Audit and Assurance Essentials: For Professional Accountancy Exams, + Website

Understanding auditing and assurance is essential not just for practitioners, but for anyone in a finance role. Auditing and assurance are key elements in many professional accountancy courses. However, the pass rates for these papers are often significantly lower than for other papers at the same level. Much of the available material is unclear and confusing because of an excessive level of detail, in an attempt to be comprehensive. This can make it difficult to master the basic concepts.

This user-friendly book covers the key concepts of professional auditing and assurance syllabuses, including those of the ACCA and ICAEW among others, with an emphasis on core knowledge and basic application skills. It is designed as a working primer in the basic concepts of audit and assurance, which are explained and illustrated in clear and simple terms.

Key features are: 

• An introduction to each section explaining why the student should read it, what is important, what sort of questions come up in the area, and how students can stand out from the crowd.
• Practical examples that can be used in the exam room.
• Questions at the end of each chapter.
• A section on study skills and exam technique.
• Clear, understandable coverage of the increasingly important concept of assurance.
• Coverage of International Standards on Auditing (ISAs) relevant to students taking International and UK variant papers with notes on the differences between UK and International standards, where they still exist.
• A companion website containing an additional bank of questions, more material on current issues and other exam-related material.

“Katharine's willingness to share her knowledge of how to perform well in auditing exams makes this book invaluable for anyone taking them.”--Guy Loveday BSc (Econ) FCA, director of PTP Ltd, widely known as both a CPD trainer and former examination tutor

“Katharine knows how to get students through auditing exams!”--John Selwood ACA, lecturer and trainer on auditing