Category Books

Accounting & Auditing Research: Tools & Strategies » (6th Edition)

Book cover image of Accounting & Auditing Research: Tools & Strategies by Thomas Weirich

Authors: Thomas Weirich, Thomas C. Pearson, Alan Reinstein
ISBN-13: 9780324302288, ISBN-10: 0324302282
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Cengage Learning
Date Published: September 2004
Edition: 6th Edition

Author Biography: Thomas Weirich

Thomas R. Weirich, Ph.D, CPA, received his B.S. and MBA degrees from Northern Illinois University, and a Doctorate in Accountancy form the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is currently the Arthur Andersen & Co. Alumni Professor of Accounting and Central Michigan University. Dr. Weirich has served on special assignment as the Academic Fellow to the Office of the Chief Accountant as the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in Washington, D.C. He has public accounting experience with an international firm as well as with a local firm. He has served on the Editorial Advisory board to the Journal of Accountancy as well as a committee member on the American Accounting Association's Education Committee and the SEC Liaison Committee. He is completing an assignment on the AICPA's SEC Regulation's Committee. Professor Weirich has written numerous articles in professional journals and has served as a business consulting to a manufacturing concern. 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's Outstanding Teacher Award, the College of Business Dean's Teaching Award and the Michigan Association of Governing Boards' Distinguished Faculty Award. HE has served as an expert witness for the SEC and other cases.

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 earned his Masters of Letters of Law in tax from the University of Denver, 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. While on sabbatical, he is also affiliated with New York 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 inleading academic publications such as Accounting Horizons, Journal of Accounting Education, and Journal of the American Taxation Association. Professor Pearson has received numerous teaching awards including the University of Hawaii's Board of Regents Teaching Excellence Award. He has served as President of the 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.

Alan Reinstein, DBA, CPA, received his B.A. and M.S. degrees from the State University of New York (New Paltz), an M.B.A. degree form the University of Detroit , and a Doctorate in Accounting form the University of Kentucky. He is a Professor in the Department of Accounting, School of Business at Wayne State University. Professor Reinstein conducts many seminars for the AICPA, MACPA, may other state CPA societies and professional groups. An author of more than 100 articles, Dr. Reinstein serves on the editorial boards of several academic and professional journals and on the boards of the Michigan Associations of CPAs, and the Detroit Chapters of the Institute fi Internal Auditors and the National Associations of Accountants. He also chaired the Professional Examination Committee of the American Accounting Association and served on the Task Force on Professional Examinations and Regulations of the Accounting Education Change Commission. Formerly with an international CPA firm, he now functions as a research and educational consultant for many CPAs and attorneys.

Book Synopsis

This textbook offers step-by-step instructions for conducting practical professional research in accounting, auditing, and taxation. Topics include (for example) the hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), the evaluation of databases, and the various types of assurance and consulting services being offered to clients today. The sixth edition focuses on electronic research tools and strategies and concludes with a discussion of fraud investigations. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

	Preface	X
	About the Author	XIV
Chapter 1	Introduction to Professional Research	1
	Learning Objectives	1
	What is Research	2
	Research Questions	3
	Nature of Professional Research	4
	Critical Thinking and Effective Communication	5
	Economic Consequences of Standards Setting	5
	Role of Research in the Accounting Firm	6
	Research and the CPA Exam	8
	Overview of the Research Process	9
	Summary	12
	Discussion Questions	12
Appendix	Research Focus on the CPA Exam	13
Chapter 2	Critical Thinking and Effective Writing Skills for the Professional Accountant	19
	Learning Objectives	19
	Critical Thinking Skills	19
	Levels of Thinking	21
	Universal Elements of Reasoning	23
	An Example of Using Critical Thinking Skills	23
	Effective Writing Skills	26
	Punctuation Primer	30
	Improved Writing Skills Required	30
	Writing Effective Client Letters and E-Mails	36
	Writing Memos to the File	37
	Summary	38
	Discussion Questions	38
	Exercises	39
Chapter 3	Web-Based Professional Research	41
	Learning Objectives	41
	The Internet	42
	Other Business and Accounting Web Sites	51
	Internet Dangers Requiring Protective Measures	52
	Summary	53
	Discussion Questions	53
	Exercises	53
Chapter 4	The Environment of Accounting Research	55
	Learning Objectives	55
	The Accounting Environment	55
	SEC and the Standard-Setting Environment	56
	Financial Accounting Standards Board	57
	American Institute of Certified Public Accountants	62
	Governmental Accounting Standards Board	63
	Other Organizations Influencing Standard Setting	65
	Generally Accepted Accounting Principles	68
	Reading an Authoritative Pronouncement	73
	Summary	77
	Discussion Questions	77
	Exercises	78
Chapter 5	Major Accounting Research Tools	79
	Learning Objectives	79
	Computerized Research Databases and Tools	79
	Using a Database	81
	FASB's Financial Accounting Research System (FARS)	82
	The Research Process	84
	Using FARS to Locate GAAP Authorities	85
	Examples for Using FARS Online	87
	SEC Accounting for Public Companies	88
	SEC Regulations and Beyond	92
	GASB's Government Accounting Research System (GARS)	95
	Other Sources of Accounting Authorities	96
	Cases to Practice Accounting Research	99
	Summary	100
	Discussion Questions	100
	Exercises	101
Appendix	CPA Exam-Financial Accounting Simulations	102
Chapter 6	Other Research Databases and Tools	107
	Learning Objectives	107
	Westlaw	107
	Thomson ONE Banker	115
	Thomson Research	116
	Other Databases of Interest to Accountants	116
	Evaluating Other Databases and Information	121
	Miscellaneous Accounting and Research Tools	121
	FASB, ACSEC, and EITF Files	122
	General Business Research Tools	123
	Summary	124
	Discussion Questions	124
	Exercises	124
Chapter 7	Tax Research for Compliance and Tax Planning	127
	Learning Objectives	127
	Tax Research Goals	127
	Tax Research Challenges	128
	Tax Research Databases	129
	RIA Checkpoint	131
	Primary Tax Authorities	132
	Steps in Conducting Tax Research	148
	Documenting Tax Research	151
	AICPA Statements on Standards for Tax Services	153
	Summary	153
	Discussion Questions	153
	Exercises	154
Appendix	Tax Research on the CPA Exam	157
Chapter 8	Assurance Services and Auditing Research	161
	Learning Objectives	161
	Assurance Services	161
	Auditing Standard-Setting Environment	163
	Auditing Standard-Setting Process	167
	Code of Professional Conduct	176
	Auditing in the Public Sector	178
	Accounting Services	180
	International Auditing	181
	Role of Judgment in Auditing and Accounting Research	181
	Economic Consequences	182
	Summary	182
	Discussion Questions	182
	Exercises	183
Appendix	CPA Exam Audit Simulation	184
Chapter 9	Refining the Research Process	189
	Learning Objectives	189
	Method of Conducting Research	189
	Lessons Learned and Research on the CPA Exam	202
	Remaining Current	205
	International Complexities	206
	Summary	207
	Discussion Questions	207
	Exercises	207
Appendix	Common Abbreviations Used in Accounting, Tax, and Auditing Citations	208
Chapter 10	Fraud and Other Investigative Techniques	211
	Learning Objectives	211
	Definition of Fraud	212
	Types of Fraud	213
	The Fraud Triangle	213
	Overview of a Financial Fraud Examination	216
	Business Investigations	221
	Computer Technology in Fraud Investigations	222
	Fraud Investigation Regulations	230
	Summary	230
	Discussion Questions	230
	Exercises	231
	Index	233