Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2018-2019 (archived)

Module ECON2251: AUDITING AND ASSURANCE

Department: Business School (Economics and Finance)

ECON2251: AUDITING AND ASSURANCE

Type Tied Level 2 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2018/19 Module Cap None. Location Durham
Tied to NN43
Tied to N302
Tied to N304
Tied to NN42
Tied to N204
Tied to N206
Tied to N305
Tied to N306
Tied to N307

Prerequisites

  • Introduction to Financial Accounting ECOS1081

Corequisites

  • None.

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To introduce students to the audit and assurance processes, and ensure students are able to contribute to the assessment of internal controls, gathering of evidence and reporting on an assurance engagement.

Content

  • Introduction to Auditing & Assurance including the distinction between internal and external audit
  • The concept and function of assurance
  • The processes and tools involved in audit and assurance
  • The assurance engagement and gathering appropriate evidence
  • Reporting on assurance engagements
  • Professional ethics for auditing
  • Auditing and governance

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • On completion of this module, students will be able to:
  • Appreciate the concept of assurance, and the role of the professional auditor
  • Understand the audit process from engagement, assessment of risk, planning the audit, through to reporting
  • Explain issues related to integrity, objectivity, conflicts of interest, conflicts of loyalty, confidentiality and independence
Subject-specific Skills:
  • By the end of this module, students are expected to be able to:
  • Assess audit and business risk to facilitate planning
  • Determine strengths and weaknesses of various audit approaches including identification of ethical issues
  • Report the findings of an audit or assurance engagement to relevant stakeholders
  • Critically understand the context of audit and the issues facing auditors in the context of contemporary capital markets
Key Skills:
  • Written communication
  • Planning and organisation
  • Time management
  • Problem solving
  • Critical reflection

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

  • Learning will be based on knowledge transfer from lectures, seminars and personal study. Audit simulation tasks will be used in seminars to introduce aspects of the audit of a multi-national company. Students will present the results of their audit investigations within these seminars through role play activities and will receive formative feedback on both their technical knowledge and their professionalism.
  • Formative assessment will allow students to research a particular audit topic of interest and allow them to present their work in the form of a poster presentation to their peers, tutors and professional accountants.
  • Summative assessment will test key knowledge and skills ensuring students can complete tasks within a specific time frame. An A3 poster presentation will take place at an Accounting Event with an accompanying reflective statement of 500 words. There is a 3 hour written examination.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Lectures 21 per week I hour 21
Seminars 8 4 in term 1; 4 in term 2 1 hour 8
Preparation and reading 171
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination Component Weighting: 80%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Written examination 3 hours 100% Same
Component: Poster and Presentation Component Weighting: 20%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Poster presented at an Accounting Event A3 size poster 75% A3 poster with 1000 word explanation
Reflective statement 500 words 25% Same

Formative Assessment:

Presentation of a different poster within a mock event held in seminars


Attendance at all activities marked with this symbol will be monitored. Students who fail to attend these activities, or to complete the summative or formative assessment specified above, will be subject to the procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be required to leave the University