Course Resources Archive

This module develops the students’ relevant knowledge and skills to exercise professional judgement in carrying out the role of the accountant relating to governance, internal control, compliance and the management of risk within an organisation, in the context of an ethical framework

A Governance and responsibility
1. The scope of governance and the regulatory environment
2. Agency relationships, theories and rules of professional conduct
3. The Board of Directors and Board Committees
4. Directors’ remuneration
5. Different approaches to corporate governance
6. Corporate governance and corporate social responsibility
7. Governance: reporting and disclosure

B Internal control and review
1. Management control systems, corporate governance and Auditors’ reports
2. Internal control, audit and compliance in corporate governance
3. Internal control and reporting
4. Management information in audit and internal control

C Identifying and assessing risk
1. Risk and the risk management process
2. Categories of risk
3. Identification, assessment and measurement of risk

D Controlling risk
1. Targeting and monitoring risk
2. Methods of controlling and reducing risk
3. Risk avoidance, retention and modelling

E Professional values and ethics
1. Ethical theories
2. Different approaches to ethics and social responsibility
3. Professions and the public interest
4. Professional practice and codes of ethics
5. Conflicts of interest and the consequences of unethical behaviour
6. Ethical characteristics of professionalism
7. Social and environmental issues in business and ethical behaviour

i Knowledge and understanding
On successful completion of the module the student should be able to:
a) Critically appreciate the importance of governance and evaluate its function in the effective management and control of organisations and of the resources for which they are accountable
b) Evaluate the professional accountant’s role in internal control, review and compliance
c) Evaluate the role of the accountant in identifying, assessing, controlling and mitigating risk
d) Demonstrate the application of professional values and judgement through an ethical framework which complies with relevant professional codes, laws and regulations that is in the best interests of society and the profession

ii Skills
On successful completion of the module the student should be able to:
a) Analyse and interpret relevant literature
b) Communicate through group based tutorial activities and written work of a variety of styles
c) Embed Personal Development Planning via personal reflection through a review of performance in the module.

Staff/student contact: approximately 20% (lectures, tutorials)
Student directed study: approximately 80%

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.