Introductory description

This module offers an in-depth understanding of professionalism and assurance, focusing on the assurance of both financial and non-financial information, including Environmental, Sustainability, and Governance (ESG) aspects.

Module aims

Outline syllabus

This is an indicative module outline only to give an indication of the sort of topics that may be covered. Actual sessions held may differ.

Professionalism- Theories of Professions ( audit context )
Assurance process and provision
Key concepts relevant to assurance
Theories in audit
Regulatory framework of assurance
Current issues in Audit and assurance practice
Reporting and ESG in assurance

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students should be able to:

• Explain and apply concepts of audit and assurance in the contexts of financial reporting and, ESG / sustainability and integrated reporting
• Describe and apply the core principles of professional and corporate codes of ethics
• Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the current issues in audit and assurance practice and the implications for organisations, practitioners and relevant stakeholders
• Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of the role of audit in society including the audit expectations gap
• Critically analyse differing audit perspectives
• Apply logical reasoning to justify actions by assurance providers in a given situation
• Demonstrate critical thinking in discussing theories relevant to audit and professionalism
• Critically evaluate the regulatory framework of assurance, professionalism, and sustainability

Indicative reading list

Power, M., 1997. The audit society: Rituals of verification. OUP Oxford.
Power, M., 2000. The audit society—Second thoughts. International Journal of Auditing, 4(1), pp.111-119.
Guénin-Paracini, H., Malsch, B. and Paillé, A.M., 2014. Fear and risk in the audit process. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 39(4), pp.264-288.
Pentland, B.T., 1993. Getting comfortable with the numbers: Auditing and the micro-production of macro-order. Accounting, Organizations and Society, 18(7-8), pp.605-620.
Cooper, D.J. and Robson, K., 2006. Accounting, professions and regulation: Locating the sites of professionalization. Accounting, organizations and society, 31(4-5), pp.415-444.
Sikka, P., 2009. Financial crisis and the silence of the auditors. Accounting, organizations and society, 34(6-7), pp.868-873.
Humphrey, C., 2008. Auditing research: a review across the disciplinary divide. Accounting, Auditing & Accountability Journal, 21(2), pp.170-203.
Humphrey, C., Loft, A. and Woods, M., 2009. The global audit profession and the international financial architecture: Understanding regulatory relationships at a time of financial crisis. Accounting, organizations and society, 34(6-7), pp.810-825.
Hughes, E.C., 1963. Professions. Daedalus, pp.655-668.
Parsons, T., 1939. The professions and social structure. Social forces, 17(4), pp.457-467.
Mintz, S., 2014. Accounting for the public interest. Perspectives on accountability, professionalism and role in society.

Research element

The module will require research skills in terms of scoping relevant and seminal literature.

Subject specific skills

Understand the accounting discipline's generic research strains
Evaluate the role of Audit & Professionalism in society
Develop a notion of what professionalism entails and it’s application to audit and ESG within the context of the broader public interest
Participate in constructive dialogue as a means of responding to, and learning from, the feedback of others

Transferable skills

Demonstrate effective written communication skills.