Entry-level staff learn the basics and hone their skills in numerous areas including working paper techniques, analytical procedures, compilations and reviews, and tax research.
DESIGNED FOR
Entry-level staff accountants
BENEFITS
To improve inexperienced staff members′ knowledge, skills and attitude to enable them to be more productive and profitable on audits, reviews and compilations
HIGHLIGHTS
- Role of new staff: After recognizing that “taking the total service approach” is the key to growth, participants identify ways in which new staff can contribute to the success of their clients and their firm
- Understanding audit objectives: Through guided discussion, participants identify the major steps in the audit process and the alternatives that are available throughout the process. Audit objectives are identified and discussed. The nature of and the circumstances under which tests of transactions and tests of balances are performed are discussed.
- Audit date analytics: In this module, we introduce Audit Data Analytics (ADA) and provide a framework that participants will apply to specific cases in later modules of this course, as well as in Levels II and III. In addition to the theory behind ADA, participants will get hands-on experience with applying ADA to realistic client scenarios.
- Working paper techniques/cash: In a session scheduled on the first day of the program, participants critique a set of working papers in an area that they are familiar with — cash. Participants first identify the most common deficiencies found in the working papers of new staff.
- Analytical procedures: Guided discussion is used to introduce participants to the purposes served and the fundamental techniques employed in performing analytical procedures. Participants are assigned a case study in which they utilize these techniques to first identify and then follow up on accounts where special problems may exist.
- Compilation and review services: Participants identify and discuss the different levels of assurance and responsibility associated with compilations, reviews and audits. Minimum levels of knowledge required in performing compilations and reviews are identified. The kinds of procedures performed on compilations and reviews and the circumstances under which they are performed are identified and discussed.
- Tax recognition and research techniques: The twofold objectives of this session are to improve each participant′s skills at identifying situations common to small and midsize clients that have tax implications and performing noncomplex tax research to resolve questions associated with each situation. Working with the same small company case used in the compilation and review services module, participants first identify numerous situations with tax implications and then perform basic tax research in a tax reference manual, such as the Master Tax Guide, to either resolve each tax question or recommend more in–depth research.
- Auditing/reviewing selected accounts: In several sessions devoted to various balance sheet accounts, emphasis is placed oni identifying the audit and/or reviewing objectives applicable to a given account and designing and implementing the procedures that will, in the most efficient and effective manner, provide sufficient evidence to meet the specified objectives. Small group case analysis is used to help participants improve the skills they need in effectively and efficiently auditing receivables, payables and inventories"
COURSE LEVEL
Basic
PREREQUISITES
0-12 months of experience
ADVANCE PREPARATION
None