Purpose: The individual research project requires students assessment of real-life auditing issues through a case study that links auditing theory, auditing practice and auditing performance. This assessment relates to learning outcomes a, b and c.

Task details: The new auditing standard ASA701 Communicating Key Audit Matters in the Independent Auditor's Report is developed in the wake of the global financial crisis. This development is in response to calls from shareholders to know more about the companies they invest in. Further, investors have also requested earlier warnings of potential issues that may exist with respect to an entity's ability to continue as a Going Concern which resulted in the revision of ASA 570 (ISA 570) Going Concern.

Students are required to select and compare two industries in the Australian ASX Top 100 listed corporation and assess the "areas of higher assessed risk of material misstatement, or significant risks identified in accordance with ASA 315", "significant auditor judgements relating to areas in the financial report that involved significant management judgement" as well as "the effect on the audit of significant events or transactions that occurred during the period" (Para 9 ASA 701). The summary report should include data extracted from the General-Purpose Financial Report relevant to the material analysed.

The industry can be banking, mining, retail, telecommunications, manufacturing or other industry available on ASX Top 100.

Required: Students must include at least twelve references including applicable academic journals, newspaper, professional accounting, auditing articles, auditing standard(s), Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants.

The marking guide will be as follows:

30% Analysis

30% Research - extent and application

30% Recommendations/conclusions

10% Presentation

Total mark will be scaled to a mark out of 20 subject marks.