Investigate and explain the relevant issues in auditing

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Reference no: EM132302253

Auditors and Legal Liability

Purpose of the assessment

Students are required to research a recent legal case where an Audit firm was sued for professional negligence. Students are required to analyse the root causes and the pertinent issues from their selected case and then specify what measures can be taken by auditors in the audit approach and in other ways, to minimise the risk of litigation and ensure professional integrity and reputation.

Learning Outcomes:
• Demonstrate an understanding of the reporting requirements of auditing standards (ULO 1)
• Demonstrate an understanding of the auditor's professional, legal and ethical responsibilities to their clients and third parties (ULO 2)
• Understand the audit planning procedures, evaluate the business risk and assess the internal control (ULO 4)
• Prepare auditing procedures for transactions and balances by conducting control and substantive tests (ULO 5)

Assignment Specifications

This assignment aims to enhance students' critical thinking skills and higher order application abilities by researching and analysing a legal case involving the litigation of an auditor/audit firm. Students will need to propose and document mitigating measures to address the risk of litigation and make appropriate recommendations to the audit approach, in terms of the audit strategy adopted, the audit procedures required in the audit program and other appropriate ways for the auditor to mitigate against both professional reputational damage and financial losses.

The assignment structure must be as follows:

1. Holmes Institute Assignment Cover Sheet - Full Name, Student No., Campus, Session No.
2. Executive Summary
• The Executive summary should be concise and not involve too much detail.
• It should make commentary on the main points only and follow the sequence of the report.
• Write the Executive Summary after the report is completed, and once you have an overview of the whole text.
• The Executive Summary appears on the first page of the report.

3. Contents Page - This needs to show a logical listing of all the sub-headings of the report's contents. Note this is excluded from the total word count.

4. Introduction - A short paragraph which includes background, scope and the main points raised in order of importance. There should be a brief conclusion statement at the end of the Introduction.

5. Main Body Paragraphs with numbered sub-headings - Detailed information which elaborates on the main points raised in the Introduction. Each paragraph should begin with a clear topic sentence, then supporting sentences with facts and evidence obtained from research and finish with a concluding sentence at the end.

6. Conclusion - A logical and coherent evaluation based on a thorough and an objective assessment of the research performed.

7. Appendices - Include any additional explanatory information which is supplementary and/ or graphical to help communicate the main ideas made in the report. Refer to the appendices in the main body paragraphs, as and where appropriate. (Note this is excluded from the total word count.)

Assignment Topic - Auditors and Legal Liability

Read the following extract from the ACCA (the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants) website, which is the global body for professional accountants, as stated:

"Over the past two decades the bill for litigation settlements of Big Four audit firms alone has run into billions of dollars. Examples include Deloitte's 2005 settlement of $250m regarding its audit of insurance company Fortress Re and PwC's $229m settlement in the lawsuit brought by the shareholders of audit client Tyco in 2007."

"Auditor liability is increasingly concerning, both in terms of audit quality and the reputation of the profession but also in terms of the cost to the industry and the barriers this creates to competition within the audit market."

Required

Given the importance of professional liability to auditors and the negative publicity this creates for the profession as a whole, research a recent case (Post 2000) where an auditor/audit firm was sued for professional negligence. Students may research cases from the UK, USA, NZ or Canada in addition to Australian cases.

With reference to the facts of the selected case, the significant Auditing and Accounting issues and the final judgement handed down in your selected case:

• Provide a brief description of the key events and the factual issues behind the case
• Explain the culpability or which parties were deemed responsible and why. Outline the damages imposed or the penalties and consider whether they were appropriate.
• investigate and explain the relevant issues in Auditing and Accounting raised by the case,
• The root-cause of the issues such as; market pressure, organisational culture, fraud etc.
• any problems, mistakes or misrepresentations made by the defendants, which contributed to the adverse judgement and the awarding of damages,
• Finally, provide recommendations and possible improvements to:
o the Audit Strategy,
o the Audit Program,
o Other effective measures;
which would prevent the recurrence of the same litigation in the future and maintain the professional reputation of auditors.

Attachment:- Audit, Assurance and Compliance.rar

Verified Expert

The assignment is related to Auditors and their legal liability.The Liability of auditors are related to civil liabilities and even criminal liabilities.The company selected for the assignment is Lehman Brothers Bank.The reason why the Lehman Brothers failed and the share of auditors in their failure is provided in details in the assignment.

Reference no: EM132302253

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Reviews

len2302253

5/9/2019 4:25:22 AM

Report Format and Presentation (1 mark) Very well formatted with sub-headings, page numbers, appendices, and effective use of tables/graphics (1 mark) Formatting is well set out and clear, but there are minor issues in subheadings, page numbers, appendices and/or graphics. (0.85 mark) Referencing and Citation (1 mark) References are consistently correct using Harvard style or APA style. No missing citations. A strong reference list with relevant and credible sources used. Evidence of extensive research. (1 mark) References are consistently correct using Harvard style or APA style. No missing citations. References used are good, but not extensive. (0.85 mark)

len2302253

5/9/2019 4:25:14 AM

Excellent Executive Summary (3 marks) Very effectively written synopsis with clear communication of the main points in a concise paragraph. (3 marks) Main Body Excellent. Well Including organised. Main Introduction points are logically (10 marks) ordered; sharp sense of structuring and arrangement of key information. Supporting details are specific to the main points and adequate facts and other evidence is provided and well- articulated. (8.5 - 10 marks) Conclusion Very well (3 marks) composed conclusion with a clear and logical evaluation with conclusive and persuasive statements based on an intelligent assessment of the evidence acquired. (3 marks) Spelling and Grammar (2 marks) No errors. Well proofread. Clearly edited and refined prior to submission. (2 marks)

len2302253

5/9/2019 4:25:06 AM

Weight 20% Video Presentation Marking Criteria Weighting Effective verbal communication of the key content in a professional manner. 4% Effective use of power-point slides with clearly legible text in concise statements and effective coverage of the content in a professionally produced presentation, which is engaging and logically structured. 4% Total length of the video presentation is within the 10mins limit and effective participation of all group members is noted. 2% Weight 10% Total Weight 30%

len2302253

5/9/2019 4:25:00 AM

Group Assignment Marking Criteria Weighting Executive Summary 3% Main Body of the Report 10% Conclusion 3% Punctuation, Spelling, Grammar, Word Choice, Academic English Expression 2% Report presentation, formatting and effective use of any additional materials 1% Correct referencing, In-text citation, acknowledgement of sources, consistency 1%

len2302253

5/9/2019 4:24:54 AM

Students must use power-points slides with clear dot-points, noting the key information. The video presentation should be considered a professional business presentation, which would be viewed by colleagues in the Auditing profession. All students in the group must participate in the video or marks will be deducted. Video presentations should not exceed the 10mins time limit or marks will be deducted. Impressive video presentations may be played in class provided that consent is given.

len2302253

5/9/2019 4:24:49 AM

Students are required to work on the assignment in groups of 4 - 6, produce a group report and a short video presentation of approximately 10mins. Group membership will need to be communicated to the local campus lecturer in writing to the session lecturer by week 6. Both assessment items must be submitted on Blackboard. The written assignment must be in a report format and submitted through safe-assign prior to final submission. The originality percentage should be as low as possible. The written submission must be double-checked, edited and rephrased if the originality percentage and plagiarism risk is noted as high, as per safe-assign.

len2302253

5/9/2019 4:24:38 AM

Word limit Maximum 3,000 words Due Date Week 9 Submission Guidelines • All work must be submitted on Blackboard by the due date along with a completed Assignment Cover Page. • The assignment must be in MS Word format, single spacing, 12-pt Arial font and 2cm margins on all four sides of your page with appropriate section headings and page numbers. • Reference sources must be cited in the text of the report, and listed appropriately at the end in a reference list using Harvard referencing style.

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