Students

ACCG358 – Information Systems Audit and Assurance

2019 – S1 Evening

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Anthony Wilson
accg358@mq.edu.au
Building E4A, Level 2
Check the unit website
Moderator
Mauricio Marrone
mauricio.marrone@mq.edu.au
Level 3, 4 Eastern Road
Tutor
Srinivas Varanasi
accg358@mq.edu.au
Tutor
Nader Hanna
accg358@mq.edu.au
Bazara Barry
bazara.barry@mq.edu.au
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
(39cp at 100 level or above) including (ACCG250 or ACCG251)
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This unit further develops an understanding of internal and operational controls as well as knowledge of the organisation as it relates to information systems (IS) audit and assurance. Students will examine the risks associated with information systems using frameworks that provide professional standards, guidelines, tools and techniques for IS audit and control. The risk-based approach to IS audit is developed so that students have an understanding of inherent risks, control risks and detection risks. Students will be exposed to computer auditing tools and techniques that both directly and indirectly examine the internal logic of an organisation's applications. In this unit students develop graduate capabilities in a range of areas, including: critical analysis skills in information management and analysis; problem-solving skills in sourcing and identifying relevant information and interpreting output in a multidisciplinary environment; and communication and negotiation skills.

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:

  • Evaluate and demonstrate the importance of Information Systems Audit for Information Systems Governance for organisations.
  • Assess Information Systems risks and controls and their implications for organisations.
  • Explain how Information Systems audit objectives provide effective Information Systems Governance
  • Evaluate and explain Information Systems audit tools and techniques.
  • Construct a critical synthesised evaluation of and response to Information Systems audit risk assessments

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Assessed Coursework 30% No In class - 3 random weeks
Case study -– IS audit report 30% No Week 7
Final Examination 40% No Formal examination period

Assessed Coursework

Due: In class - 3 random weeks
Weighting: 30%

Submission

  • Each activity must be undertaken in the timeframe allocated during the tutorials and must be submitted at the end of tutorial by each student. Each activity is worth 10%. There will be 3 in-class tasks for this assessment during 3 random weeks of the semester (between weeks 3 to 12).
  • The task will take the form of a group discussion (5-6 students per group) followed by each student completing the assessment task individually.

Extension

Late penalty

  • Not applicable
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate and demonstrate the importance of Information Systems Audit for Information Systems Governance for organisations.
  • Assess Information Systems risks and controls and their implications for organisations.
  • Explain how Information Systems audit objectives provide effective Information Systems Governance
  • Evaluate and explain Information Systems audit tools and techniques.
  • Construct a critical synthesised evaluation of and response to Information Systems audit risk assessments

Case study -– IS audit report

Due: Week 7
Weighting: 30%

Students are required to prepare an Information Systems audit report. Full details of the assignment (assignment objectives, question material, requirements, etc) will be made available through the unit’s website.

Submission

  • Students will need to upload their assignment to  http://ilearn.mq.edu.au (Turn-it-in) by 11:59 p.m. on Friday 12th April (week 7). Otherwise your assignment will be considered late. Late assignment will also be submitted via Turn-it-in.

Extension

Late Penalty

  • Late tasks will be accepted up to 72* hours after the submission deadline.  There will be a deduction of 20%* of the total available marks made from the total awarded mark for each 24 hour period or part thereof that the submission is late (for example, 25 hours late in submission – 40% penalty). This penalty does not apply for cases in which an application for special consideration is made and approved.
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate and demonstrate the importance of Information Systems Audit for Information Systems Governance for organisations.
  • Assess Information Systems risks and controls and their implications for organisations.
  • Explain how Information Systems audit objectives provide effective Information Systems Governance
  • Evaluate and explain Information Systems audit tools and techniques.
  • Construct a critical synthesised evaluation of and response to Information Systems audit risk assessments

Final Examination

Due: Formal examination period
Weighting: 40%

A final examination is included as an assessment task for this unit to provide assurance that:

  1. The product belongs to the student and;
  2. The student has attained the knowledge and skills tested in the exam.

The final examination for this unit will be held during the university examination period. The final exam assesses students' critical thinking capabilities as well as the ability to apply their knowledge of accounting and information systems to examples of real world problems and cases.

You are expected to present yourself for examination at the time and place designated in the university examination timetable. The timetable will be available in draft form approximately eight weeks before the commencement of examinations and in final form approximately four weeks before the commencement of examinations. http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/exam

Further details about the final exam for the subject will be made available in the final week of lectures.

If a Supplementary Examination is granted as a result of the special consideration process, the examination will be scheduled as per the Supplementary Examination timetable of the Faculty. Please note that the supplementary examination will be of a similar format as the final examination. Please refer to https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/special-consideration
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate and demonstrate the importance of Information Systems Audit for Information Systems Governance for organisations.
  • Assess Information Systems risks and controls and their implications for organisations.
  • Explain how Information Systems audit objectives provide effective Information Systems Governance
  • Evaluate and explain Information Systems audit tools and techniques.

Delivery and Resources

Face to face hours

This unit will be taught in the form of weekly lectures and tutorials. Students are required to enrol in one lecture (1.5 hours of face to face teaching) and one tutorial (1.5 hours of face to face teaching) for this unit. Please check the timetable at http://timetables.mq.edu.au.The teaching strategies are outlined below:

 

Lectures

A 1.5 hour lecture will be one time a week. Students need to download their lecture slides from iLearn prior to attending the lecture. It is expected that students complete their prescribed reading for the week prior to attending the lecture. 

 

Tutorial attendance

·       Students are required to enrol in tutorials online. Tutorials enrolment will be closed after the first week of semester. There is no change after this deadline. It is important that you attend the tutorial that you are enrolled in. If you attend the tutorial that you are not enrolled in, it will not be counted toward the attendance record, with an exception of tutorials held on the week of public holidays.

·       Any changes to tutorials must be made through e-student. You have to finalise your classes by the end of week 2 after which changes are no longer possible.

·       No exception for tutorial attendances and late assignments will be granted for students who are enrolled late in this subject.

·       Your attendance may not be marked if you arrive more than 15 minutes late to your tutorials, unless there is an appropriate reason provided to your tutors.

 

Textbook

You will require access to the following textbook:

•Hall, James A. (2016), Information Technology Auditing, International Edition 4e, South-Western Cengage Learning (ISBN: 9781133949886)

Or E-book: ISBN 9781305985384

Copies of the textbook can be purchased from the Co-Op bookstore on campus.

 

Technology used

iLearn: This unit will use iLearn as an online technology for students to access course material, announcements as well as any other documents related to this unit. Students are required to regularly check the iLearn for accessing up-to-dated information about the unit.

Echo is a multi-media learning tool that provides an audio of the lectures which students can download and listen to at their convenience. Echo will be made available at the end of each week via the unit’s website (iLearn).

 

Expectations and Workload

Students are expected to spend 150 hours working on this unit. As a guide a student should spend these approximate amounts of time on each of the following activities:

 

 

Activities

Hours

1

Assessed Coursework

40

2

Information Systems audit Report

40

4

Readings/self-study/Final Exam Preparation

70

 

Total

150
 

 

 

 

Unit Schedule

 

Week

 

Topic

 

Readings

1

Auditing and Internal Control

Chapter 1

2

Auditing IT Governance Controls

Chapter 2

3

Auditing Operating Systems and Networks

Chapter 3

4

Auditing Databases Systems

Chapter 4

5

Auditing Systems Development and Program Change Activities

Chapter 5

6

Transaction Processing and Financial Reporting Systems Overview

Chapter 6

7

Computer-Assisted Audit Tool and Techniques

Chapter 7

8

Data Structures and CAATs for Data Extraction

Chapter 8

9

 Auditing the Revenue Cycle Chapter 9

10

Auditing the Expenditure Cycle

Chapter 10

11

Enterprise Resource Planning Systems

Chapter 11

12

Business Ethics, Fraud and Fraud Detection

Chapter 12

13

Revision

 

Lecture and tutorial materials are available for students to download from the unit’s website. Students need to download and prepare relevant material prior to attending their lecture/tutorial. Tutorials start in week 2 and are based on the previous week’s lecture topic.

 

 

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

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

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/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 ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

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

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

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.

Graduate Capabilities

Capable of Professional and Personal Judgement and Initiative

We want our graduates to have emotional intelligence and sound interpersonal skills and to demonstrate discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgement. They will exercise initiative as needed. They will be capable of risk assessment, and be able to handle ambiguity and complexity, enabling them to be adaptable in diverse and changing environments.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Evaluate and demonstrate the importance of Information Systems Audit for Information Systems Governance for organisations.
  • Assess Information Systems risks and controls and their implications for organisations.
  • Explain how Information Systems audit objectives provide effective Information Systems Governance
  • Evaluate and explain Information Systems audit tools and techniques.
  • Construct a critical synthesised evaluation of and response to Information Systems audit risk assessments

Assessment tasks

  • Assessed Coursework
  • Case study -– IS audit report
  • Final Examination

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Evaluate and demonstrate the importance of Information Systems Audit for Information Systems Governance for organisations.
  • Assess Information Systems risks and controls and their implications for organisations.
  • Explain how Information Systems audit objectives provide effective Information Systems Governance
  • Evaluate and explain Information Systems audit tools and techniques.
  • Construct a critical synthesised evaluation of and response to Information Systems audit risk assessments

Assessment tasks

  • Assessed Coursework
  • Case study -– IS audit report
  • Final Examination

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Evaluate and demonstrate the importance of Information Systems Audit for Information Systems Governance for organisations.
  • Assess Information Systems risks and controls and their implications for organisations.
  • Explain how Information Systems audit objectives provide effective Information Systems Governance
  • Evaluate and explain Information Systems audit tools and techniques.
  • Construct a critical synthesised evaluation of and response to Information Systems audit risk assessments

Assessment tasks

  • Assessed Coursework
  • Case study -– IS audit report
  • Final Examination

Research & Practice, Global & Sustainability

This unit addresses global and sustainability issues as direct areas of study and as necessary implications arising from the materials, assessment and academic discussion and debate in classes/seminars. We promote sustainability by developing ability in students to research and locate information within accounting and IS disciplines. We aim to provide students with an opportunity to obtain skills which will benefit them throughout their career. The unit materials have a reference list at the end of each chapter/module/text containing all references cited by the author. These provide some guidance to references that could be used to research particular issues.