Durham University
Programme and Module Handbook

Undergraduate Programme and Module Handbook 2022-2023 (archived)

Module ACCT2111: Assurance

Department: Accounting

ACCT2111: Assurance

Type Tied Level 2 Credits 20 Availability Available in 2022/23 Module Cap None. Location Durham
Tied to N408
Tied to N409

Prerequisites

  • None

Corequisites

  • None

Excluded Combination of Modules

  • None

Aims

  • To develop students’ understanding of the critical aspects of managing an assurance engagement (including audit engagements): acceptance, planning, managing, concluding and reporting.

Content

  • Legal and other professional regulations, ethics and current issues
  • Accepting and managing engagements
  • Planning and performing engagements
  • Concluding and reporting on engagements

Learning Outcomes

Subject-specific Knowledge:
  • On completion of this module students should:
  • Have an understanding of the purpose of audit and assurance;
  • Have an understanding of the process of assurance from obtaining an engagement through planning it and reporting on it;
  • Have an awareness of how internal controls operate within a business and how those contribute to the audit opinion;
  • Have an understanding of the role that documentation and evidence plays in assurance and audit;
  • Have an understanding of the ethical and legal requirements of being an assurance provider.
Subject-specific Skills:
  • On completion of this module students should:
  • Be able to plan assurance engagements (including principally audit) so they achieve their objectives;
  • Be able to conclude and report on assurance engagements in accordance with the terms of the engagements;
  • Be able to advise on the ethical issues relevant to assurance engagements and when and why an assurance engagement is relevant to a business.
Key Skills:
  • Planning and organisational skills
  • Critical analysis and judgement skills including professional scepticism
  • Communication and reporting skills
  • Use the online learning environment to efficiently access and manipulate relevant information
  • Presenting information effectively, using appropriate tools

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 workshops and independent study; workshop activities and discussions will provide the technical awareness of topics in a comprehensive form. Investigation of cases and real world organisations which underpin the workshops will encourage students to develop awareness of cultural differences and apply these to the development of their skills in managing themselves and others in such contexts.
  • The summative examination will test students’ understanding of the main concepts and technical treatments through problem solving and reflection on learning.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Activity Number Frequency Duration Total/Hours
Workshops 20 2 per week 2 hours 40
Preparation, Reading and Independent Study 160
Total 200

Summative Assessment

Component: Examination Component Weighting: 100%
Element Length / duration Element Weighting Resit Opportunity
Written examination 2 hours 100% Same

Formative Assessment:

Mock exam


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