Courses Exchange Display 2018-2019

Course Description To PDF
Course title Assurance Services
Course code EBC4037
ECTS credits 6,5
Assessment Whole/Half Grades
Period
Period Start End Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
1 3-9-2018 26-10-2018 X/E X/E
Level Advanced
Coordinator Ann Vanstraelen
For more information: a.vanstraelen@maastrichtuniversity.nl
Language of instruction English
Goals
The objectives of this course are twofold. First, students will gain insight into the essential elements of the process of assurance services. Second, students will obtain a solid knowledge of the academic literature on assurance services. To that end, the process of assurance services will be put into perspective by the results of academic research.
Students who successfully complete this course will have sufficient knowledge of the process of assurance services to effectively perform entry-level assurance work in professional accounting firms. Furthermore, students will be able to read and critically evaluate audit research, and report the results of research on current and fundamental issues in the accounting profession.

Graduates have profound, evidence-based and up-to-date academic knowledge and understanding of theories, methods and tools in business/economics. This includes demonstrating the ability to develop new ideas.
Graduates can apply their profound knowledge and understanding to identify and solve also unstructured or semi-structured real life business/economic problems in unfamiliar environments within broader multidisciplinary contexts. This includes demonstrating analytical skills and a problem-solving attitude.
Graduates can integrate various perspectives to formulate judgments even with incomplete information on complex theoretical and practical business/economic issues.
Graduates can effectively communicate both to specialist and nonspecialist audiences. This includes demonstrating strong presentation skills, project- management skills, interpersonal skills, a high level of argumentation and context sensitivity.
Graduates have self-directed learning skills and the ability to regulate their own learning process.
Description
The broad area of assurance services concerns the relevance and reliability of financial and non-financial information. This course more specifically focuses on those assurance services that improve the reliability of information as perceived by decision makers such as shareholders. In particular, this course on assurance services will focus on audits of financial statements performed by public accounting firms. The course will cover the essential elements of the process of assurance services (audit process) as well as academic literature on assurance services. Essential elements of the audit process are for example business risk assessment, internal control evaluation, planning of the audit approach including audit risk assessment, performance of analytical and detailed procedures, and audit reporting. The role of data analytics will also be emphasized. Academic research that will be discussed relates to current issues such as professional scepticism, auditor independence, audit firm governance, quality control, public oversight, audit market structure, concentration, competition, and audit pricing.
The course is linked to audit practice by means of case-studies, a workshop in collaboration with a large audit fimr and/or a guest lecture.
Literature
Textbook and articles
Prerequisites
Courses and workload are very demanding for all IB Master courses. Exchange students need to have obtained a bachelor degree with a major in Business. Exchange students need to major in accounting in their Master.
An advanced level of English
Teaching methods (indicative; course manual is definitive) PBL / Lecture / Assignment
Assessment methods (indicative; course manual is definitive) Participation / Written Exam
Evaluation in previous academic year For the complete evaluation of this course please click "here"
This course belongs to the following programmes / specialisations
Master Business Research IB Electives
Master Business Research - Operations Research IB Electives
Master Fiscal Economics Economics Electives
Master International Business - Accountancy Compulsory Courses
Master International Business - Accounting & Control (parttime/NL) Compulsory Courses
Master International Business - Controlling Electives
Master International Business - Entrepreneurship and SME Management Electives
Master International Business - Organisation: Management, Change and Consultancy Electives
Master International Business - Strategic Corporate Finance Electives
Master International Business - Strategy and Innovation Electives
Master International Business - Sustainable Finance Electives
SBE Exchange Master Master Exchange Courses
SBE Non Degree Courses Master Courses