Engage Your Students

The hallmark of an effective accounting textbook is the integration of real-world scenarios with theoretical discussion. Auditing & Assurance Services places the student in the role of decision-maker, using situations from companies such as TimeWarner (AOL TimeWarner), Disney, Hewlett-Packard (Compaq Computer), and Wal-Mart to illustrate the application of auditing concepts. Fraud cases in EACH chapter are pulled from recent headlines, including infamous accounting scandals at Phar-Mor, Enron, Critical Path, and WorldCom. To further hold students' attention, the Louwers author team uses a conversational, yet professional, tone—hailed by reviewers as a key strength of the book.

Cutting-Edge Technology

Auditing in modern business utilizes all of the latest technology. The author team of Auditing & Assurance Services recognizes that today's auditor must embrace electronic media as a starting point for effective audits. Students are exposed to all of the tools at their disposal, with the means and knowledge to execute their tasks. From planning an audit in an electronic environment, to using the Computer Assisted Tools and Techniques (CAATTS) to gather evidence, the authors have been careful to expose students to the technology they need to know. The new Kaplan CPA audit simulations allow students to go online and complete simulations similar to those on the CPA exam—seamlessly integrating technology with the coursebook.

Fraud Awareness

The fraud coverage in Auditing & Assurance Services is the most extensive available, and is complemented by real-world examples chosen to engage students. The authors use short “Auditing Insights” to provide real-life (and often humorous!) examples of fraud, as well as how auditors contributed to solving the case. Extended discussion of fraud cases at WorldCom, Enron, Freddie Mac, and Sunbeam, just to name a few, give students an inside view of fraud detection. Chapters 3 and 6 cover management and employee fraud respectively, while Module D focuses on the Certified Fraud Examiner Exam. With the Apollo Shoes Case available online, Auditing & Assurance Services is truly the leading auditing textbook for fraud coverage.

Flexible Organization

Auditing & Assurance Services teaches students auditing concepts by emphasizing context and the auditing process. Chapters 3­­ through 12 cover the auditing process extensively, with a multitude of cases designed to give the student a better understanding of how a best-practice concept developed from real-world situations. Modules A-H provide instructors with additional material that can be used throughout the course. For example, in Module E the authors analyze an assurance engagement performed to measure a manufacturer's claim that their golf balls provide increased distance. Where applicable, each chapter discusses how auditing concepts affect these kinds of assurance engagements, recognizing the increasingly different and complex situations in which CPAs provide assurance. Modules also cover fraud, ethics, sampling, and technology, all designed to provide further insight into the many facets of auditing.