AF4D115 - Advanced Audit & Assurance 01 Sep 2020 - 31 Aug 2026 | Version 2

Associated Module Information

Module Code: AF4D115
Module Title: Advanced Audit & Assurance
Faculty: Faculty of Business and Creative Industries
Faculty Group: Accounting and Finance
Faculty Sub Group: Accounting and Finance
Module Leader: Susie Jackson, Jared Davies
Module Team: Joanna Howell, Rebecca Wright, Rhian Gosling
First Intended Intake: SEP 2018 Final Year of Intake:
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 40 Credit Level: 7
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100105 - accounting
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 2
Valid From 01 Sep 2020
Valid To 31 Aug 2026

Module Aims

This module aims to develop students’ knowledge, understanding, application and critical evaluation of contemporary advanced audit & assurance principles and practices in a range of business contexts. Further, it aims to develop students’ abilities to critically evaluate existing practice and current developments. It will require advanced evaluation and synthesis skills and will foster critical questioning.

There will be a focus on the complex practical scenarios that a professional accountant will face and the technical competencies they will require to tackle these. As a result, students will be prepared for the ACCA external Advanced Audit & Assurance examination (International and UK variants).

Content Summary

The syllabus of this module is based on the ACCA Advanced Audit & Assurance paper.

The ACCA Advanced Audit and Assurance syllabus starts with the legal and regulatory environment including money laundering, and professional and ethical considerations, including the Code of Ethics and professional liability. This then leads into procedures in practice management, including quality control and the acceptance and retention of professional engagements.

The syllabus then covers the audit of financial statements, including planning, evidence gathering and evaluation. It then covers the completion, review and reporting on an audit of historical financial information.

The next section moves onto other assignments including prospective financial information, due diligence and forensic audit as well as the reporting of these assignments.

The final section covers current issues and developments relating to the provision of audit-related and assurance services.

Summary of ACCA syllabus areas:
• Regulatory environment
• Professional and ethical considerations
• Practice management
• Planning and conducting an audit of historical financial information
• Completion, review and reporting
• Other assignments
• Current issues and developments

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Lecture 30
Seminar 50
Independent Study 230
Directed Study 80
Formative Assessment - Scheduled 10
Total Hours Selected 400

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Critically evaluate current issues and developments relating to the regulation and provision of audit-related and assurance services, including professional and ethical frameworks and International Standards on Auditing.
LO2 Critically evaluate: quality control policies and procedures in practice management; the work required to meet the objectives of audit and non-audit assignments; audit and non-audit findings and the results of work performed; and reports on assignments.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Onsite Assessment (Exam) Onsite Closed Book Examination 1 Time Constrained Assessment 195 3000 50 No 40
Asynchronous Assessment Report 1 Individual written assignment 0 4500 50 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Onsite Closed Book Examination 1
Report 1

Reading List

BPP Learning Media. ACCA Advanced Audit & Assurance Study Text (International & UK variant). London: BPP Learning Media.

Kaplan Publishing. ACCA Advanced Audit & Assurance Study Text (International & UK variant). Wokingham: Kaplan Publishing.

Aston & Davies. Auditing Fundamentals. Prentice Hall.

H Silverstone, H., and Sheetz, M., Forensic accounting and fraud investigation for non-experts. Wiley.