisions before they land on your desk
- Contribute directly to controls design huddles with structured input
- Navigate cross-functional evidence ownership with clarity
- Own a documented, repeatable process for SOC 2 evidence flow
The 12 modules (with all 144 chapters)
Module 1. Understanding SOC 2 Trust Service Criteria in Services Context
Grounds the course in how SOC 2 applies specifically to service delivery organizations like the firm, focusing on relevance to general ledger control environments.
12 chapters in this module
- How SOC 2 applies to financial reporting and GL operations
- Differences between SOC 2 and SOX in practice
- Mapping TSC categories to common control scenarios
- Why audit evidence differs by service delivery model
- Key roles in a global firm’s SOC 2 workflow
- Common misalignments between control design and execution
- How regulators interpret control evidence in services
- Integrating SOC 2 into existing control frameworks
- Timeline expectations for annual and interim audits
- Understanding auditor expectations by service line
- Common triggers for scope changes in multi-client environments
- Where GL managers fit in the broader SOC 2 chain
Module 2. Control Identification for Complex Service Delivery
Teaches how to identify controls tied to specific service offerings, especially where financial controls intersect with client data and reporting.
12 chapters in this module
- Spotting controls hidden in technical documentation
- Identifying automated vs manual control points
- How service offerings shape control design
- Control triggers in multi-jurisdictional engagements
- When general ledger controls affect SOC 2 scope
- Mapping financial reports to control assertions
- Detecting control gaps in integrated workflows
- Control ownership in shared service models
- Common pitfalls in control scoping across teams
- Aligning control ID with engagement timelines
- Evaluating control relevance for client-specific needs
- Documenting control rationale for audit trail
Module 3. Designing Evidence Collection Workflows
Covers how to structure repeatable evidence gathering that reduces rework and aligns with auditor review patterns.
12 chapters in this module
- Designing evidence workflows for recurring audits
- Choosing between screenshots, logs, and reports
- Defining ownership for evidence collection
- Timing evidence collection to reduce last-minute stress
- Standardizing evidence format across engagements
- How to structure walkthrough documentation
- Evidence thresholds for different control types
- Building templates that pass first review
- Version control for evolving evidence packs
- Integrating evidence planning into project timelines
- Common auditor pushbacks and how to pre-empt them
- Using service delivery calendars to plan evidence
Module 4. Writing Clear Control Descriptions
Teaches how to write control narratives that are audit-ready, clear, and defensible without over-engineering.
12 chapters in this module
- Structure of a defensible control description
- Using plain language to describe automated controls
- Avoiding over-scope in control narratives
- How to describe manual controls accurately
- Linking control descriptions to policy documents
- Describing segregation of duties in team settings
- Documenting control frequency and timing
- When to include system names vs roles
- Writing for auditor comprehension, not formality
- Common red flags in control descriptions
- Integrating exception handling into narratives
- Reviewing peer control descriptions effectively
Module 5. Mapping Controls to Trust Service Criteria
Details how to assign controls to Security, Availability, Processing Integrity, Confidentiality, and Privacy with precision.
12 chapters in this module
- Understanding each TSC category with examples
- How one control can satisfy multiple criteria
- Common mis-mappings and how to avoid them
- When controls don’t map cleanly to TSC
- Handling partial satisfaction of a criterion
- Mapping edge cases in financial data flows
- Using mapping to reduce redundant controls
- Auditor expectations for mapping documentation
- Cross-referencing mappings across teams
- Updating mappings when services change
- Tools for visualizing control-to-TSC links
- Documenting rationale when mappings are disputed
Module 6. Testing Control Design Effectiveness
Guides how to assess whether a control is properly designed, even before operating tests begin.
12 chapters in this module
- What makes a control design 'effective'
- How to test design without full execution
- Role of walkthroughs in design validation
- Identifying missing elements in control design
- Using sample data to validate design logic
- Design flaws that lead to operational failures
- Evaluating control design for scalability
- How auditor judgment affects design acceptance
- Documenting design test procedures
- Common assumptions that fail in design tests
- Reviewing peer designs for completeness
- Timing design tests ahead of operations
Module 7. Testing Control Operating Effectiveness
Covers how to verify that controls operate as intended over time, with minimal sampling error.
12 chapters in this module
- Defining operating effectiveness clearly
- Sampling strategies for ongoing monitoring
- Timing tests within control frequency
- Using logs and reports as test evidence
- Documenting test procedures for reuse
- Common gaps in operating test documentation
- Handling exceptions during test cycles
- Auditor expectations for test depth
- Using automated tools to support testing
- Testing across multiple environments
- Linking test results to control descriptions
- Reviewing peer test evidence for quality
Module 8. Managing Control Exceptions and Remediation
Teaches structured handling of control failures, including prioritization and root cause analysis.
12 chapters in this module
- Classifying severity of control exceptions
- Root cause analysis techniques for controls
- Timing remediation to audit cycles
- Documenting interim compensating controls
- Communicating exceptions to stakeholders
- Tracking remediation progress effectively
- Common pitfalls in exception management
- Using exceptions to improve control design
- Auditor expectations for remediation plans
- Avoiding recurring exceptions
- Integrating lessons into future engagements
- Reporting on exception trends over time
Module 9. Building the System Description
Guides how to contribute to or review the SOC 2 system description, focusing on clarity and completeness.
12 chapters in this module
- Structure of a SOC 2 system description
- Describing service offerings accurately
- Detailing system boundaries and components
- Including client-specific configurations
- How GL data flows fit into the narrative
- Describing third-party dependencies
- Documenting service organization responsibilities
- Updating descriptions for new offerings
- Aligning description with control mappings
- Common omissions in system narratives
- Reviewing peer contributions effectively
- Using visuals to enhance clarity
Module 10. Preparing for Auditor Fieldwork
Prepares for on-site or remote auditor interactions with structured documentation and communication habits.
12 chapters in this module
- What auditors look for in evidence packs
- Common questions during walkthroughs
- Organizing documentation for fast retrieval
- Assigning roles during auditor interviews
- Using pre-audit checklists effectively
- Anticipating auditor requests in advance
- Documenting responses to auditor inquiries
- Handling follow-up requests efficiently
- Common miscommunications with auditors
- Building rapport without over-sharing
- Post-fieldwork review and feedback
- Using auditor insights to improve future cycles
Module 11. Integrating Automation into SOC 2 Workflows
Covers how to leverage tools to reduce manual effort in evidence collection and testing.
12 chapters in this module
- When to automate vs keep manual
- Common automation tools in services firms
- Integrating logs into evidence packages
- Using scripts to extract system data
- Validating automated controls for auditors
- Documenting automated control logic
- Monitoring automated controls over time
- Handling exceptions in automated workflows
- Security considerations for automation
- Training teams on automated evidence
- Scaling automation across engagements
- Auditor acceptance of automated evidence
Module 12. Continuous Improvement for SOC 2 Maturity
Teaches how to use each audit cycle to build greater efficiency and influence in controls design.
12 chapters in this module
- Reviewing past audits for improvement
- Tracking key metrics across cycles
- Identifying recurring pain points
- Sharing best practices across teams
- Contributing to firm-wide control standards
- Mentoring junior staff on SOC 2
- Using feedback to refine workflows
- Evolving controls as services change
- Building institutional memory
- Advocating for better tools and processes
- Positioning yourself for leadership roles
- Owning a lasting, reusable playbook
How this maps to your situation
- Control evidence in multi-client services
- General ledger impact on SOC 2 scope
- Assistant manager role in audit cycles
- Global delivery model challenges
Before vs. after
Before
Waiting for others to define control scope and evidence ownership
After
Initiating design conversations with evidence frameworks ready
What's included with your purchase
- 12 modules with 12 chapters each (144 chapters)
- Downloadable templates and worked examples for every module
- Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Delivery and format
- Course and learning environment access provisioned within 24 hours of purchase
- Hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access
Format: Text-based modules and chapters in the Art of Service learning environment, plus downloadable templates and worked examples for every chapter, plus the hand-built implementation playbook delivered alongside course access.
Time investment: 90 minutes per week for 12 weeks, with asynchronous access to all materials.
If nothing changes
Remaining in execution-only mode while peers step into design influence
How this compares to the alternatives
Unlike generic SOC 2 overviews, this course focuses on service delivery contexts, control influence, and evidence workflows relevant to assistant managers in global firms.
Frequently asked
Is this course technical or audit-focused?
It’s designed for practitioners in delivery roles who need to contribute to SOC 2 evidence and design without being auditors.
How is the course structured?
12 modules, each containing 12 chapters (144 chapters total).
Can I apply this across different client engagements?
Yes , the frameworks are designed to scale across multi-client, multi-jurisdictional service delivery.
$199 one-time. 90 minutes per week for 12 weeks, with asynchronous access to all materials..
Within 24 hours your account in the learning environment is provisioned and the tailored implementation playbook is delivered alongside it.
30-day money-back guarantee·
144 chapters·
Hand-built playbook included·
Account access within 24 hours