Acca Student Podcasts

Ethics is a crucial and topical area for auditors and accountants and is constantly under scrutiny by both the industry and the press. For students, ethics feature as a key part of the entire ACCA professional syllabus and are examined in many ways in many papers. In Paper P7, Advanced Audit and Assurance, the ethical focus is on auditor behaviour and the rules and principles that auditors must abide by.

In June 2012 an Invitation to Comment was published by the IAASB, asking for feedback on a range of proposed changes to the structure and content of the auditor’s report, aiming to enhance its usefulness for decision making. In July 2013 an Exposure Draft was issued which specifies the revisions planned to be made to a suite of International Standards on Auditing (ISAs), changes that will mark a substantial change in the way that auditors report their findings. This podcast provides a summary of the main issues featured in the Invitation to Comment.

This podcast looks at the topic of assurance in the context of Paper P7, Advanced Audit and Assurance, describing a framework for the classification of assurance and non-assurance engagements, and giving guidance on the practical approach required when undertaking assurance assignments.

Paper P5 is an advanced performance management paper. It looks at different types of performance management systems and considers whether or not they provide useful information to the management of an organisation. Much higher skills are required at Paper P5, and there is much greater application of your knowledge to life like scenarios. This podcast explores the knowledge and skills that must be carried over from Paper F5 and how they must be developed in order to succeed at Paper P5.

This podcast takes an in-depth look at the causes and consequences of the European debt crisis. It explores the courses of action that have been taken so far and what might be done next, as well as the implications of these actions for businesses and individuals.

When ethics appears in an optional question in the Paper P7 exam, it is often a popular choice for candidates, but their answers often lack detail and are not well applied to the question scenario. This podcast aims to assist candidates in terms of knowledge and question technique when tackling a question on ethics.

Paper P4 is the advanced financial management paper at the Professional level. It follows on from Paper F9 at the Fundamentals level. Paper P4 expects candidates to have more depth of knowledge, better analytical skills, and to be able to exercise greater professional judgement than at Paper F9. This podcast explores the key knowledge that must be brought forward and developed from Paper F9, how to study Paper P4 and what to do in the exam.

A learning organisation is a sustainable enterprise. The risk of not being a learning organisation is stagnation or elimination. The learning of an organisation is determined by the learning of the individuals. Organisations need to continue to learn and retain that learning, their skills and abilities, to sustain their position in the dynamic marketplace.

Part B of the syllabus for Paper F1/FAB, Accountant in Business is concerned with the study of business organisation structure, functions and governance. Mintzberg’s model breaks down the organisation into five generic components, considering the role of each in relation to coordinating its activities. This podcast explores Mintzberg's model in detail.

This podcast addresses a specific question that caused considerable difficulty in the June 2014 exam in order to give a marker’s perspective on the breadth and depth of response that is required in a Paper P5 answer. Continuing on from Part 1, which looks at weak solutions to the question, Part 2 analyses two possible passing solutions. Before listening, it is essential to have read the scenario and requirement for Question 1 part (i) of the June 2014 Paper P5 exam - available at www.accaglobal.com

This podcast addresses a specific question from the June 2014 exam in order to give a marker’s perspective on the breadth and depth of response that is required in a Paper P5 answer and to help candidates avoid making basic mistakes. Part 1 analyses some poor answers to the question. Before listening, it is essential to have read the scenario and requirement for Question 1 part (i) of the June 2014 Paper P5 exam - available at www.accaglobal.com

This podcast focuses on the provision of direct assistance to external auditors by the internal auditors of an entity, which – to date – has been a very controversial issue. ISA 610, Using the Work of Internal Auditors, focuses on whether the external auditor can use the work of the internal audit function for purposes of audit, and the revised version of the standard, published in 2013, clarifies whether the internal auditors can be used to provide direct assistance to the external auditor. The material pertaining to direct assistance is effective for audits of financial statements for periods ended on or after 15 December 2014.

During recent years the business environment has become far more complex, dynamic, turbulent and uncertain. The weaknesses of traditional budgeting processes have been the subject of much attention. This podcast looks at the 'beyond budgeting' model and its potential application in both the private and the public sectors.

Activity-based management (ABM) can be defined as the entire set of actions that can be taken on a better informed basis using information derived from activity-based costing (ABC.) The aim is to achieve the same level of output with lower costs. This podcast describes the stages of activity-based management, looks at operational and strategic ABM and explores the use of ABM in conjunction with other performance improvement strategies.

Recent years have witnessed major changes in business structure. Business units are larger and more complex, often spread over several territories. Therefore it is of paramount importance that organisations have effective control mechanisms that will enable management to ensure the survival of the organisation. This podcast explores the contingency theory of management accounting in response to the changing circumstances of the business world.

Relevant to Paper FAU and ACCA Qualification Paper F8 (INT) and (UK), this podcast focuses on the audit of wages, although many of the points made also apply to salaries (the term payroll covers both). Areas covered include common types of payroll fraud, the typical stages in a wages system and the different ways of testing the internal control system.

This podcast takes a look at business-to-business and business-to-consumer e-commerce and its benefits for business, as well as the social and employment costs involved.

If you are aware that danger accompanies an undertaking, then it makes sense to understand the nature of the undertaking and how the danger can be managed. This podcast explores the key phases and features of project management, including rational strategic planning, the project lifecycle, the project initiation document, the project manager and the different kinds of risk that need to be considered.

The law in Singapore concerning restraint of trade is governed by case law rather than legislation. Restraint of trade clauses are commonly found in different kinds of contracts – for example, employment contracts and sale of business contracts. The focus of this podcast is on restraint of trade clauses in employment contracts.

The law relating to companies in Lesotho used to be very similar to the old English Companies Act 1948. However, this is no longer so, and Lesotho now has a new Companies Act (CA) 2011. Relevant to Paper F4 (LSO) this podcast discusses how the companies are incorporated under the CA 2011.