URL study guide
https://studiegids.vu.nl/en/courses/2024-2025/E_ACC_AACourse Objective
On successful completion of this course, students should be able to: - Recall and explain major research findings from the academic literature and explain their relationship with auditing concepts, their academic contribution and relevance for the auditing profession (Bridging theory and practice – knowledge). - Apply the relevant and adequate auditing concepts to analyze practice problems (Bridging theory and practice – application). - Evaluate audit practice problems and formulate adequate solutions, based on the relevant academic and practice literature (Bridging theory and practice – application). - Convey analyses and evaluations of practice problems in a convincing manner both orally and in writing (Professional social skills). - Describe the current role of IT, where applicable, for the topics discussed during this course (Broadening your horizon – IT). - Have a good understanding of auditor responsibilities for the topics discussed during this course (Broadening your horizon – Responsibility).Course Content
The focus of this course is to offer students an in-depth understanding of a range of topics related to the financial statement audit process and the various challenges the auditing profession is currently facing, from both an academic, regulatory and practical perspective. We will make a selection among the following topics:- Audit quality
- Auditor independence
- Risk assessments in auditing
- Professional skepticism
- Fraud and the auditor
- Auditor reporting
- The role of IT (data analytics, AI, etc.) in auditing
- Other assurance services (e.g., ESG assurance) We primarily use academic papers but also some practice literature and auditing cases to analyse and discuss these topics. After completion of this course students will have knowledge of a select number of auditing research streams as well as their applications in practice, and understand the respective current developments regarding the audit process and the audit profession.
Teaching Methods
Plenary lectures (on campus) Smaller group tutorials (on campus)Method of Assessment
Written final examTeam assignment(s) and/or individual assignment(s)Literature
- A selection of academic and practice papers, to be published on Canvas.
- We may refer to selected chapters of ‘Principles of International Auditing and Assurance’ by Rick Hayes, Philip Wallage and Peter Eimers, 2024, Pearson 5th Edition. ISBN: 9789048564156
Recommended background knowledge
Students are expected to have knowledge of financial accounting, accounting information systems and financial auditing equivalent to the VU BSc courses Financial Accounting 2.4 (E_EBE2_FAC), Accounting Information Systems 3.4 (E_EBE3_ACIS) and Auditing 3.5 (E_EBE3_AUD). Specifically, students who have not followed an Auditing course before are required to have studied an introductory auditing textbook before the start of classes (e.g., Hayes et al. 2024). Finally, students should have a good understanding of English-language accounting and auditing terminology, given that all readings are in English.Language of Tuition
- English
Study type
- Master