Students

ACCG8304 – CPA - Advanced Audit and Assurance

2026 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor and Lecturer
Jessica Zhang
jessica.zhang@mq.edu.au
Unit Moderator
James Hazelton
james.hazelton@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
10
Prerequisites Prerequisites
(ACCG907 or ACCG8307) and (ACCG908 or ACCG8308) and (ACCG913 or ACCG8313)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description

This unit provides extended formal academic support to students concurrently enrolled in the Advanced Audit and Assurance unit of the CPA program. The overall objective of this unit is to provide a body of knowledge to help students understand the nature and diversity of auditing and assurance services including quality control for audit firms and the code of ethics. It presents an overview of the auditing process and examines the objectives of the audit and assurance engagements and the environment within which an auditor or assurance practitioner operates. Ethical and professional responsibilities are emphasised to help students develop professional scepticism, professional judgement and awareness of ethical values and attitudes expected of audit professionals globally. Advanced audit techniques such as eCommerce, data analytics, group audits, using other auditors, experts, and internal auditing are analysed. Government sector auditing through performance audit engagements including attestation and direct engagements are explored along with contemporary developments in assurance engagements thereby providing future practice management opportunities in the audit and assurance services performance.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • ULO1: Apply the assurance framework in financial report audit, review and assurance engagements. 
  • ULO2: Describe the professional, legislative and regulatory requirements for audit, review and assurance engagements.   
  • ULO3: Analyse and evaluate the complete audit process in accordance with international auditing standards. 
  • ULO4: Apply relevant standards to the assessment of fraud and going concern in financial statement audits.  
  • ULO5: Research and interpret current issues in contemporary assurance developments, such as performance audits in the public sector, and other assurance services. 

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due Groupwork/Individual Short Extension
Formal examination: Test 25% No 06/03/2026 Individual No
Formal examination 35% No 02/04/2026 Individual No
Skills development: Learning engagement log 10% No 30/04/2026 Individual No
CPA - External examination 30% Yes CPA Examination Period Individual No

Formal examination: Test

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 15 hours
Due: 06/03/2026
Weighting: 25%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension: No

The purpose of this assessment is for you to demonstrate your understanding and knowledge of key topics from the unit.

 

You will participate in a formal test. Feedback on this test will help you assess your progress through the unit content.

 

Deliverable(s): Test

 

Individual assessment
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply the assurance framework in financial report audit, review and assurance engagements. 
  • Describe the professional, legislative and regulatory requirements for audit, review and assurance engagements.   
  • Analyse and evaluate the complete audit process in accordance with international auditing standards. 

Formal examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 25 hours
Due: 02/04/2026
Weighting: 35%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension: No

The purpose of this assessment is for you to demonstrate your understanding and knowledge of key topics from the unit.

 

You will participate in a formal test. Feedback on this test will help you assess your progress through the unit content.

 

Deliverable(s): Test

 

Individual assessment
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply the assurance framework in financial report audit, review and assurance engagements. 
  • Describe the professional, legislative and regulatory requirements for audit, review and assurance engagements.   
  • Analyse and evaluate the complete audit process in accordance with international auditing standards. 
  • Apply relevant standards to the assessment of fraud and going concern in financial statement audits.  

Skills development: Learning engagement log

Assessment Type 1: Problem-based task
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: 30/04/2026
Weighting: 10%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension: No

The purpose of this assessment is for you to demonstrate consistent engagement and progress throughout each module in the unit.

 

You will complete and log each module’s tasks, ensuring satisfactory completion and meeting the required standards for each module.

 

Skills in focus:

  • Communication skills
  • Work Readiness
  • Critical thinking and problem solving
  • Discipline knowledge

Deliverable(s): A completed module log for each unit, demonstrating satisfactory completion of each module’s tasks and activities.

 

Individual assessment.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply the assurance framework in financial report audit, review and assurance engagements. 
  • Describe the professional, legislative and regulatory requirements for audit, review and assurance engagements.   
  • Analyse and evaluate the complete audit process in accordance with international auditing standards. 
  • Apply relevant standards to the assessment of fraud and going concern in financial statement audits.  

CPA - External examination

Assessment Type 1: Examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 40 hours
Due: CPA Examination Period
Weighting: 30%
Groupwork/Individual: Individual
Short extension: No
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

Examination administered by CPA Australia.

Students need to achieve at least a PASS mark in this CPA external examination.

If students do not pass this CPA examination, students will not pass this unit.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Apply the assurance framework in financial report audit, review and assurance engagements. 
  • Describe the professional, legislative and regulatory requirements for audit, review and assurance engagements.   
  • Analyse and evaluate the complete audit process in accordance with international auditing standards. 
  • Apply relevant standards to the assessment of fraud and going concern in financial statement audits.  
  • Research and interpret current issues in contemporary assurance developments, such as performance audits in the public sector, and other assurance services. 

1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:

  • the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
  • the Writing Centre for academic skills support.

2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation

Delivery and Resources

The Unit commences the week beginning 2 February. The location and time of our class is: 2pm-5pm every Thursday at 12SW Tutorial Room 304. 

Unit Schedule

ACCG8304 Schedule

Topic/Content description

Week commencing 2 February
  • Introduction
  • Module 1: The Auditing and Assurance Framework

Week commencing 9 February
  • Module 1:  The Auditing and Assurance Framework (cont)

Week commencing 16 February
  • Module 2: Planning the Audit of Historical Financial Information

Week commencing 23 February
  • Module 2: Planning the Audit of Historical Financial Information (cont)

Week commencing 2 March
  • Module 3: Performing the Audit of Historical Financial Information

Friday 6 March
  • Class Test 1 covering Modules 1 and 2

Week commencing 9 March
  • Module 3: Performing the Audit of Historical Financial Information (cont)

Week commencing 16 March
  • Module 4: Conclusions and Reporting Responsibilities for an Audit

Sunday 21 March
  • Module 4: Conclusions and Reporting Responsibilities for an Audit (cont)

Week commencing 26 March             
  • Module 5: Other Assurance Engagements

Week commencing 30 March
  • Class Test 2 covering all modules
Sunday 4 April
  • Review on Practice Exam Questions
Monday 13 April – Tuesday 28 April
  • CPA examination period
30 April
  • Learning engagement log deadline

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit connect.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Academic Success

Academic Success provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via the Service Connect Portal, or contact Service Connect.

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/. 

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Grading Policy

MQ

(70%)

CPA

(30%)

Overall

(MQ Final Grade)

Recommended Actions

Pass

Pass

Pass

 

Pass

Fail

Incomplete 

Re-enrol with CPA Australia ONLY

Pass

FA

Incomplete

Re-enrol with CPA Australia ONLY

Fail

Pass

Fail

Re-enrol with MQ ONLY

Fail

Fail

Fail

Re-enrol with MQ and CPA Australia

Fail

FA

FA

Re-enrol with MQ and CPA Australia

 

To be eligible to pass the unit, it is necessary to:

Gain the necessary knowledge by preparing fully and attending classes regularly and attempting ALL assessment components.

Obtain at least a PASS assessment in the CPA external examination. Note that if you do NOT pass the CPA exam, you cannot attain a pass in this Unit in this Session.

If a student passes the MQ component but fails the external CPA exam, an Incomplete grade (UL) will be given. The student must re-enrol in the failed subject with CPA Australia in the following session. If the student does not sit for the CPA exam in the following session, the UL grade will change to a Fail grade.

If a student deferred the CPA Exam in the session enrolled with MQ, the student must inform the MQBS Student Services by submitting an AskMQ inquiry so the grade can remain as UL for a session. The student will need to sit for the CPA exam in the following session and based on the CPA exam result, the grade will be finalised.

If a student has failed the same external CPA exam twice, the MQ Incomplete grade will be changed to a Fail grade, and the student will need to re- enrol with MQ and CPA Australia in the following session.

The UL grade will only be kept for one session. 

Unit information based on version 2026.03 of the Handbook