AYB301 Audit and Assurance


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Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Gardens Point, Internal

Unit code:AYB301
Credit points:12
Pre-requisite:AYB221 or AYB340
Equivalent:AYX301
Coordinator:Pamela Kent | pf.kent@qut.edu.au
Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.

Overview

Audit and Assurance is a third year unit, which is included in the degree program to enable students to comprehend the key concepts of auditing as a discipline, to demonstrate the relationship between auditing and the systems of accountability and to demonstrate the differences between manual and computerised information systems (CIS) audit processes. The unit builds on the knowledge of accounting and accounting standards acquired in prior units by enabling students to understand in detail the audit process (including professional auditing standards and techniques and ethical requirements) which leads to the auditor providing an opinion on the truth and fairness of financial reports of various types of entities.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

  1. Discuss the nature and purpose of auditing and assurance services and the impacts of regulatory and professional requirements on these services, including audit litigation.
  2. Apply auditing and ethical concepts, standards, techniques and theory to critically analyse, evaluate, synthesise, problem solve and make decisions on practical issues and situations within the auditing process.
  3. Use teamwork knowledge and written communication skills to identify auditing and ethical issues arising in a professional environment and justify written decisions within the relevant auditing and ethical standards.

Content

This unit covers the regulatory and ethical frameworks within which assurance services are provided, the processes and techniques utilised by assurance service providers and other related audit and assurance issues. Students should acquire knowledge of auditing and its procedures, auditing standards and other professional pronouncements. The issues covered in auditing are techniques practised both in Australia and overseas.

The graduate capabilities this unit develops are discipline knowledge, analysis, evaluation and synthesis of theory and practice, planning, problem solving and decision making, working in a team, written communication and ethics.

QUT Business Capabilities (Undergraduate)

The content and assessment in this unit are aligned to a selection of the following set of QUT Business Capabilities, also known as Assurance of Learning Goals (AoLs). Developing these capabilities will assist you to meet the desired graduate outcomes set at QUT and equip you with the knowledge and skills to succeed in your chosen career.

Knowledge and Technological Skills (KS)
1.1 Demonstrate and apply integrated discipline (including technical) knowledge across the broad field of business with depth in one or more core business disciplines.
1.2 Apply technical and technological skills appropriate and effective for real world business purposes and contexts.

Higher Order Thinking (HO)
2.1 Investigate real world business issues and situations through the effective analysis, evaluation and synthesis of theory and practice.
2.2 Exercise independent judgement and initiative in adapting and applying knowledge and skills for effective planning, problem solving and decision making in diverse contexts.

Professional Communication (PC)
3.1 Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.
3.2 Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in oral forms, appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.

Teamwork and Self (TS)
4.1 Exercise self-reflection, responsibility and accountability in relation to own learning and professional practice.
4.2 Apply teamwork knowledge and skills for effective collaboration across diverse purposes and contexts.

Social, Ethical and Global Understanding (SE)
5.1 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices in analysing and responding to business issues.
5.2 Demonstrate and apply knowledge of socially responsible behaviour in analysing and addressing business issues in national and international business contexts.

Learning Approaches

Attendance at ALL classes is strongly encouraged as additional information such as emphasis and explanations will inevitably be given there.

Lectures provide theoretical coverage of audit issues, standards and auditing concepts and the application of these techniques and issues to practical auditing examples and exposure to the use of technology in auditing. This strategy exposes students to all aspects of the conduct of an audit and associated auditing issues.

Tutorials which lag behind lectures by one week further develop students understanding and comprehension of the theoretical and practical aspects of auditing. The tutorial questions aim to consolidate students' understanding of the basic auditing concepts and to develop a more in-depth knowledge and critical thinking about the issues covered in lectures and in the text.

The assignments aim to further develop student's knowledge of key concepts of ethics and audit planning, within the professional environment and apply these to practical case studies. The assignment also aims to further develop students writing and reporting skills.

COVID-19 restrictions may require changes to the planned Learning Approaches described here.  Students should refer to the unit Canvas site for the latest information.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Students will receive feedback in various forms throughout the semester which may include:

  • Informal: worked examples, such as verbal feedback in class, personal consultation
  • Formal: in writing, such as checklists (e.g. criteria sheets), written commentary
  • Direct: to individual students, either in written form or in consultation
  • Indirect: to the whole class

Assessment

Overview

The assessment aims to support your achievement of the learning outcomes for this Unit. It has been designed in order to allow you to both:

  • receive feedback on your learning as you progress toward the development of knowledge, understanding, skills and attitudes (formative assessment); and
  • demonstrate your learning in order to achieve a final grade (summative assessment).

Students may be required to attend campus or an assessment centre for the purposes of assessment, regardless of the attendance mode for the unit.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Group Project Audit Ethics

Acting as a team of accounting professionals, you will discuss the nature and purpose of auditing and assurance services and the impacts of regulatory and professional requirements on these services, including audit litigation.

Your teamwork processes will be assessed as part of this assessment.

Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative

Business Capabilities (AoL goals): 2.1, 3.1, 4.2, 5.2.

This assignment is eligible for the 48-hour late submission period and assignment extensions.

Weight: 20
Length: Approximately 1500 words maximum across the assessment item typed and formatted. 10% above the word limit is acceptable. Grading will be based upon the text that is within the word limit or 10% above.
Individual/Group: Group
Due (indicative): Week 9
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 3

Assessment: Individual Audit Project

You will apply oral and written communication skills in auditing and ethical concepts, standards, techniques and theory to critically analyse, evaluate, synthesise, problem solve and make decisions on practical issues and situations within the auditing process.



Formative or Summative: Formative and Summative

Business Capabilities (AoL goals): 1.1, 2.2, 3.1, 3.2

The late submission period does not apply to the oral component of this assignment, for which no assignment extensions are available.

Weight: 20
Length: Approximately 500 words maximum across the assessment item typed and formatted. 10% above the word limit is acceptable. Grading will be based upon the text that is within the word limit or 10% above.
Individual/Group: Group
Due (indicative): Weekly from weeks 3-12
The assignment is an oral and written assessment. The oral is presented in tutorials and a written version is submitted after the tutorials.
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2, 3

Assessment: Final Exam

The final exam will cover Weeks 5-12 and will consist of higher-order thinking questions related to an auditing case study provided prior to the exam. This assessment aims to classify student performance and to assess their knowledge in relation to all the learning outcomes of the unit.

Formative or Summative: Summative

Business Capabilities (AoL goals): HO (2.1), HO (2.2)

This examination will be an invigilated face-to-face exam undertaken either on campus or at an examination centre.

Weight: 60
Individual/Group: Individual
Due (indicative): Central Examination Period
Related Unit learning outcomes: 1, 2

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Resources

Resource Materials

Prescribed text(s)

Leung, P., Coram, P., Cooper, B.J. and Richardson, P. (2019) Audit and Assurance 1st Edition John Wiley & Sons Australia Ltd ISBN 978-0-7303-6347-7

Reference book(s)

Gay, G.,  and Simnett, R. (2018) Auditing & Assurance Services in Australia 7th edition McGraw-Hill Education (Australia) IBSN 978-1-7604-2197-7

Additional references can also be found at the unit's Canvas site: https://Canvas.qut.edu.au/ under QUT Readings

 

Risk Assessment Statement

There are no out-of-the-ordinary risks associated with lectures or tutorials in this unit. You should, however, familiarise yourself with evacuation procedures operating in the buildings in which you attend classes and take the time to
view the Emergency video.

Standards/Competencies

This unit is designed to support your development of the following standards\competencies.

QUT Business Capabilities (Undergraduate)

HO (2.1): Critical Analysis

Relates to: ULO2, Individual Audit Project, Final Exam

HO (2.2): Independent Judgement and Decision-Making

Relates to: Final Exam

KS (1.1): Discipline Knowledge

Relates to: ULO1

PC (3.1): Professional Communication (Written)

Relates to: ULO3, Group Project Audit Ethics, Individual Audit Project

SE (5.1): Ethical and Legal Understanding

Relates to: ULO3, Group Project Audit Ethics

TS (4.2): Teamwork Knowledge and Skills

Relates to: ULO3, Group Project Audit Ethics, Individual Audit Project

Course Learning Outcomes

This unit is designed to support your development of the following course/study area learning outcomes.

BS05 Bachelor of Business

  1. Demonstrate and apply integrated discipline (including technical) knowledge across the broad field of business with depth in one or more core business disciplines.
    Relates to: ULO1
  2. Investigate real world business issues and situations through the effective analysis, evaluation and synthesis of theory and practice.
    Relates to: ULO2, Individual Audit Project, Final Exam
  3. Exercise independent judgement and initiative in adapting and applying knowledge and skills for effective planning, problem solving and decision making in diverse contexts.
    Relates to: Final Exam
  4. Use information literacy skills, and communicate effectively and professionally in written forms and using media appropriate for diverse purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO3, Group Project Audit Ethics, Individual Audit Project
  5. Apply teamwork knowledge and skills for effective collaboration across diverse purposes and contexts.
    Relates to: ULO3, Group Project Audit Ethics, Individual Audit Project
  6. Demonstrate and apply knowledge of ethical and legal principles and practices in analysing and responding to business issues.
    Relates to: ULO3, Group Project Audit Ethics