On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Explain the nature, purpose and scope of assurance engagements, including the role of the external audit and its regulatory and ethical framework;
Explain the nature of internal audit and its role in performance management;
Produce an audit plan and analyse potential problems, recommend action to improve efficiency, effectiveness and control;
Assess audit principles and practice and distinguish between internal and external audit, preparing and commenting on different types of audit report;
Describe and evaluate systems of internal controls and information systems to identify, communicate and control risks with appropriate recommendations.
Corporate governance, corporate performance measurement, agency theory and goal congruence of directors and shareholders. Planning and risk assessment, Internal control systems, components, primary and secondary feedback, open and closed loop control. Audit framework and regulation, APB ethical standards, risks of material mis-statement, materiality and fraud. Analytical procedures, tests of control and evaluation, transaction cycles and sampling. Role of internal audit, audit planning, documentation, questionnaires, sampling and testing. Detection and investigation of fraud. The concept of risk and risk reduction. Probability, modelling and simulation. Audit reports and reports to management.
The module will be delivered via a series of weekly one-hour whole-group interactive lectures supported by weekly one-hour small group tutorial / workshop sessions. Questions / exercises will be set at each lecture meeting for students to complete before the associated small group session. Students will be provided with, and/or directed to, relevant reading and additional questions / exercises to support their progress through the module material.
Lectures
Contact hours: 20
Intended Group size: 30
Tutorials
Contact hours: 20
Intended Group size: 10
Guided Independent Study
Hours: 160
Further details relating to assessment
Marginal condonement of failure is allowed for this module within the degree programme but no marginal condonement of failure is allowed in relation to ACCA exemptions.