Details: BUACC5935
Auditing and Assurance Services
Semester 1, 2019
Group Assignment
Contribution to overall assessment: 25%
Due Date: Thursday May 23, 2019 – 16:00
Australia’s “big four” accountancy firms should be put under the spotlight of the banking royal commission, according to a British investigative journalist who has written an exposé on their activities overseas (Cannane, 2018)*.
*https://ab.co/2LGFndi
Required:
Specific: Do you agree or disagree with the above? Discuss your reasons for doing so.
General: Discuss the opportunities and challenges for the Australian auditing profession in the 21st century. You also need to address the recent regulatory attempts to improve the audit quality in Australia.
You need to support your discussion with suitable examples and relevant cases – both recent and past.
Important: In developing your viewpoint, you need to examine the issues raised in the following material. These materials are a good starting point. They include:
Your textbook.
https://go.ey.com/2W2w4Iv
Sikka, P., Filling, S.,Liew, P. (2009) “The audit crunch: reforming auditing”, Managerial Auditing Journal, Vol. 24 No.2, pp.135 – 155.
Sikka, P. (2009). Financial crisis and the silence of the auditors. Accounting, Organizations and Society, Vol. 34(6-7), pp. 868-873.
To appreciate the multiple pressures on accountants and auditors, see: Helliar, C., & Bebbington, K. J. (2004). Taking Ethics to Heart. Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland.
Please note: while the above reference is 15 years old and UK-based, the issues remain relevant in the Australian context.
Please note the following:
Required format: Essay (Around 2 500 words)
The assignment is to comply with the University’s General Guide to Writing and Study Skills, General Guide to Referencing,and Assignment Layout and Appearance Guidelines.
This is a group-assignment. Each group needs to have 2 to 3 members in it. Please organise yourselves into groups.
Please make sure that names and ID numbers of all group members are stated on the cover sheet of your submission.
As this is a group assignment, each member of your group is awarded the same mark. Working in groups has its pros and cons. I am sure that you will hold constructive group discussions. In case of any disagreements, you will be able to resolve them in a reasonable way. There will be times when you may have to agree to disagree with each other.
Invariably different group members bring different skills to a project; it is up to you to make the best of it. I believe one can learn a lot by discussing the issues with one’s colleagues. If you find your group members are “not pulling their weight” or there are problems with any member’s commitment, then please try to resolve those issues amongst yourselves. Open and honest communication always helps.
For some reason, if you do not wish to work in a group, please let me know via email and your circumstances will be considered.
*****
BUACC5935, Auditing and Assurance Services
Semester 1 – 2019, Group Assignment
Bases of assessment
F MF P CR D HD
Content – Identification of relevant issues.
Research – Selection of relevant material.
A demonstration of critical evaluation of the material.
Expression of your viewpoint (and not a catalogue of quotes/ others’ ideas).
Expression – clarity, style (formal and academic), coherence in writing, grammar, punctuation, spellings and sentence structure.
A logical flow of argument at both the paragraph level and the overall text level.
Use of supporting arguments. Use of literature to support the argument.
Structure – Synopsis (Stated the topic, reflected main arguments and identified conclusions reached).
Introduction (Provided background/contextual information; clearly introduced the essay topic; outlined the plan for addressing the topic).
Discussion in appropriately linked sections and paragraphs.
Conclusion (no new material; reiterated the main line of argument).
Referencing procedure (within the text, and at the end of the text). Appropriately styled and punctuated bibliography.
Overall Presentation – including cover page, line spacing, page numbering.
GRADE:
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