Accounting & Auditing Research: Tools & Strategies, 7th Edition

by Thomas R. Weirich (Central Michigan University ); Thomas C. Pearson (University of Hawaii at Manoa); Natalie Tatiana Churyk (Northern Illinois University)

• ISBN13: 9780470506974
• ISBN10: 0470506970
• Edition: 7th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2009-11-01
• Publisher: Wiley

Summary

Accountants finally have a book that focuses on research completed in the field. This resource shows them the basics of performing research in advanced financial, tax, auditing, and fraud. They'll gain a better understanding of the basics of research tools so they'll be able to select the right one. Information is presented on IFRS and the Codification, including step-by-step details and screenshots. With this information, accountants will have the tools to succeed in the field.

Author Biography

Thomas R. Weirich, Ph.D., CPA, is currently the Jerry & Felicia Campbell Endowed Professor at Central Michigan University and was also a former chair of its School of Accounting. He earned a Doctorate in Accountancy from the University of Missouri-Columbia, as well as an M.B.A. and B.S. degrees from Northern Illinois University. He has served on special assignment as the Academic Accounting Fellow to the Office of Chief Accountant at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. He has completed a Faculty in Residence position with Arthur Andersen, LLP in their Business Fraud & Investigative Services Division whereby he participated in various fraud and background investigations. He also served as a consultant to the Public Oversight Board’s Panel on Audit Effectiveness, and as an expert witness for the SEC and other organizations. Dr. Weirich was recently appointed by the Governor of the State of Michigan to serve on the Michigan State Board of Accountancy. Dr. Weirich has public accounting experience with an international firm as well as with a local firm.
Professor Weirich has written numerous articles in professional journals and assisted others, such as by serving on the Editorial Advisory Board to the Journal of Accountancy. He has extensive national, state, and local committee experience including a member of the American Accounting Association’s Education Committee and the SEC Liaison Committee. He has completed assignments on the AICPA’s SEC Regulation’s Committee and on the AICPA’s Technical Standards Subcommittee-Ethics, the Board of Examiners’ Auditing Subcommittee and Content Committee that aid in the development of the CPA Examination. He also served on the AICPA’s Pre-Certification Executive Education Committee, the Michigan’s Association of CPAs’ CPE Committee, Fraud Task Force, and the Environmental Issues Committee. He is currently serving on the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy—CPA Licensing Examinations Committee. Dr. Weirich has also served eleven years on the Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, City Commission and as mayor of the city. Professor Weirich has been the recipient of the School of Accounting/Beta Alpha Psi’s Outstanding Teacher Award, Ameritech/SBC Teaching Award, the College of Business Dean’s Teaching Award, the Michigan Association of Governing Boards’ Distinguished Faculty Award and the Michigan Association of CPAs’ Distinguished Achievement in Accounting Education Award.

Thomas C. Pearson, LL.M., J.D., CPA is a Professor of Accounting at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and former Director of its School of Accountancy. He has earned two Masters of Letters of Law in taxation, the first from the University of Denver and the second from New York University. He has a Doctorate of Jurisprudence and M.B.A. from Vanderbilt University, and an A.B. from Dartmouth College. Professor Pearson has previously taught at the University of Wyoming and National Taiwan University. Professor Pearson has previously worked at Hospital Corporation of America.

Professor Pearson has published numerous articles, mostly in professional publications such as Taxes and the Tax Advisor. He has also published in leading academic publications such as Accounting Horizons, Journal of Accounting Education, and Journal of the American Taxation Association. as well as in prestigious law reviews such as the Stanford Journal of Law, Business and Finance. Professor Pearson has received numerous teaching awards including the University of Hawaii’s Board of Regents Teaching Excellence Award and the Outstanding Achievement in Education Award by the Hawaii Society of CPAs. He has served as President of the Shidler College of Business Faculty Senate and on numerous university committees. He has also served on Hawaii’s Tax Review Commission and is involved in several professional organizations.

Natalie Tatiana Churyk, Ph.D., CPA, is the Caterpillar Professor of Accountancy at Northern Illinois University. She earned her Doctorate in Accounting with a Finance Cognate from the University of South Carolina. She received her B. S. in Accounting and her M.B.A. with a specialization in Finance from California State University, Long Beach. Dr. Churyk has public accounting experience with a local California firm. She teaches in the undergraduate and M.A.S. programs. In addition to teaching accountancy for NIU, Professor Churyk develops and delivers continuing professional education in Northern Illinois University’s CPA and CIA Review programs. Active with student groups, she is the faculty advisor for the Association of Latino Professionals in Finance and Accounting, the National Association of Black Accountants, and the campus mentor for KPMG’s Future Diversity Leader Program. Professor Churyk has published in professional journals such as the Journal of Accountancy, Strategic Finance, and The CPA Journal. She has various academic publications in journals such as Journal of Business Research and Advances in Accounting Behavioral Research. Professor Churyk has received several teaching awards, including the University-wide Educational Foundation Outstanding Teaching Award for Graduate Assistants. She serves on several state and national committees relating to education, student, and women initiatives, including the American Accounting Association’s Teaching Learning and Curriculum Section and Midwest Steering Committee. She has received research grants from PricewaterhouseCoopers, the Institute of Management Accountants, and her university.

Table of Contents

Preface

About the Authors

Introduction to Professional Research

Learning Objectives

What Is Research

Research Questions

Nature of Professional Research

Critical Thinking and Effective Communication

Economic Consequences of Standards Setting

Role of Research in the Accounting Firm

Research and the CPA Exam

Overview of the Research Process

Summary

Discussion Questions

Appendix

Critical Thinking and Effective Writing Skills for the Professional Accountant

Learning Objectives

Critical Thinking Skills

Levels of Thinking

Universal Elements of Reasoning

An Example of Using Critical Thinking Skills

Effective Writing Skills

Punctuation Primer

Improved Writing Skills Required

Writing Effective E-Mails and Letters

Writing Memos to the File

Summary

Discussion Questions

Exercises

The Environment of Accounting Research

Learning Objectives

The Accounting Environment

The Sec and the Standard-Setting Environment

Financial Accounting Standards Board

American Institute Certified Public Accountants (AICPA)

Governmental Accounting Standards Board

Other Organizations Influencing Standard Setting

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)

Reading an Authoritative Pronouncement

Summary

Discussion Questions

Exercises

Financial Accounting Research Tools

Learning Objectives

Accounting Research Online

Database Research Strategies

FASB Accounting Standards Codification Research System

The Research Process

Locating GAAP Using the Codification

Examples Using the Codification

Sec Accounting for Public Companies

Sec Regulations and Sources

Accessing Sec Filings and Regulations

Cases to Practice Accounting Research

Summary

Discussion Questions

Exercises

Appendix.

The Environment of International Research

Learning Objectives

International Accounting Environment

International Accounting Standards Board (IASB)

IFRS Funding, Regulation, and Enforcement

International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) Research

Summary

Discussion Questions

Exercises

Other Research Databases and Tools

Learning Objectives

Other Database Research Strategies

U.S. Accounting Research Tools

U.S. Government Accounting Databases

Financial Research Databases

Business Research Databases and Tools

Massive Legal Research Databases

Summary

Discussion Questions

Exercises

Appendix.

Tax Research for Compliance and Tax Planning

Learning Objectives

Tax Research Goals

Tax Research Challenges

Tax Research Databases

Primary Tax Authorities

Steps in Conducting Tax Research

Professional Standards For Tax Services

Summary

Discussion Questions

Exercises

Appendix.

Assurance Services and Auditing Research

Learning Objectives

Assurance Services

Auditing Standard-Setting Environment

Auditing Standard-Setting Process

AICPA Resource Database.

AICPA Code of Professional Conduct

Auditing Standards in the Public Sector

International Auditing Standards

Compilation and Review Services

Role of Judgment in Accounting and Auditing

Economic Consequences

Summary

Discussion Questions

Exercises

Appendix.

Refining the Research Process

Learning Objectives

Method of Conducting Research

Lessons Learned For Professional Practice

Remain Current in Knowledge and Skills

International Complexities in Practice

Skills for the CPA Exam

Summary

Discussion Questions

Exercises

Fraud and Other Investigative Techniques

Learning Objectives

Definition of Fraud

Types of Fraud

The Fraud Triangle

Overview of a Financial Statement Fraud Examination

Business Investigations

Computer Technology in Fraud Investigations

Fraud Investigation Regulations

Summary

Discussion Questions

Exercises

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.